Prayagraj 2025: Flood Relief, Tourism Growth & Smart City Updates

Prayagraj 2025: Flood Relief, Tourism Growth & Smart City Updates

Prayagraj, the historic city at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, is a place of perpetual motion and change. As the year 2025 progresses, the city finds itself grappling with the immediate challenges of a severe monsoon flood while simultaneously forging ahead with ambitious plans for tourism and urban development. The duality of this moment—responding to a natural disaster while building a smart, resilient future—defines the city's current narrative.

The Deluge of 2025: A City Under Water

The monsoon season of 2025 has brought an unprecedented challenge to Prayagraj. With the Ganga and Yamuna rivers swelling significantly due to heavy rainfall upstream, floodwaters have breached the danger marks and inundated vast areas. As of early August, both rivers are flowing nearly one metre above the danger level, leading to a humanitarian crisis in low-lying localities.

The impact has been profound. Over 62 localities across the district have been affected, with floodwaters entering more than 10,000 houses. An estimated 8,000 individuals have been displaced, seeking refuge in the 97 designated flood relief camps set up by the district administration. These camps, established across various tehsils, are providing shelter, food, and basic amenities to thousands of families. The local administration, led by District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, is on high alert, with constant monitoring of the rising water levels.

In the urban pockets of the city, areas like Kachar Mau, Rajapur Dehmafi, and Beli Uparhar are submerged, with residents being evacuated by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police. The situation is particularly grim in areas like Rasulabad Ghat, where essential rituals have been disrupted. The human stories of this disaster are heartbreaking—families wading through waist-deep water to reach safety, often carrying infants, and house owners worried about their submerged belongings.

The government's response has been swift. NDRF, SDRF, and PAC personnel have been deployed with a fleet of over 128 boats for rescue and relief operations. In addition to providing shelter and food packets, health teams are on the ground to conduct medical check-ups and distribute oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and chlorine tablets to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is personally overseeing the relief efforts, directing officials to ensure transparency and human sensitivity in all operations. The crisis, while highlighting the city's vulnerability, has also brought to the fore a coordinated and compassionate response from the authorities.

A New Chapter for Tourism: Policy, Infrastructure & Safety

Even as the city navigates the flood crisis, it is moving forward with key projects to bolster its tourism sector. The recently introduced Uttar Pradesh Homestay and Bed & Breakfast Policy 2025 is set to be a game-changer. This new policy replaces the informal paying guest model with a formalised framework, aiming to establish approximately 800 new homestay units in Prayagraj.

The policy is designed to offer tourists a safe, authentic, and culturally immersive experience. Registered units will need to adhere to stringent standards, including a maximum capacity of six rooms (12 beds), a mandatory requirement for the owner to reside on the premises, and specific safety features. To ensure guest security, each homestay must have at least one caretaker, three CCTV cameras with 90-day recording capabilities, and fire safety approval. The policy provides a clear online registration process and a two-tiered classification (Silver and Gold) with nominal fees, making it accessible to local families. This initiative is expected to not only address the accommodation shortage during large events like the Mahakumbh but also to empower local families, particularly women, by providing a new source of income.

In a move to enhance the overall visitor experience and city infrastructure, the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) is working on an ambitious Yamuna riverfront project. This initiative, with a proposed budget of Rs 5 crore, focuses on modern beautification with murals, thematic gardens, solar-powered lighting, and special signboards highlighting the spiritual significance of the Sangam. The beautification of Balua Ghat, already completed at a cost of around Rs 3.60 crore, serves as a testament to this vision, attracting tourists with its grand evening aarti, yoga sessions, and cultural programmes.

Furthermore, a significant infrastructure upgrade is nearing completion at Subedarganj railway station: a state-of-the-art automatic train washing plant. Scheduled for a trial run in August and full operation in September, this plant will dramatically improve the efficiency of train cleaning. Using high-pressure jets, eco-friendly detergents, and automated sensors, it will reduce the cleaning time from over an hour to just 10-15 minutes. Crucially, the plant is designed with sustainability in mind, saving over 50,000 litres of water daily through its advanced recycling and filtration system. This project is a major step towards making Prayagraj's railway infrastructure more modern and eco-friendly.

Smart City Initiatives for a Resilient Future

Prayagraj's commitment to becoming a "smart city" is visible in a range of ongoing and upcoming projects. The city's administration is focused on leveraging technology to improve governance, public services, and overall quality of life.

A major undertaking is the planned revision of property records after 23 years. The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) will launch a door-to-door survey in early 2026 to update records for over 2.3 lakh properties. This initiative is a core component of the smart city plan, as it will lead to more efficient tax collection, clean record-keeping, and better urban planning. The new system will also introduce a unique block-based numbering system for all houses, making address identification and service delivery much easier.

Other smart city projects are already transforming the urban landscape. The city has seen the installation of "Multi Activity Play Systems" in 85 locations to create friendly outdoor play areas for children. The police department has been equipped with "Body Worn Cameras" integrated with the Command & Control Center, strengthening their capabilities and ensuring greater transparency. Additionally, "Smart Classrooms" have been implemented in 365 classrooms across 24 government schools, and mobile surveillance vehicles have been deployed to enhance public safety.

In parallel with these advancements, a strong emphasis has been placed on safety audits for tourism. While the government is promoting tourism and building new infrastructure, it is also providing comprehensive safety tips and emergency contact information for visitors, particularly foreign tourists. These measures, spearheaded by the Uttar Pradesh Police, cover everything from personal safety to avoiding scams, ensuring that Prayagraj remains a welcoming and secure destination.

In conclusion, Prayagraj in 2025 is a city of contrasts. It is a city of resilience, battling a severe flood with coordinated relief efforts, and a city of ambition, laying the groundwork for a modern, tourist-friendly, and technologically advanced future. The current challenges are immense, but the strategic investments in infrastructure, tourism, and smart city projects suggest a long-term vision focused on growth, sustainability, and improved civic life for all its residents and visitors.