Meticulous planning pays off as Vizag yoga day event concludes without a hitch

Visakhapatnam: Meticulous month-long planning made the International Yoga Day event in Visakhapatnam, graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, a resounding success. Despite the turnout of over three lakh participants on a 26-kilometre stretch starting from RK beach, a compartmentalised coordination system involving nearly 30 govt employees and volunteers overseeing logistics such as transportation, food, sanitation, and crowd flow of each compartment ensured the event progressed seamlessly.

When TOI visited these compartments on Saturday, each appeared to function as a self-contained operational unit within the broader event setup. Staffing was both hierarchical and cross-functional, designed to facilitate smooth service delivery and participant engagement. A key highlight was the integration of the health workforce, with one ANM and one ASHA worker assigned to each compartment (covering approximately 1,000 participants).

Meanwhile, the pyramid-shaped supervisory structure established a clear vertical chain of command. At the apex stood the minister, with IAS officers serving as stretch in-charges, followed by deputy collectors acting as sector in-charges. Tahsildars oversaw blocks of five compartments each. Beneath each compartment were focal in-charges for water, sanitation, and medical services. In all, food and other arrangements were made for five lakh people, allowing for additional participants to join at the last minute.

Two 10-bed hospitals were established at RK beach and one at the Andhra University grounds. Moreover, six 5-bed hospitals were arranged, strategically located at intervals of every five kilometres, alongside the deployment of 70 ambulances. Advanced technology and control room infrastructure were utilised for transportation, logistics, crowd monitoring, and real-time coordination. This framework enabled decentralised execution while preserving centralised accountability.

Contrary to apprehensions of traffic congestion and chaos – especially before and after such a high-footfall event - pre-designated parking zones, restrictions on private vehicles, and disciplined crowd control measures significantly contributed to its smooth conduct. A large number of security personnel were deployed for crowd and traffic management. Even at non-focal points, a visible police presence maintained order.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with several ministers, participated in a series of high-level review meetings throughout the past month. They were present at the venues almost daily in the lead-up to the event, including a trial run conducted two days earlier. The chief minister also visited the main event site opposite RK beach to inspect various aspects of logistics, civic services, safety protocols, and emergency medical readiness.

Speaking to the media after the event, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu said that despite drawing over three lakh participants, the event concluded without a single adverse incident. "Technology was leveraged to great effect. Tracking was monitored continuously from the control rooms. Interestingly, we received no complaints from anyone. A notable highlight of the event was the use of a QR code-based participant tracking system, which yielded highly accurate attendance data and set a new benchmark for public events," he said.

Dr T Venkateswara Rao, a noted paediatrician from MVP Colony in Visakhapatnam, said that the event fostered a sense of community spirit and heightened public health awareness. "The huge voluntary turnout by the public is evidence of this. Proper planning and execution enabled the event to proceed smoothly and efficiently," he observed.

Given the significance of the Prime Minister's participation, the state govt constituted an organising committee about a month ago comprising several ministers, including IT minister Nara Lokesh, along with senior officials.