At least three lakh people are expected to attend the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation on June 6 at the Raigad fort, which can accommodate at best 25,000 people at a time, and allows entry of just four to five people through its main entrance—Maha Darwaza. The statistics are enough to send warning bells to the preparations committee of Maharashtra government if they do not want a repeat of the Kharghar stampede.

The hill fort, built as part of warfare architecture, limits mass entry and large gatherings, while plans are afoot to have a mass congregation next month. A senior official attached to Mantralaya who is privy to the administration’s preparations, told mid-day that the biggest concern before the state machinery and police department is crowd turnout and management.