Prayagraj Gears Up for Mahakumbh 2025 with Strategic Rail Preparations

Prayagraj Railway Division sets special routes and facilities for Mahakumbh 2025, ensuring smooth travel for millions of devotees. Key bathing festivals will see dedicated entry/exit pathways to prevent crowd chaos, supported by passenger shelters and special train operations planned by the Indian Railways.

The Prayagraj Railway Division is meticulously preparing for the Mahakumbh 2025, aiming to facilitate seamless travel for the millions of devotees expected. As part of these efforts, dedicated entry and exit routes have been laid out at all stations to manage the influx during pivotal bathing festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, and Maghi Purnima, thus maintaining orderly pilgrim movement.

NCR GM Umesh Chandra Joshi detailed the plan during a press conference, emphasizing strategic entry and exit points at Prayagraj Division stations for the main bathing events. He highlighted that at Prayagraj Junction, entry will be restricted to the city side through platform no. 1, while exits will channel through the Civil Lines side to streamline passenger flow.

Unreserved passengers will be directed to their trains via designated shelters, sorted by destination. Reserved passengers have a separate entry at gate number 5 at Prayagraj Junction's city side. At Naini Junction, entry is through Station Road, with exits mapped to another gate toward the warehouse. At Chheoki and Subedarganj stations, entries and exits are similarly planned to mitigate congestion.

Phaphamau station designates entry through a secondary platform, with exits leading to Phaphamau Market, ensuring an organized commuter experience. Prayagraj Rambagh station will guide entry from its main point and exit via Louder Road. Notably, Prayagraj Sangam and Daraganj will be closed due to their location within the fairgrounds, reducing potential safety concerns. To accommodate the influx, shelters with a capacity for thousands are color-coded to assist passengers efficiently.

Unreserved ticketing facilities, including counters and mobile options, will be available in the shelters, with reserved passengers granted platform access 30 minutes pre-train arrival. The division's comprehensive strategy aims to manage the crowd effectively and ensure safety. Highlighted in previous plans by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the operation of around 13,000 trains, comprising 3,000 specials, targets the expected 450 million visitors, including 100 million train travelers to Prayagraj.

(With inputs from agencies.)