Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 12: North Central Railways (NCR) is fully prepared to handle the massive influx of pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh, with plans to operate over 300 trains, including 80 special services, to ensure smooth transportation for devotees traveling to Prayagraj, according to an NCR official.
Ahead of the Maha Kumbh’s commencement, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NCR, Shashi Kant Tripathi, stated that all necessary arrangements have been completed, including crowd management, ticketing, train services, and security measures.
The CPRO outlined the train services for the event, mentioning that unreserved short-distance regular trains would begin service on January 13. “Our preparations began two years ago, and we are now ready to welcome passengers. Long-distance special trains started on January 1, and ring rail services began on January 10,” he explained. “More than 80 Mela Special Trains will operate starting tomorrow, bringing the total number of trains in service to around 300.”
Tripathi also highlighted the importance of the upcoming Makar Sankranti on January 14, as inward special train services have already been launched to handle the increased number of passengers.
Additionally, approximately 4,000 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 10,000 from the Government Railway Police (GRP), and other departmental officials have been deployed to support the Kumbh operations. NCR is prepared to evacuate up to 4-5 lakh people from Prayagraj if needed, with staff from various zonal railways and Indian Railways assisting in the effort.
To manage crowd flow, specific entry and exit points have been designated at the stations, with operational ticket counters and Yatri Ashray Sheds in the Mela area. Tripathi emphasized that unidirectional movement has been enforced to prevent congestion and ensure smooth access to transportation.
The NCR has also implemented multilingual announcements, toll-free numbers, and information screens to address language barriers and help guide pilgrims.
Earlier in January, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, revealed that the railways would run around 13,000 trains during the Kumbh Mela to accommodate the expected influx of around 40 crore visitors.
Passenger facilities at key stations near the Kumbh Mela venues have also been enhanced to improve services for the millions of devotees attending the event.
The Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, is expected to attract over 45 crore pilgrims. The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami), with the event concluding on February 26.