Lagatar24 Desk
Prayagraj: The grand Mahakumbh Mela is set to commence on January 13, 2025 (Paush Purnima) at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Indian Railways has announced comprehensive arrangements to facilitate the influx of devotees, including the operation of 3,000 special trains. Among these, 560 trains will ply on the ring rail routes, revealed North Central Railway General Manager Upendra Chandra Joshi.
Preparations are also in place at nine key railway stations—Prayagraj Junction, Subedarganj, Naini, Prayagraj Chheoki, Prayag Junction, Phaphamau, Prayagraj Rambagh, Prayagraj Sangam, and Jhusi—with 560 ticketing points set up for pilgrims.
Advance Ticketing for Devotees
To ensure smooth travel, Indian Railways has implemented a system allowing tickets to be booked 15 days in advance. According to the General Manager, these points are expected to distribute nearly 10 lakh tickets daily.
The ring rail route will cover Prayagraj-Ayodhya-Varanasi-Prayagraj, Prayagraj Sangam-Jaunpur-Prayag-Prayagraj, Govindpuri-Prayagraj-Chitrakoot-Govindpuri, and Jhansi-Govindpuri-Prayagraj-Manikpur-Chitrakoot-Jhansi routes.
Train Operations for Mahakumbh
Indian Railways plans to operate over 10,000 regular and 3,000 special trains. Among the special trains, 1,800 will run on short routes and 700 on long routes. Security measures include deploying over 18,000 RPF and SRP personnel.
Medical and Security Arrangements
Prayagraj Junction has been equipped with a six-bed observation room featuring oxygen cylinders, concentrators, ECG machines, glucometers, nebulizers, and stretchers. Additionally, 1,186 CCTV cameras have been installed, including 116 powered by AI technology.
Special Train Routes and Schedules
The train schedule includes services from Mysuru to Kamakhya and Valsad to Rajkot, among others. Specific trains include:
• Tatanagar-Tundla-Tatanagar
• Ranchi-Tundla-Ranchi
• Patna-Prayagraj-Patna
• Ahmedabad-Janghai-Ahmedabad
• Rajkot-Varanasi-Rajkot
Mahakumbh Mela Highlights
Mahakumbh will conclude on February 26, 2025, on Maha Shivaratri. The mela area has been meticulously prepared with 1.6 lakh tents, 1.5 lakh toilets, and 15,000 sanitation workers. A 1,250-km-long pipeline ensures water supply, while 67,000 LED lights, 2,000 solar lights, and 3 lakh plants enhance the ambiance. Additionally, nine permanent ghats, seven riverfront roads, and temporary ghats spanning 12 km are under rapid construction.
