The Mahakumbh festival in India attracts millions of devotees seeking spiritual solace and purification, and this year, Indian Railways is making extraordinary efforts to accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims. As the festival reaches its peak, the railways are operating at full capacity to ensure smooth travel to and from the holy sites.
Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw recently addressed the media, reaffirming the railway’s commitment to facilitating travel during this significant event. Despite the overwhelming number of pilgrims, Indian Railways has managed the situation by running a record number of trains. On a single day, around 330 trains departed from eight stations in the Prayagraj area, transporting approximately 12.5 lakh passengers. The trains are running at intervals of just over four minutes, ensuring minimal waiting time for devotees after their holy bathing rituals.
With the current rush being unprecedented, Indian Railways is equipped to handle the demand. Each train rake can carry an average of 3,780 passengers, highlighting the scale of operations. Shri Satish Kumar, Chairman of the Railway Board, emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed about these efforts and reassured the public that all eight stations in the Prayagraj area, including Prayagraj Junction, are fully operational and efficiently managing the flow of passengers.
