Indian Railways’ Preparations for Mahakumbh-2025

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Prayagraj Bureau: Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has inaugurated several key initiatives to enhance Indian Railways’ readiness for Mahakumbh-2025 in the Prayagraj region. These measures aim to provide safe, seamless, and technologically advanced services for millions of pilgrims.

Key Announcements and Inaugurations

Launch of the Kumbh War Room
  • A dedicated War Room at the Railway Board level has been inaugurated.
  • The War Room will operate 24×7, with officials from Operations, Commercial, RPF, Mechanical, Engineering, and Electrical departments monitoring and coordinating activities.
  • 1,176 CCTV cameras installed at 9 stations in the Prayagraj region will provide live feeds for real-time monitoring.

Monitoring structure

  • Platform → Station → Divisional → District → Zonal → Railway Board.
  • The War Room will facilitate effective coordination between district authorities and railway officials, ensuring immediate assistance and operational efficiency.

Multilingual Communication Systems

  • 12-language announcement system inaugurated at Prayagraj, Naini, Cheoki, and Subedarganj stations to assist pilgrims.
  • Launch of a facilitation booklet in 22 languages, providing essential information for pilgrims.

Passenger Amenities in Prayagraj Region

Rail Network Enhancements
  • A total of 13,000 trains will operate during the Kumbh period.
  • 10,000 regular trains.
  • 3,134 special trains (4.5 times more than the previous Kumbh).
  • 1,869 short-distance trains.
  • 706 long-distance trains.
  • 559 ring trains.
  • Freight trains have been diverted to Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) to ensure smooth passenger train operations.
  • An investment of ₹5,000 crore has been made over the past three years for Kumbh-related projects.

Expanded Passenger Facilities

  • 48 platforms and 21 Foot Over Bridges (FoBs).
  • 23 permanent holding areas with a combined capacity of over 1 lakh pilgrims.
  • 554 ticketing counters, including 151 mobile UTS counters.
  • 21 ROBs/RUBs to enhance road and rail mobility.
  • 12-language announcement systems implemented across all 9 key stations.

Major Infrastructure Projects

  • Infrastructure development worth ₹3,700 crore includes-
  • Banaras-Prayagraj doubling project (including the Ganga Bridge).
  • Phaphamau-Janghai doubling project.

Pilgrim Numbers and Preparations

  • 40 crore pilgrims are expected to visit during Maha Kumbh 2025.
  • 5 crore pilgrims are anticipated on Mauni Amavasya alone.
  • To manage the crowd-
  • 1,176 CCTV cameras for real-time monitoring.
  • 23 holding areas with a capacity of over 1 lakh people.
  • Special color-coded tickets and barcode-enabled UTS systems have been introduced for smoother operations.

Railway Minister said, these initiatives aim to ensure a safe, efficient, and technology-driven experience for pilgrims during #Mahakumbh-2025, underscoring Indian Railways’ commitment to cultural and infrastructural excellence.