Mahakumbh-2025: Construction of adequate barracks for RPF soldiers

Prayagraj bureau: World’s largest religious event #Mahakumbh is just a little more than a year away from now. Millions of devotees from all over the world converge at #Prayagraj #Sangam to fulfill their lifelong religious obligations and commitments.

This mega event poses a challenge to administration. The event demands elaborate arrangements for transportation, accommodation, security, disaster preparedness, health, sanitation etc. Indian Railways, being the most preferred mode of mass transit has a lot to do to meet the expectations of the public. Major railway stations in and around Prayagraj will no doubt witness unprecedented crowds. A lot of special trains will have to be run to and from different corners of the country.

Railway Protection Force/NCR is getting ready to brace itself for the mega event. RPF in the past also made elaborate security arrangements in coordination with railway administration, GRP, Civil Police and civil administration to streamline the movement of passengers into and out of railway stations, guiding the passengers to their trains and facilitating free movement on platforms and foot over bridges etc.

Elaborate and extensive security arrangements by RPF also require additional manpower. About 2,000 #RPF/#RPSF personnel will be called in from different parts of the country to make full proof security arrangements. During #Mahakumbh-2025 also RPF/NCR is planning to mobilize about 3,000 personnel well in advance, regularly brief them about the importance of mega event and acquaint them of soft skills needed to deal with the passengers coming to Prayagraj area.

In earlier years #RPF/#RPSF personnel coming for Kumbh Mela security duties used to have tough time in finding #accommodation for their stay. Temporary arrangement used to be made to adjust them in vacant railway quarters, make-shift tents, waiting rooms at stations, old goods sheds etc.

To overcome this accommodation issue, RPF/NCR under the guidance of Amiya Nandan Sinha, IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner has initiated proposals to construct additional barracks for RPF/RPSF personnel coming for security duties.

One such noteworthy proposal is for construction of 200 bedded multi-storied #barrack near Prayagraj Station at an estimated cost of 14.81 crores. Tender also has been floated for construction of this barrack before #Mahakumbh-2025. This barrack is of ground floor plus two capacity and has provision of accommodation for subordinate officers and constabulary. Facilities like kitchen, dining hall, recreation hall, yoga room and state-of-the-art gym are also planned to provide comfortable environment to the force personnel.

In addition to the 200 bedded barrack, one more barrack is under construction at Subedarganj for accommodating security personnel who will be deployed around Subedarganj area. To make security arrangements at Prayagraj Chheoki and Naini stations, two barracks are under construction at #Prayagraj #Chheoki and #Naini. One barrack to accommodate about 30 security personnel is under construction at Vindhyachal.

The existing barrack at #Prayagraj is also being renovated to augment its capacity. Construction of barracks at different locations in and around Prayagraj area will reduce transportation requirements and save time. Shri Amiya Nandan Sinha, IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner is regularly monitoring the progress of construction work with Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Prayagraj and other Senior officers at divisional and zonal level. With many proposals at advanced stage of work, they will surely cater to the accommodation requirements of #RPF/#RPSF personnel who will be deployed for security duties during Maha Kumbh 2025.