In preparation for the grand Mahakumbh 2025, Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated a dedicated ‘war room’ at Rail Bhavan to monitor nine key railway stations in the Prayagraj region through 1,186 CCTV cameras.
The initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to ensure smooth operations and enhanced security during the Mahakumbh Mela, which is expected to attract over 40 crore devotees.
The war room, set up by the Railway Board, will provide real-time surveillance through 764 newly installed cameras, with 116 of these equipped for facial recognition.
A five-tier system has been put in place to analyze the camera feeds, track platform activities, and oversee passenger flow. Centralized control rooms at each station will coordinate with the war room for round-the-clock supervision.
Passenger Convenience at the Forefront
During the inauguration, Vaishnaw also launched a multilingual passenger guide booklet, available in 22 Indian languages and English, and announced the commencement of announcements in 12 Indian languages at Prayagraj station.
Highlighting the cultural significance of the Mahakumbh, the minister emphasized that Indian Railways has made extensive arrangements to facilitate the travel of devotees to Prayagraj for the sacred bathing at the Sangam.
To manage the increased influx of passengers, Indian Railways has bolstered its infrastructure, including the construction of 21 new Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs), and the closure of all level crossing gates in the region.
A color-coded ticketing system has been introduced to streamline unreserved passengers’ entry at Prayagraj Junction and other stations.
Enhanced Facilities and Infrastructure
Indian Railways has also expanded platform capacity across nine Prayagraj region stations, including Prayagraj Junction, Naini Junction, and Phaphamau Junction, increasing the total number of platforms to 48. Seven new stations have been developed with second entry points, and Subedarganj station has been designated as a satellite hub for Prayagraj Junction.
To support passenger flow, 17 new temporary passenger shelters have been added, bringing the total to 28 shelters in the region. These shelters now have a holding capacity of 110,000 passengers, a significant increase from the previous 21,000.
Indian Railways has also made provisions to issue over 10 lakh tickets daily, incorporating a digital UTS barcode system to facilitate smoother ticketing.
Security and Assistance for Devotees
Over 13,000 railway employees and 10,000 personnel from the Government Railway Police have been deployed to manage operations and assist passengers.
An additional 1,000 volunteers will help travellers, and cleanliness teams will work around the clock to maintain hygiene at stations. First aid booths and medical observation rooms staffed with doctors and medical personnel will be operational at all stations.
The stations have also been adorned with over 20,000 square meters of Kumbh-themed artwork to reflect the cultural grandeur of the Mahakumbh. New foot overbridges, ramps, and color-coded foot markers have been installed for passenger convenience.
Special Arrangements for Key Bathing Dates
The Mahakumbh 2025, to be held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, will take place from January 13 to February 26, 2025. The Indian Railways has made special arrangements for the key dates on which the pilgrims are expected to come in large numbers, such as Paush Purnima: January 13, 2025, Makar Sankranti: January 14, 2025, Mauni Amavasya: January 29, 2025, Basant Panchami: February 3, 2025, Magh Purnima: February 12, 2025 and Maha Shivaratri: February 26, 2025
With extensive preparations and a robust monitoring system in place, Indian Railways is playing a pivotal role in ensuring the successful execution of Mahakumbh 2025, which is expected to see participation from devotees across India and over 100 countries worldwide.
