'If Films Can Be Exempted From Tax...': Akhilesh Demands Toll Fee Waiver Amid Rush For Maha Kumbh

Earlier, Akhilesh had asked the government to make emergency arrangements for the stranded devotees. Prayagraj Sangam railway station have been closed till Friday due to excessive crowd.

File photo of SP leader Akhilesh Yadav.

Source : PTI

Prayagraj is seeing severe traffic congestion as millions of devotees are still coming to the city for the ongoing Maha Kumbh. Prayagraj Sangam railway station was closed till Friday due to excessive crowd outside the station.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government should waive the toll for vehicles going for Maha Kumbh. 

Taking a jibe at the Yogi government, the former CM said, "On the occasion of Maha Kumbh, vehicles should be made toll-free in UP, which will reduce travel hindrances and also the problem of traffic jams. If films can be exempted from entertainment tax, then why shouldn’t vehicles be exempted from toll charges during this grand religious event?"

Earlier, Akhilesh had asked the government to make emergency arrangements for the stranded devotees. 

महाकुंभ के अवसर पर उप्र में वाहनों को टोल मुक्त किया जाना चाहिए, इससे यात्रा की बाधा भी कम होगी और जाम का संकट भी। जब फ़िल्मों को मनोरंजन कर मुक्त किया जा सकता है तो महाकुंभ के महापर्व पर गाड़ियों को कर मुक्त क्यों नहीं? pic.twitter.com/1ceISd8WNK

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 9, 2025

"Emergency arrangements should be made immediately for the crores of devotees stranded in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The hungry, thirsty, distressed and tired pilgrims in the traffic jam everywhere should be looked at with a humane perspective. Is the common devotee not a human being?" Akhilesh said in a post on X.

"There is already a jam in Nawabganj 30 kms before the entry into Prayagraj towards Lucknow, a jam in Gauhania 16 kms before the Rewa road, and a jam of 12 to 15 kms towards Varanasi and news of the crowd entering even the engine of the train is being published everywhere. Normal life has become difficult," he wrote on the social media platform.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday urged devotees not to move towards Prayagraj for the next couple of days for the Maha Kumbh. 

Over the last few days, heavy traffic jams were witnessed across Jabalpur, Seoni, Katni, Maihar, Satna and Rewa districts as a large number of vehicles headed towards Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh.

"There is pressure on traffic in areas of the state adjoining Prayagraj, especially in Rewanchal (places surrounding Rewa district), as people have travelled from other states. I am requesting all not to move ahead on this road for the next couple of days," Yadav said. 

Over 1.42 crore devotees took bath in Ganga and Sangam till 6 pm on Sunday, according to the stage government data. More than 42 crore devotees have so far taken a dip in Ganga and Sangam since the Maha Kumbh began.