Maha Kumbh: Railways To Run Over 350 Trains From Prayagraj To Handle ‘Amrit Snan’ Return Rush

The Railways initially planned to operate approximately 13,500 trains. However, by the 42nd day, over 15,000 trains, including a large number of special trains, had already been operated.

The Indian Railway has decided to operate over 350 trains from Prayagraj to manage the heavy rush of devotees returning home on the final day of 'Amrit Snan' of Mahakumbh 2025 which is scheduled for February 26.

After the Amrit Snan, a huge crowd of devotees is expected to return to their hometowns, leading to a heavy rush at railway stations. To manage this, the North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and Northern Railway have made extensive preparations and have instructed all officials and staff to remain vigilant at their designated posts.

A large number of devotees from various states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal have gathered in Prayagraj to bathe at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

On Sunday and Monday, there was a significant increase in passengers at stations in Bihar such as Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Sasaram, Katihar, Khagaria, Saharsa, Jaynagar, and Darbhanga. Similarly, railway stations in Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gonda, Deendayal Upadhyay, and Jhansi, saw a surge in passengers heading to Prayagraj.

Stations in Madhya Pradesh such as Chitrakoot, Jabalpur, Satna, Khajuraho, and Jharkhand, including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi, Garhwa, and Medininagar, also witnessed a massive rush of devotees traveling to Prayagraj.

During Mauni Amavasya, the Railways successfully operated over 360 trains, facilitating the travel of more than 20 lakh (2 million) passengers to their destinations. A similar plan has been devised for Mahashivratri Snan, with additional trains being arranged to accommodate the large number of devotees. Extra train rakes have been kept ready near Prayagraj stations and will be deployed as needed.

According to sources, the Railways initially planned to operate approximately 13,500 trains during Mahakumbh 2025. However, by the 42nd day, over 15,000 trains, including a large number of special trains, had already been operated. The entire railway operation is being personally overseen by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Additionally, Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, is continuously monitoring the train operations. The General Managers of the three zonal railways are also actively working with their teams to strengthen the railway system.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has instructed the Railway Board Chairman and all Zonal General Managers to ensure smooth travel for Mahakumbh pilgrims. He has also directed that additional special trains be introduced if necessary.

Enhanced Security And Passenger Facilities At Stations

Considering the expected rush during Mahashivratri, the Railway Administration has made extensive arrangements for security, shelter, seamless ticket distribution, and the operation of additional trains for devotees.

At various Prayagraj stations, over 1,500 personnel from the Railway Commercial Department and 3,000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been deployed. Security arrangements include: 29 units of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), 2 units of Women RPSF, 22 Dog Squads, and 2 Bomb Disposal Squads.

Additionally, teams from Scouts & Guides, Civil Defense, and various railway departments are actively working to provide better travel facilities for pilgrims attending Mahakumbh.

To facilitate smooth movement, an internal movement plan has been implemented at all railway stations in Prayagraj. Special trains have been arranged to transport devotees to their destinations. At Prayagraj Junction, passengers were first directed to designated passenger shelters, from where they were systematically boarded onto special trains.

In case of overcrowding, the Railways activated its emergency plan, temporarily holding passengers at Khusro Bagh before systematically guiding them to the station and boarding them onto trains in a controlled manner. Senior officials at the Prayagraj Division continuously monitored the situation from the Control Tower and made immediate decisions to ensure smooth train operations.

At various stations, observation rooms were also set up to provide medical assistance to pilgrims in critical condition.

Pilgrims attending Mahakumbh 2025 have widely used Indian Railways’ digital services, with lakhs of passengers accessing the web portal and Kumbh App for travel information.

Even during the final weekend of Mahakumbh, the railway team efficiently managed regular and special trains. On Sunday, the Railways operated 335 trains, successfully transporting over 16 lakh (1.6 million) passengers to their destinations.