Maha Kumbh 2025: As India prepares for grand event, Railways spends over Rs 5,000 crore in 2 years; 3,000 special trains on the cards

As the country awaits the 2025 edition of the Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest congregations of people, the Indian Railways is learned to have already spent more than Rs 5,000 crore in the past two years on special arrangements. The Railways, one of the world's largest employers, plans to operate more than 13,000 trains to cater to the grand mela including 3,000 special trains. To ensure seamless rail connectivity in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the authorities have successfully constructed 21 road over bridges (ROB) and road under bridges (RUB). 

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday inspected the preparations for the grand Maha Kumbh festival in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj region, where he first inspected the ongoing development works at the Jhunsi Railway station and then a newly-constructed bridge under a project involving the doubling of the Prayagraj-Varanasi railway route on the Ganga river.

He also took stock of the ongoing development works at the Phaphamau station under the redevelopment plan and gave necessary instructions to the concerned officials.

The minister also visited and inspected the Prayag Junction station, engaging in detailed discussions on measures to ensure passenger convenience. The Prayagraj Junction station is being developed under the Indain Railways' Station Redevelopment Plan, an ambitious programme aimed at redeveloping hundreds of railway stations across the country. 

The Union Minister inspected the passenger shelter at Prayagraj Junction and took stock of the ticket counter, colour coding and available signage outside the shelter.

The minister directed stakeholders on several key aspects to achieve this goal. He carefully observed all the arrangements covering areas such as medical and emergency services, cleanliness and beautification, passenger safety and security, and timely operation of trains at these stations.

The Railway Minister also engaged with the concerned officials to ensure a range of special arrangements for the grand event, covering crucial safety areas such as crowd management and control.

He also closely inspected the arrangements made in terms of catering, lighting, drinking water, medical booth, public facilities, and security arrangements in the passenger shelter.