The final Amrit Snan of the Mahakumbh 2025 is scheduled for February 26. A large number of pilgrims from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bengal, and others, have gathered in Prayagraj to bathe at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. On Sunday and Monday, there was a high number of passengers at stations such as Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Sasaram, Katihar, Khagaria, Saharsa, Jaynagar, and Darbhanga in Bihar. Similarly, there was an increased number of pilgrims at stations in Uttar Pradesh, such as Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gonda, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and Jhansi, among others. Stations in Madhya Pradesh, like Chitrakoot, Jabalpur, Satna, and Khajuraho, also saw high footfall, while a significant number of passengers also traveled from Jharkhand's Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi, Garhwa, and Medininagar stations to Prayagraj.

After the Amrit Snan, a large number of people are expected to return to their hometowns, likely leading to heavy crowds at railway stations. Keeping this in mind, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and Northern Railway have made extensive preparations, directing all officials and staff to remain vigilant at their workstations. On the occasion of Mouni Amavasya, over 360 trains were operated, successfully transporting more than 20 lakh people to their destinations. Similarly, special arrangements have been made to run additional trains after the Maha Shivaratri Snan, with extra rakes stationed near Prayagraj for use as needed. Initially, the railway had planned for the operation of approximately 13,500 trains during the Maha Kumbh. However, as of the 42nd day, more than 15,000 trains, including a large number of special trains, have already been run.

Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw is closely monitoring the entire railway operation. Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar, is actively overseeing train operations. General Managers of the three zonal railways, along with their teams, are working to strengthen railway arrangements. The railway minister has directed the Chairman of the Railway Board and General Managers of all zonal railways to ensure the utmost care for Maha Kumbh passengers and operate additional special trains if needed.

In light of the large number of pilgrims expected on Maha Shivaratri, the railway administration has made arrangements for the convenience of passengers, including security, shelters, and easy ticketing, in addition to running a large number of trains. Over 1,500 commercial department staff and 3,000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been deployed at all stations in the Prayagraj region. Additionally, 29 squads of the Railway Protection Special Force, 2 squads of the Women Railway Protection Special Force, 22 dog squads, and 2 bomb disposal squads have been stationed in Prayagraj. Teams from Scouts & Guides, Civil Defense, and other departments are working to provide better travel facilities for the pilgrims.

To ensure a smooth journey for pilgrims, internal movement plans have been implemented at all stations in the Prayagraj region, and pilgrims have been transported to their destinations via special trains. At Prayagraj Junction, passengers were directed to specific shelters based on their destinations and then taken by special trains to their respective locations. When the number of passengers increased, the railway implemented its emergency plan by holding passengers at Khusro Bagh. Passengers were then directed to enter the station safely through designated shelters before boarding the trains. All activities were monitored by senior officials of the Prayagraj Division from the control tower at Prayagraj Junction, and timely decisions were made to prevent disruptions in train operations and ensure the safe departure of pilgrims on special trains.

Medical facilities were also available at various stations, where serious cases of pilgrims were treated in observation rooms. During the Maha Kumbh 2025, many pilgrims made use of the digital services offered by the railway. Millions of passengers accessed the website and the Kumbh app for their travel needs. During the final weekend of the Maha Kumbh, the railway efficiently managed both regular and special trains. On Sunday, it successfully operated 335 trains, transporting over 16 lakh people to their destinations.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Shatrunjay Kumar