Railways to run 800 special trains for Kumbh Mela 2019

December 16: Prayagraj Kumbh Mela is an occasional event and this time it will take place at Triveni Sangam in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj next year starting from January 15 till March. To make Kumbh 2019 an event of unparalleled grandeur, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken multiple measures for ensuring the efficient running of the Mela. Unprecedented sustainable construction work is being done. Construction of flyovers, railway under bridges, road widening in the city and beautification of major intersections are few highlights of the massive construction and upgradation tasks being undertaken to make Prayagraj ready for Kumbh 2019.

The Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology. It is the largest public gathering and collective act of faith, anywhere in the world. The Mela draws tens of millions of pilgrims over the course of approximately 55 auspicious days to bathe at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mystical Sarasvati.

To facilitate pilgrims arriving in large numbers during the Kumbh Mela in 2019, the Railways has proposed running 800 special trains from various stations of Allahabad district, an official has said. These trains would be in addition to the regular trains run by the North Central Railway (NCR). North Central Railway (NCR) PRO NCR Amit Malviya said, “Six special trains will come to Allahabad from different railway zones of the country for pilgrims and tourists participating in the Kumbh Mela.”

The railways plans to operate four to five special trains to ferry 5,000 Pravasi Bhartiyas from Prayagraj to New Delhi, he added. They will be in Prayagraj to participate in the Kumbh Mela after attending the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas at Varanasi, which will be taken to New Delhi for Republic Day celebrations. Branding of the Kumbh Mela will be done on 1,400 coaches of special trains. The train coaches will be decorated with colourful and attractive images of the Kumbh Mela and landmark structures of Prayagraj.