Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 1 (HBTV): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Prayagraj on Friday to commend the seamless coordination between different departments of Indian Railways, whose dedication ensured smooth travel and efficient execution of Mahakumbh 2025, according to a press statement on Thursday.

He reaffirmed Indian Railways' commitment to facilitating safe, efficient, and comfortable travel for all pilgrims during Mahakumbh 2025. Vaishnaw also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continuous guidance and thanked Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and the governments of neighbouring states for their cooperation in handling the massive influx of pilgrims.

During his visit, the Railway Minister personally met and appreciated every individual in the railway workforce who contributed to managing the event. From frontline staff assisting passengers to RPF, GRP, and police personnel ensuring security, from engineers maintaining seamless train operations to safai karmis upholding cleanliness, and from doctors and paramedics providing medical aid to help desk officials and booking staff facilitating travel—each contribution was recognised.

He also expressed gratitude to TTEs, drivers, assistant drivers, signal and telecom personnel, TRD and electrical teams, ASMs, control officials, trackmen, and railway administrators, whose coordinated efforts ensured the smooth execution of this large-scale operation. Walking through stations, he personally thanked every employee, offering words of encouragement to those working around the clock for a seamless Mahakumbh 2025 experience for millions of pilgrims.

Indian Railways significantly exceeded its initial operational plan for Mahakumbh 2025. A total of 17,152 trains were run, surpassing the originally planned 13,000 and marking a fourfold increase compared to the last Kumbh. This included 7,667 special and 9,485 regular trains, ensuring pilgrims reached their destinations smoothly. The total number of pilgrims attending Mahakumbh stood at 66 crores, with 4.24 crore passengers handled at the nine key railway stations of Prayagraj alone.

To accommodate the vast number of pilgrims, Indian Railways implemented extensive infrastructural and operational enhancements across nine key stations in Prayagraj, including second entry points, 48 platforms, and 21 foot overbridges (FoBs) to streamline movement. Surveillance was strengthened with 1,186 CCTV cameras, including facial recognition technology and drone monitoring for crowd control.

To manage peak-hour congestion, 23 permanent holding areas were established, while multilingual announcements and leaflets in 23 languages improved passenger communication. Ticketing facilities were expanded with 554 counters, including 151 mobile UTS counters and a QR-based system. Additionally, 21 road over and under bridges (ROBs/RUBs) were constructed to enhance connectivity.

Indian Railways also implemented a robust medical and emergency support system to ensure passenger safety and convenience. Centralised help desks, medical facilities, ambulances, fire brigades, and mobile toilets were deployed in coordination with district authorities, while additional catering services were arranged at stations.

To maintain smooth passenger movement, parcel traffic was restricted, and an app-based system was introduced for efficient staff deployment and accommodation. Continuous monitoring of rakes, coaches, and locomotives ensured operational efficiency, while focused efforts enabled the swift completion of the last 34 km of track linking in the Varanasi-Prayagraj section within a month.

The successful execution of Mahakumbh 2025 operations highlights Indian Railways' dedication to public service. Through multi-tier coordination and advanced crowd management, the railway network effectively transported millions of devotees.

Acknowledging this effort, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his gratitude to the entire railway workforce, whose dedication ensured smooth and efficient travel. Their commitment and teamwork have set a new benchmark in large-scale operational excellence, reinforcing Indian Railways' role as the backbone of the nation's transport system.

(ANI)