Fri Feb 28 23:10:00 UTC 2025: ## South Central Railway Successfully Manages Massive Maha Kumbh Pilgrimage Traffic

**Hyderabad, March 1, 2025** – The South Central Railway (SCR) successfully managed the massive influx of pilgrims to the recently concluded Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Despite the official conclusion of the event on Maha Shivaratri, the railway continues to run special trains until March 8th to accommodate the ongoing flow of devotees.

An estimated five lakh pilgrims utilized SCR’s services, traveling on approximately 150 trains, including 88 regular services and 13 pairs of special trains from other zones. Two “Bharat Gaurav” pilgrim special trains also operated, carrying 1,500 devotees each on escorted tours of significant religious sites.

SCR Chief Public Relations Officer A. Sridhar attributed the smooth operation to the staggered arrival of pilgrims over the past two months, starting January 8th. He noted that this was less challenging than managing peak crowds during Dasara and Sankranti festivals. The commissioning of the new Cherlapalli terminal station also helped alleviate pressure on the redeveloping Secunderabad station.

Despite a ten-day disruption to the daily Danapur Express due to logistical issues, SCR deployed 150 personnel to Prayagraj to assist with crowd management and train operations across the city’s eight railway stations. A temporary station closure near the main bathing ghat was briefly necessary due to overwhelming crowds. A war room monitored services and crowds, and additional security and staff were deployed to maintain order, especially in light of recent incidents at other stations.

Indian Railways reported operating over 17,000 trains (exceeding the planned 13,000), handling 4.24 crore passengers at Prayagraj stations during the pilgrimage period. The continued high demand for train services reflects pilgrims’ desire to visit nearby holy sites like Ayodhya and Varanasi following their dip in the Triveni Sangamam.

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