Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: In a move to accommodate the overwhelming number of pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela, Indian Railways has announced the cancellation of 18 long-distance train services. This move is in relation to the starting of 706 long-distance and 1,869 short-distance special trains proposed to carry enormous pilgrim traffic toward the city for observing Mauni Amavasya on January 29 and Basant Panchami on February 3. The cancellations are required by the heavy crowd of Kumbh special trains. The regular trains have been adversely affected by those delays.
Cancellations For What Reason
The cancellation of these long-distance trains is mainly because of the logistical issues that arise due to the huge inflow of devotees to Prayagraj. The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious congregations in the world, attracts millions of people to the city for spiritual rituals. This year, the Mauni Amavasya, which falls on January 29, and Basant Panchami, scheduled for February 3, are expected to attract even more people.
The railway authorities have said that these special trains are required to deal with the large number of pilgrims coming from all corners of the country. Thus, 18 long-distance trains have been cancelled, and 28 trains will be diverted to other routes to make way for Kumbh Mela traffic. Several regular trains have also been diverted to alternative stations to ensure smooth operation of the Kumbh special services.
Details of the Cancelled and Diverted Trains
Among the notable cancellations, several prominent long-distance trains will not run on the specified dates. These include:
- Kamakhya-Delhi Brahmaputra Mail (January 28, February 2)
- Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express (January 28, February 2)
- Gaya-New Delhi Mahabodhi Express and New Delhi-Gaya Mahabodhi Express (January 29, February 3)
- Rewa-Anand Vihar Express and Anand Vihar-Kamakhya Express (January 29, February 3)
- Delhi-Alipurduar, Bhagalpur-New Delhi, Bikaner-Guwahati, and New Delhi-Bhagalpur (all on January 29, February 3)
- Banaras-Udhna, Anand Vihar-Jogbani, Anand Vihar-Madhupur, and Anand Vihar-Puri (on January 29)
- Jodhpur-Howrah, Bhavnagar-Asansol, and Jammu Tawi-Sambalpur (on January 28)
- Kalka-Howrah Netaji Express (January 28, February 2)
- Bikaner-Howrah (February 2)
The purpose behind these cancellations is to provide smooth operations for Kumbh Mela services and prevent congestion at stations as well as inside the trains. It has been reiterated by the authorities that such cancellations were needed because pilgrims were in more demand of extra services of train transport during the current time.
Some Trains Rerouted/Change of Origin Stations
In addition to cancellation, a number of trains would be diverted or from other stations. For example, the Humsafar Express to Delhi would start from Subedarganj instead of Prayagraj Junction because at the time of Kumbh, the station is going to remain heavily congested. In another example, two trains, namely Bhiwani Kalindi Express and Dr Ambedkar Nagar, won’t be passing from Prayagraj Junction. The famous Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express will have to face detours on some of its courses because of this Kumbh Mela diversion.
For passengers with reservations from Prayagraj, it is being advised to cancel the tickets and make alternative arrangements. The modified routes and station changes are expected to minimize disruptions to regular services while accommodating the increased number of Kumbh special trains.
Changes in Train Stoppages
Many trains will also face a change in stoppages. The MEMU train originating from Kanpur will no longer run to its original destination and instead terminate at Prayagraj Junction. The Itarsi-Prayagraj Chheoki Express is another local train that will run till Chunar and no longer halt at Prayagraj Junction.
Moreover, the Pt Deendayal Upadhyay-Subedarganj MEMU service will be continued up to Fatehpur. The railway officials have implemented this measure in a bid to mitigate congestion in trains and passengers at such times.
Dealing with Unreserved Ticket Passengers
To cater to the influx of passengers who do not have a reserved ticket, the Railways has created impromptu holding stations at Prayagraj. These holding stations shall be color-coded for passengers traveling in different directions. Passengers without a reserved ticket shall be escorted to holding stations near Khusro Bagh and made to wait till they are called upon their particular trains.
There is a holding area exclusively for the passengers holding reserved tickets. The holding area, marked in white, is situated near DSA ground, and passengers will be allowed to enter the station from the city side through Gate Number 5.
Travel of Pilgrims Without Hassle
In addition to the above preparations, Indian Railways makes announcements regularly at the holding area for reserved ticket passengers. Any passenger who urgently needs to enter the station can approach the authorities concerned and, upon verification of his ticket, will be allowed inside.
Authorities are working around the clock to ensure that the passengers traveling for the Kumbh Mela are not inconvenienced. To streamline the flow of passengers, special arrangements, such as additional staff and crowd management measures, will be put in place at key stations like Prayagraj Junction.
Railway Advice for Passengers
The railways have issued a public advisory to passengers and instructed them to follow the train’s status update from the website or mobile app in case it has been cancelled, diverted, or postponed. People whose trains are cancelled are suggested to make other arrangements for travelling. Reimbursement of money would be provided for those trains whose journey was cancelled.
The Railway authorities further warned that with such a high number of passengers traveling during Kumbh Mela, stations and trains could get overcrowded, and they request the passengers to adhere to safety measures and cooperate with station and train staff.
Kumbh Mela is an auspicious festival for millions of devotees visiting Prayagraj for participating in religious rituals. The railway system has undertaken thorough preparations in ensuring that this transportation of people takes place very smoothly. Therefore, the long-distance trains from Indian Railways to cancel 18 of them as well as a considerable number of those are being routed differently to absorb such large numbers of special trains necessary for this month. While these changes are inconvenient to regular train services, they are important for managing the huge influx of passengers and maintaining order during the Mela. Travelers are advised to check the latest information from Indian Railways to make their journeys as smooth as possible.
Prayagraj Railway Station to Kumbh Mela Distance
The Kumbh Mela grounds are about 10–12 kilometres from Prayagraj Railway Station, depending on the route taken. With millions of devotees attending, Kumbh traffic diversions and dedicated routes help manage the crowds efficiently. Special arrangements like Kumbh Mela train diversions ensure smooth rail operations and accommodate pilgrims travelling by train. Visitors should stay updated on traffic and train schedules during the festival to avoid delays. Proper planning can help navigate the bustling environment more comfortably during this grand event.
