Prayagraj, February 2025 the Mahakumbh, one of the largest congregations in the world, has turned Prayagraj into a city teeming with millions of pilgrims coming from all corners of India and abroad. However, this pilgrimage of devotees, coupled with limited movement by the local authority restricting traffic to control the crowd, has led to unexpected problems both for residents and visitors to this city. Restrictions on movement have caused a food and fuel shortage, and with all the complexities of organizing such a massive event, it has been a logistical nightmare. This is a detailed look into the issues that have emerged owing to these heavy restrictions.
Traffic Restrictions and Their Impact
Mahakumbh is a religious festival which takes place only after 12 years. This event accommodates millions of followers. To run the festival with a smooth experience and manage the crowds, traffic in Prayagraj city has been seriously handled by authorities. Several prominent routes into the city have been shut or diverted which makes delivery of goods and supplies to target difficult.
Restriction to the access of market places and resident places
Congestion and blockade of roads have seriously affected the delivery of essentials such as food and daily commodities. The local markets, especially those on the outskirts of the city, are struggling to stock their shelves due to transportation delays. “Our suppliers can’t get through the checkpoints, and as a result, we’ve been struggling to get fresh produce and other essential items,” said a local shopkeeper in Prayagraj.
Limited Movement of Vehicles
Commercial movement of supplies including lorry-load food and fuel supplies are also not allowed to enter the city, which accumulate in warehouses outside the city for clearance. So, it is creating its ripple effect on the availability of food. As a result, prices started to soar on the available goods, which is really an obstacle for the common people, especially the pilgrims, to afford their barest minimum requirements.
Food Crisis: On the Rise
As the restrictions on traffic keep on getting stricter, the city’s food supply chain has been becoming more susceptible. Food scarcity is now reported in various sections of Prayagraj. People, including locals and devotees, are finding it hard to get their basic essentials.
Food Deliveries Delayed
Most of the food suppliers of the city rely on trucks and delivery vehicles to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and other essentials. With the restricted access to the main roads and junctions, deliveries have become haphazard. Farmers and wholesalers cannot deliver their produce to the central markets in the city. Retail shops find themselves short of stocks, and they cannot restock due to the failure of the suppliers to deliver the commodities.
Rationing and Price Increases
As a result of shortages, various stores and tuckshops started rationing their foods, whereby a customer was only given a certain quantity of rice, wheat, oil, amongst other essentials, at any given time. Most of the price raises have been attributed to the shortages of foodstuff, particularly when it comes to fresh produce, which is scarce. For instance, the price of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and tomatoes has skyrocketed by more than 30% within a week. The local venders cannot fulfill this increased demand because many devotees are streaming into the town to take hallowed dips in the holy tanks.
A senior official at District Supply Office said, “We are working in shifts night and day to make sure that the supply lines are restored, but traffic restrictions and the scale of the affair are making it a challenging task.”
Street Vendors and Small Eateries
The same proportioned suffering is also being faced by street vendors and small eateries, as these vendors are pivotal for the provision of low-cost food for visitors and locals alike. These vendors primarily operate based on deliveries of raw materials and fruits, which they later use to prepare their meals. Some have gone out of stock because delivery was delayed, while others have been compelled to buy food at crazy prices. This has consequently increased the cost of dining out highly, an aspect many of the pilgrims from the poor class cannot afford.
Sorrow of Pilgrims
Acute shortages of food items have been witnessed in the makeshift camps erected near the river bank for the pilgrims who have travelled long distances to participate in the Mahakumbh.
Food authorities have set up community kitchens.
Since the mode of delivery remains an issue, food supply remains scarce. Besides the food stalls and trucks setup around the ghats for taking baths, demand continues to overpower it, putting long queues along with frustration at the people wanting only a humble meal.
Petrol Shortage: Adding onto the Woes
Food shortage is not the only problem being faced in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh, but fuel shortages have also surfaced as a critical issue. People have arrived at the city in private vehicles; hence, this has led to a hike in fuel consumption, but the logistics chain is being hampered because of traffic curbs and other delays.
Fuel Stations with Long Queues
Fuel stations in Prayagraj have recently started facing long queues as people find it hard to fill up their vehicle’s tank.
Many of the stations have run out of stock since fuel tankers cannot reach the city on time. “I have been waiting for over two hours to get fuel,” said a motorist, waiting in line at one of the few working petrol pumps in the city. “The supply is erratic, and it’s hard to know when the next delivery will come in.”
Effect on Public Transport End
The shortage in fuel has, in turn adversely affected public transport, already clogged up with the high tide of people. Autos, taxis, and buses, used mainly in conveying the pilgrims to most parts of the city, cut few services since they run out of fuel. In effect, people undertake very many journeys in overcrowded private transport or walk long distances.
Fuel Black Market
Since the fuel shortage has occurred, black markets are prevalent in some city regions. Some unscrupulous persons are selling fuel at exorbitantly inflated rates, taking undue advantage of the desperate situation the travellers and the residents are placed at. The authorities have been informed about the illegitimate activities, and they have effectively curbed such activities so that the fuel is sold at a fair rate.
Government Response and Mitigation Efforts
Recognizing the critical situation, the Uttar Pradesh government and the local administration have taken steps to address the shortages and ease the burden on residents and pilgrims.
Restoring Supply Chains
The local administration is now taking up negotiations with suppliers to ensure uninterrupted food deliveries to key markets in Prayagraj. More supply routes are opened and alternate roads are being opened to let the goods move. In addition, community kitchens are being opened to feed the ever-increasing pilgrims in the city.
Fuel Delivery Measures
To mitigate the fuel shortage, the government is liaising with oil companies for extra fuel tankers to arrive in Prayagraj. Quick filling stations are being established at all major crossings so that vehicles can be refueled as fast as possible.
Traffic Regulation Changes
The traffic restrictions, though very much necessary for safety, are being reviewed by the local authorities, and it is planned to ease some of the restrictions so that the smooth movement of essential supplies is facilitated.
The Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is a grand spiritual event, but it has presented unique challenges due to heavy traffic restrictions.
While the city has accommodated millions of these pilgrims, the resulting deficiencies of food and fuel, among others, clearly call for better planning and infrastructure that will handle such scale events. Authorities are diligently working to alleviate these problems, but things remain fluid. As the Mahakumbh continues, the residents and visitors of Prayagraj hope that the supply chains of the city can be restored to normalcy so that everything goes smoothly and satisfactorily for all parties involved.
