Prayagraj Traffic Jam: Mahakumbh Devotees Arrive for Maghi Purnima, Traffic Advisory Issued

Ahead of Maghi Purnima, a massive influx of devotees gathering for a holy dip at Prayagraj Mahakumbh has brought the city to a standstill. Since Sunday, traffic congestion has worsened, with people taking hours to cover what would usually be a 20-minute journey.

The situation has escalated to such an extent that neighboring Madhya Pradesh has shut down roads leading to Prayagraj. The highways connecting MP's Rewa from Katni, Maihar, and Jabalpur have been closed, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed authorities to assist stranded travelers.

On Sunday, long traffic jams stretched across all routes leading to the Mahakumbh fair, while Prayagraj Sangam Railway Station was temporarily closed due to the overwhelming crowd.

According to official data, over 43.57 crore devotees have taken a dip at the Sangam between January 13 and February 9, reflecting the enormous scale of the gathering.

What Did Traffic ADCP Say?

Traffic ADCP Kuldeep Singh stated that the surge in vehicles, combined with pilgrims rushing to reach their destination, has resulted in severe congestion. He compared the crowd size to that of Mauni Amavasya and noted that distant parking lots were nearly 50% full, with vehicles lined up beyond capacity.

Parking Crisis Amid Devotee Surge

The parking lots near the fair, such as IERT and Baghada, have space for around 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles, while larger ones like Nehru Park and Bela Kachhar can accommodate up to 25,000. However, with an unprecedented number of vehicles on the roads-even on non-snan days-parking facilities are struggling to keep up. Singh also pointed out that the current crowd size exceeds that of the 2019 Kumbh Mela.

Prayagraj Sangam Station Shut Down

Due to overcrowding, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Northern Railway), Lucknow Kuldeep Tiwari, confirmed that Prayagraj Sangam station was shut down temporarily to ensure passenger safety. Commuters are now required to board trains from Prayagraj Junction. Officials stated that the station will reopen once the situation is under control.

Railways Implement Crowd Control Measures

To manage the growing footfall, North Central Railway has enforced a single-direction movement system at Prayagraj Junction.

Senior PRO Amit Malviya stated that:

• Entry is allowed only from the city side (Platform No. 1), while exits are directed toward Civil Lines.
• Passengers with unreserved tickets must enter from designated passenger shelters.
• Additional ticket counters, ATVMs, and mobile ticketing options are being set up.
• Reserved ticket holders can enter through Gate No. 5 and will be allowed onto the platform only 30 minutes before their train's arrival.
• Authorities have urged travelers to follow guidelines and are considering running additional trains to ease congestion.