Indian Railways Invests ₹5,000 Crore for Mahakumbh 2025 Preparation

Hyderabad:The Indian Railways has stated that it has invested over Rs 5,000 crore over two years to prepare for the Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj and ensure a comfortable and accessible journey for pilgrims.

According to a statement, upgrades have been made at railway stations which have been redesigned to offer sleeping pods, executive lounges, retiring rooms, and colour-coded waiting areas. Directional foot indicators and tickets with guiding markers were also introduced for crowds arriving daily.

To accommodate the influx of nearly one crore pilgrims each day, the station holding capacity has been expanded from 21,000 to over 1.1 lakh with the construction of 17 permanent shelters, called Yatri Ashrayas, and the addition of 48 platforms, the statement said.

New amenities such as clean toilets, baby-feeding areas, drinking water points, and medical rooms have been introduced to cater to the diverse needs of the visitors. A reliable power supply with backup systems has been put in place to support these upgraded facilities.

Accessibility has been given special attention, with assistance booths offering wheelchair services and luggage trolleys at stations like Prayagraj Junction and Prayagraj Chheoki. Lifts and escalators had been installed to make stations more accessible for the elderly and differently-abled individuals, as part of the government’s Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan initiative, the statement said.