The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 begins in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on January 13 and ends on February 26. Several million devotees are expected to flock to witness the festival, which begins with a performance by singer Shankar Mahadevan.
The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya) and February 3 (Basant Panchami).
To enable smooth passenger travel, Indian Railways will run 13,000 trains, including 10,000 regular and 3,000 special trains, for 50 days, including 2-3 extra days before and after the event.
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Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railway, Shashikant Tripathi, told ANI that around 700 long distance Mela Special Trains and around 1800 short distance trains (200-300 km) will be run.
IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has set up a temporary ‘tent city’ in the Prayagrajprovide accommodation for travellers. Medical booths and small hospitals have been established at all major stations, with trained medical staff available 24 hours a day to provide first aid and deal with serious health problems.
Special train
Western Railway: 98 special trains have been introduced, focusing on passenger comfort, hygiene and proper functioning of electrical appliances. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and State Railway Police (GRP) have been deployed to escort travelers from designated areas to their trains in a systematic manner.
From Una to Prayagraj: From January 17 to February 23, railways will run special trains, stopping at Nangal Dam, Anandpur Sahib, Roop Nagar, Morinda, Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt, Yamunanagar Jagadhri, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Najibabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, and Lucknow Rae Bareli.
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These trains will have 18 coaches, including sleepers, generals and tri-level AC coaches. The price for sleeper cars is ₹620, and for AC trainers are three levels ₹1,670.
Bookings for the train are ongoing. General ticket coach booking will start two hours before the start of the train, news agency PTI reported.
From Jaynagar to Jhusi: North Eastern Railway (NER) special train (05285/05286) will make four trips from Jaynagar on 10th, 24th, 31st January, 1st February and 1st March. It will stop at important stations including Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Varanasi.
A series of special trains will run from Guntur to Azamgarh and Moula Ali to Gaya, departing on January 24, 18, 20 and other specific dates.
Ring rail services: The routes Prayagraj-Ayodhya-Varanasi-Prayagraj, Prayagraj-Sangam Prayag-Jaunpur-Prayag-Prayagraj, Govindpuri-Prayagraj-Chitrakoot-Govindpuri and Jhansi-Govindpuri-Prayagraj-Manikpur-Chitrakoot-Jhansi.
Southern central line also announced a list of special trains, MoneyControl reported.
Train 7701: It will depart from Guntur at 11:00 PM on January 24 and arrive Azamgarh at 5:15 PM the next day.
Train 7702: It will depart at 7:45 PM from Azamgarh on January 26 and arrive Guntur at 9:00 AM the following day.
Train 7707: Will depart from Moula Ali at 11.55 pm and reach Azamgarh at 17.15 the next day. This train will run on two dates January 18 and February 21.
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Train 7708: Returning from Azamgarh to Moula Ali on 20 January and 23 February, departing at 19:45 and arriving at 07:30 on the second day.
Train 7711: It will depart from Moula Ali to Gaya on January 19 at 5:50 PM and arrive at 9:00 AM the next morning.
Train 7712: The return train runs from Gaya to Moula Ali on January 21, following a similar schedule.
Train 7719: Departs Guntur at 14:20 on 25th January, departs and arrives Gaya at 09:00 next morning.
Train 7720: Departs Gaya on 27th January at 2:15 PM and reaches Guntur at 4:00 AM the following day.
Train 7721: Departs Nanded for Patna on 22nd January at 11:00 PM and arrives at 10:30 AM the next morning.
Train 7722: Returning from Patna to Nanded on 24th January, departing at 3:30 PM and arriving at 4:30 AM.
Train 7725: Departs Kacheguda for Patna on January 25th at 4:45 PM and arrives at 10:30 AM the next morning.
Train 7726: Returning from Patna to Kacheguda on January 27, departing at 11.30 and arrive at 07.00 the following day.
(With ANI, PTI inputs)
