Final Amrit Snan at Mahakumbh: Indian Railways to Run Over 350 Special Trains For Seamless Pilgrim Travel

Mahakumbh 2025: The Indian Railways has deployed over 350 special trains to manage the massive rush of devotees returning home after the final 'Amrit Snan' of Mahakumbh 2025, scheduled for February 26.

Massive Rush at Railway Stations

After the sacred bath, a huge crowd of pilgrims was expected to head back to their hometowns, leading to an increased passenger load at railway stations. In response, the North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and Northern Railway took extensive measures to ensure smooth travel. Officials and railway staff were instructed to remain vigilant at their designated posts.

Thousands of devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar , Madhya Pradesh , Jharkhand , and West Bengal had gathered in Prayagraj for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Indian Railways To Run 350 Special Trains

During Mauni Amavasya, Indian Railways had already successfully operated over 360 trains, helping more than 20 lakh (2 million) passengers reach their destinations. A similar plan was executed for Mahashivratri Snan, with additional trains arranged to accommodate the high number of devotees.

Sources revealed that the Railways initially planned to run 13,500 trains during Mahakumbh 2025. However, by the 42nd day, over 15,000 trains, including special services, had already been operated.

The entire railway operation was personally overseen by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw . Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, continuously monitored the train movements, while General Managers of the three railway zones actively coordinated efforts.

"The Railway Minister has instructed officials to introduce additional special trains if required to ensure smooth travel for all Mahakumbh pilgrims," a senior railway official said.

Railway Minister Vaishnaw Inspects New Delhi Railway Station

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally monitored the situation and inspected New Delhi Railway Station to review the arrangements.

"I came here to check the arrangements. On the occasion of Mahashivratri, we have made special arrangements for people traveling. We have also made the system more efficient and are running special trains for pilgrims," he said.

"A holding area was set up outside the station where all passengers could collect their tickets. After obtaining the ticket, they entered in an organized manner towards the platform. Special trains were also running, and two special trains had already departed. Additional trains were run as needed based on the requirements," he added.

On Sunday and Monday, railway stations in Bihar—such as Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Sasaram, Katihar, Khagaria, Saharsa, Jaynagar, and Darbhanga—saw a huge surge in passengers heading towards Prayagraj.

Similarly, stations in Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gonda, Deendayal Upadhyay, and Jhansi, witnessed an overwhelming rush of devotees.

In Madhya Pradesh, stations like Chitrakoot, Jabalpur, Satna, and Khajuraho experienced heavy passenger traffic, while Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi, Garhwa, and Medininagar in Jharkhand also saw large crowds.

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Enhanced Security and Facilities at Stations

To manage the heavy rush during Mahashivratri, the Railway Administration made extensive arrangements for security, shelters, ticket distribution, and additional train operations.

• 1,500 personnel from the Railway Commercial Department and 3,000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel were deployed at various stations in Prayagraj.
• Security forces included 29 units of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), 2 units of Women RPSF, 22 Dog Squads, and 2 Bomb Disposal Squads.
• Teams from Scouts & Guides, Civil Defense, and other railway departments actively assisted passengers.

An internal movement plan was implemented at all Prayagraj railway stations, ensuring organized boarding for passengers. At Prayagraj Junction, pilgrims were first directed to designated shelters before being systematically guided onto special trains.

In case of overcrowding, the Railways activated its emergency plan, holding passengers temporarily at Khusro Bagh before allowing them to enter the station.

Senior officials at the Prayagraj Division continuously monitored operations from the Control Tower, making real-time decisions to ensure smooth travel.

Web Portal and Kumbh App To Check Travel Information

Lakhs of passengers relied on Indian Railways' digital services, using the official web portal and Kumbh App to check travel information.

Despite the final weekend rush of Mahakumbh, railway officials efficiently managed both regular and special trains. On Sunday alone, 335 trains transported over 16 lakh (1.6 million) passengers.

With over 350 special trains in service, Indian Railways ensured that pilgrims could return home seamlessly after their sacred journey.