Prayagraj (UP), Feb 27: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that during the Maha Kumbh, over 16,000 trains were operated, transporting approximately five crore devotees to the pilgrimage site. Speaking at an event to commend railway workers for their efforts during the Maha Kumbh Mela, Vaishnav noted that in the previous Kumbh in 2019, around 4,000 trains were in service.
“This time, we aimed to run more than three times the number of trains, and we ended up operating four times as many. We’ve been preparing for this for two-and-a-half years,” he shared.
The minister expressed gratitude to the railway workforce, stating, “Approximately 4.5 to 5 crore passengers were accommodated through over 16,000 trains, and they were successfully transported to their destinations. I appreciate all railway staff for their collective collaboration.” He highlighted the cooperative efforts of various state and central departments, remarking, “The greatest success of this Maha Kumbh is that everyone worked in unison; united we are unstoppable.”
Vaishnav also revealed that the railways invested around Rs 5,000 crore for the Maha Kumbh, which included the construction of over 21 flyovers and underpasses, along with a new bridge over the River Ganga.
“Holding areas were established at every station, and arrangements for passengers were meticulously organized,” he explained. “New types of foot overbridges were constructed, ensuring all railway provisions were passenger-centric.”
The Maha Kumbh, which commenced on January 13 in Prayagraj, concluded on February 26. (PTI)
