Pune Railway Division Earns Over Rs 8 Crore as 80,000+ Devotees Travel to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 11 February 2025: The Pune division of the Indian Railways has reported a significant surge in revenue as over 80,000 devotees from across the country traveled to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh. In the month of January alone, 80,177 pilgrims made their way to Prayagraj, generating a revenue of Rs 8.42 crore. The overwhelming demand for train tickets has led to a waitlist of over 200 passengers on many routes, highlighting the intense rush of devotees.
To address this surge, the Pune Railway Division has made special arrangements, including one daily train, five weekly trains, and one special train to ensure smooth transportation to the Kumbh Mela. Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Kumar Verma stated, “The arrangements are being made to ensure devotees can travel without inconvenience. We understand the significance of the event, and our focus is on providing efficient services during this peak time.”
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26, 2025. With the upcoming Maghi Purnima on February 12, there is an anticipated spike in the number of devotees heading to Prayagraj for the holy bath. “Maghi Purnima is one of the most auspicious days during the Kumbh. We expect even higher numbers of devotees, and we are fully prepared for the rush,” Verma added.
To ensure safety and convenience for the passengers, additional measures have been taken at key stations. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Dr. Milind Hirve shared, “We have made better arrangements at eight critical stations, such as Phaphamau, Naini, Prayagraj, Prayagraj Sangam, Subedarganj, Prayagraj Chheoki, Prayagraj Rambagh and Jhunsi stations, to handle the influx of passengers. Extra CCTV cameras have been installed, and additional RPF and TTE staff are deployed to ensure smooth operations and enhanced security.”
Since the special trains began operation, five trips have already been made, with one more special train scheduled to depart from Pune to Prayagraj on February 21. Dr. Hirve added, “On average, a single rake is catering to approximately 3,780 passengers per trip. This indicates that the demand is not slowing down, and we are working to manage it effectively.”
As the Maha Kumbh draws closer to its peak, the railways continue to make arrangements to handle the increasing volume of pilgrims, ensuring that the journey to Prayagraj remains as comfortable and safe as possible for all devotees.
