Railways Kicks Off Rs 1,011 Cr Upgrade for Nashik Kumbh 2027; 65 Infra Projects to Ease Pilgrim Movement
New Delhi/Nashik, 25th July 2025: The Ministry of Railways has commenced advance preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027, aiming to strengthen rail connectivity and passenger facilities across key stations in the region. Senior officials of Indian Railways, including the Railway Minister and Minister of State, recently reviewed the execution plans with the Railway Board, General Manager of Central Railway, and Divisional Railway Manager of Bhusaval.
Railways has drawn up an integrated infrastructure plan focused on enhancing station capacity, operational efficiency, and passenger amenities to manage the expected surge in footfall during Simhastha 2027. The upgrades will target five major stations near the Mela area—Nashik Road, Devlali, Odha, Kherwadi, and Kasbe Sukene.
Officials stated that the works planned at these stations are projected to cost over ₹1,011 crore. The measures include platform extensions, construction of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), yard remodeling, stabling lines, and various passenger facilities such as cover over platforms, water tanks, new toilets, and waterproof holding areas.
Station-Wise Infrastructure Upgrade Plan
At Nashik Road, Platform-4 will be made bi-directional, while Platform-1 will be extended to accommodate 24-coach trains. A 12-meter-wide FOB will be constructed, and the existing goods shed will be repurposed as a holding area. Stabling lines are also being developed, along with upgrades to the platform surface, boundary walls, and Mela Tower.
At Devlali, additional platforms and two 6-meter-wide FOBs will be built. The station will also see the development of advanced coach and wagon examination facilities with three stabling lines and two pit lines. A Sewage Treatment Plant is also proposed.
At Odha, an island platform with loop lines will be constructed, along with four 6-meter-wide FOBs. The yard will undergo remodeling, and five stabling lines are planned.
At Kherwadi, a new down platform will be constructed, accompanied by two 6-meter-wide FOBs. Yard remodeling works are also proposed.
At Kasbe Sukene, platforms will be extended, and two 6-meter-wide FOBs will be built. A common dispatch facility is also part of the plan.
Passenger amenities such as improved circulating areas, pathways, entry and exit roads, and upgraded Passenger Information Systems will be developed across all five stations. Railways is targeting completion of these works within the next two years. Out of the 65 proposed works, estimates for 33 have already been sanctioned.
Special Trains and Crowd Management Plans
To cater to an anticipated footfall of over 3 crore pilgrims, nearly 50 times that of Simhastha 2015, Railways is planning a significant increase in special train services. Long-distance special trains and short-distance MEMU services will connect Nashik to important cities including Kamakhya, Howrah, Patna, Delhi, Jaipur, Bikaner, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Nanded.
Additionally, a round-trip special circuit train connecting the three Jyotirlingas—Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar, and Omkareshwar—is planned to facilitate pilgrim movement.
Large holding areas will be developed at each major station to manage crowd flow efficiently. A centralized command and control center equipped with CCTV surveillance and AI-driven predictive scheduling tools is proposed to ensure smooth operations during the event.
Railway officials are maintaining close coordination with Maharashtra state government officials to ensure timely execution of plans. A joint review meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister is scheduled in the coming months to monitor progress and finalize collaborative measures for the successful conduct of Simhastha 2027.
