The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj has witnessed unprecedented attendance figures. As of February 14, over 500 million devotees have participated in the festival, with an average daily attendance of approximately 14.4 million pilgrims. On peak days, such as January 29, the festival saw an influx of around 80 million attendees. These staggering numbers highlight the immense scale of the event and underscore the critical importance of robust public transportation and crowd management strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.

While it is true that it is an economic boon for the government, it is also true that managing this size of a crowd is as daunting as it can get. We have already seen two stampedes so far. Somebody losing life like that is extremely sad and disturbing.

Is the government doing enough?

The problem in answering this question is that there is no historical precedent for any authority successfully managing 500 million visitors.

To provide perspective on the scale of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025:

• Previous Kumbh Melas: The 2013 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) saw around 120 million visitors over the course of two months, while the 2019 Kumbh Mela recorded approximately 240 million attendees.
• Arbaeen Pilgrimage (Iraq): The annual Shia Muslim pilgrimage to Karbala for Arbaeen regularly attracts 15-20 million people in a single day, making it one of the largest religious events globally.
• Hajj (Saudi Arabia): The pilgrimage to Mecca sees 2-3 million Muslims annually, but logistical constraints prevent it from growing beyond this number.
• Funeral of C.N. Annadurai (1969, India): The funeral of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister saw an estimated 15 million people, one of the largest gatherings for a funeral.
• Pope Francis’s Visit to the Philippines (2015): An estimated 6 million people gathered for a mass held by Pope Francis in Manila.
• Olympic Games: The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics attracted approximately 11.2 million visitors over the course of the event, including both domestic and international tourists.

While these events had significant crowds, none have matched the sheer scale of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.

The Indian government has undertaken several measures to enhance public transportation for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, ensuring smooth travel for millions of pilgrims visiting Prayagraj. These initiatives span across railways, bus services, and local transport.

Railway Initiatives:

• Special Train Services: Over 13,000 trains have been scheduled, with 3,000 special trains added exclusively for the Maha Kumbh Mela, ensuring seamless travel for devotees. In comparison, during the same months in 2024, approximately 26 trains ran daily between New Delhi and Prayagraj, with a total of 129 weekly trains operating on this route. The addition of special trains in 2025 significantly increases rail connectivity for the event.
• Vande Bharat Special Trains: Northern Railway introduced a special Vande Bharat train operating between New Delhi and Varanasi via Prayagraj on February 15, 16, and 17, 2025. The train departs from New Delhi at 5:30 AM, reaching Prayagraj at 12:00 PM and Varanasi at 2:20 PM, with a return journey at 3:15 PM from Varanasi, arriving in New Delhi at 11:50 PM.
• Platform Designation: All trains from Delhi to Prayagraj are designated to depart exclusively from Platform 16 at New Delhi Railway Station to minimize confusion and streamline boarding.

Bus Services:

• Expanded Bus Fleet: The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has readied a fleet of 7,000 buses for the Maha Kumbh Mela. These buses are color-coded in saffron for easy identification and will operate from various regions to Prayagraj.
• Electric Buses Deployment: GreenCell Mobility has deployed 200 electric buses to serve millions of devotees, ensuring an eco-friendly transportation option.

Local Transportation Enhancements:

• App-Based E-Rickshaws and E-Autos: Since December 15, 2024, app-based booking services for e-rickshaws and e-autos have been introduced in Prayagraj. Platforms like Ola and Uber facilitate these services, providing convenient and affordable local transport for pilgrims.

Crowd Management and Safety Measures:

• Surveillance and Monitoring: Over 1,500 CCTV cameras have been installed across key points in Prayagraj, including railway stations, bus stands, and ghats, to monitor crowd movement and ensure quick response to any emergencies.
• Deployment of Personnel: More than 20,000 security personnel, including police, paramilitary forces, and disaster response teams, have been deployed to regulate crowd movement and provide emergency assistance.
• Medical Facilities: Over 100 temporary medical camps have been set up across Prayagraj, along with mobile health units and ambulances, to provide immediate medical aid to pilgrims.
• Traffic Diversions and Crowd Control Barricades: To ensure smooth pedestrian movement, several traffic diversions have been planned, and barricades have been installed to guide crowds at entry and exit points.
• Public Announcement and Guidance: Continuous public announcements and digital signboards have been installed at major transport hubs to inform and guide visitors about routes, train and bus schedules, and emergency contact points.

It is easy to criticize the authorities, but defining ‘enough’ in the context of managing 500 million visitors is an immense challenge. While it is natural to feel frustrated and furious after incidents like the stampede, the sheer scale of the event presents unprecedented logistical difficulties. No event of this magnitude has ever been managed, particularly with such an unpredictable and dynamic crowd. Despite two unfortunate stampedes, the devotion of pilgrims remains unwavering, underscoring both the deep spiritual significance of the event and the immense responsibility of ensuring safety and order.

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is a historic event, not just in terms of attendance but also in terms of complexity in crowd management. While the government has introduced extensive measures, including transportation enhancements and crowd monitoring, the sheer scale of the gathering demands continuous reassessment and the adoption of adaptive strategies. Balancing safety measures with the spiritual and cultural essence of the festival is crucial.

Future iterations of the Maha Kumbh Mela could benefit from increased integration of technology, such as AI-driven crowd management, pre-registration systems for crowd control, and further investment in infrastructure. Despite the hurdles, the event showcases India’s capability to manage extraordinary logistical challenges, setting a precedent for future large-scale gatherings worldwide.

I just hope, the rest of the Mahakumbh completes without any more such incidents.

Thanks for reading! Take care and stay safe!

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