PRAYAGRAJ: In anticipation of the revered Maha Kumbh 2025, the city of Prayagraj begins its preparations with much enthusiasm. The countdown has officially started, marked by a conspicuous hoarding near Hotel Rahi Ilavart, which announces the dates for the 45-day long main bathing festival.

To facilitate the pilgrimage of devoted souls from all corners of the country, the Indian Railways will operate an impressive fleet of 1,200 special trains for Maha Kumbh 2025. Aiming to provide a seamless travel experience, the railways have allocated a substantial budget of Rs 837 crore for passenger convenience, as well as the construction of 19 ROBs (rail overbridges) and RUBs (rail underbridges) within the city.

With an expected arrival of around 40 crore devotees in Prayagraj, the administration is gearing up for a spiritually significant event. In the previous Kumbh of 2019, over 24 crore people had participated, reflecting the magnitude and reverence of this gathering.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Prayagraj division of North Central Railway (NCR), Himanshu Badoni, shared insights into the preparedness of NCR, North Eastern Railway (NER), and Northern Railway (NR) for the event. To accommodate the vast number of attendees, each train will have 16 coaches instead of the previous eight, and the number of trains has been substantially increased, with room for further expansion if needed.

The trains will be operational from various stations in the city, including Prayagraj Junction, Subedarganj, Naini, Cheoki, Prayagraj Rambagh, Jhunsi, Prayagraj Sangam, Prayag, and Phaphamau.

Keeping an ambitious timeline, the target is set to complete all railway-related works by October 2024. The railway authorities are committed to providing enhanced facilities for over 15 crore people expected to arrive by trains during the six main days of the event.

The Maha Kumbh 2025 promises to be an extraordinary religious spectacle, where devotees from all walks of life will converge to seek spiritual solace and participate in an unparalleled celebration of faith and unity.

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