Title - NR to run mela specials ahead of Kumbh

ALLAHABAD: In view of the Mahakumbh scheduled to start in 2013, Northern Railway has also planned elaborate measures for pilgrims who would throng at this historical place. It has planned to run various mela specials anticipating heavy rush of passengers running into lakhs.

Apart from giving facelift to important stations of Prayag, Prayag Ghat and Phaphamau stations, Northern Railway has also planned to run various mela specials for the benefit of lakhs of pilgrims who are expected to throng Sangam, the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.

During peak days of Kumbh Mela, Northern Railway has planned to run about 33 inbound (reaching Prayag) and about 42 outbound mela specials. Each mela special comprising about 22 to 24 coaches each would be run on the peak days which would have carrying capacity of about 3000 passenger each to clear the passenger traffic smoothly. The important bathing days on which these special trains would be run include Paush Poornima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Eka Dashi, Maghi Poornima.

Presently, there are about 22 mail/express trains and 8 passenger trains connecting Prayag station to various stations over Indian Railway system

Interestingly, anticipating heavy rush of passengers for the forthcoming festival of Mahakumbh, the movement of trains during the coming Mahakumbh will be more than 50 per cent as compared to specials run during the last Mahakumbh which was organised in the year 2001. During that time, about 19 inbound and 28 outbound specials were run.

The mela specials are planned from Prayag Ghat to Ayodhya/Faizabad to cater to the needs of the passengers who after bath in holy Ganga go to Saryu river for bath.

In addition to this, augmentation of regular trains from various serving stations like Lucknow, Varanasi will also be done on need basis.

About 425 coaches are planned to be put to service for running mela specials and about 165 coaches are planned to be used for augmenting regular trains.

In addition to this, additional booking counters would be opened at the stations of Prayag, Prayag Ghat and Phaphamau stations. These stations are also being given facelift for the occasion.

Talking to TOI, additional divisional railway manager of the Lucknow division of Northern Railway RK Lal said that " We have taken elaborate measures for the facility of passengers who would be coming to Allahabad in the forthcoming Mahakumbh. Special trains would be plied during Mahakumbh and additional coaches would also be augmented in the regular trains for the benefit of the passengers. Besides, work is going on at the stations of Prayag,

Prayag Ghat and Phaphamau coming under the jurisdiction of Northern Railway. He also informed that negotiations are also going on with the civil authorities and the chief minister's office for providing facilities to the passengers.