Mahakumbh drawing Lakhs daily, a 350 km long jam on NH-30 brought the Pragyagraj-Rewa-Jabalpur route to a standstill
Digital Desk: Ahead of Maghi Purnima, one of the most significant bathing days of the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, authorities have implemented stringent traffic restrictions to manage the massive influx of devotees. Following the tragic stampede on January 29 that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, crowd control has become a top priority. To prevent overcrowding, the fair area will be a no-vehicle zone from 4 am on Tuesday, and the restrictions will extend citywide starting at 5 pm. Devotees arriving from outside must park their vehicles in designated zones along specific routes, with emergency and essential services being exempt.
In light of safety concerns, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath convened a high-level meeting with police and civic officials on Monday night. Emphasizing the need for effective traffic and crowd management, he directed authorities to maximize the 500,000-vehicle parking capacity to alleviate congestion. “Long queues of vehicles should not form on roads. Traffic congestion must be prevented at all costs,” CM Adityanath stressed. The restrictions will also apply to Kalpvasis, the devotees who stay at the Sangam for a fixed period during the Kumbh.
The Maha Kumbh has already attracted around 40 crore devotees in just 26 days, with nearly 1.5 crore people arriving daily. Despite efforts such as special trains and traffic diversions, the pressure on highways has been overwhelming, especially on weekends and during major bathing days like Magh Purnima, which falls on a Sunday this year. Several kilometer-long traffic jams have been reported, particularly on roads leading from Warrani, Mirzapur, Pratapgarh, Rewa, and Kanpur. The situation has worsened due to insufficient road infrastructure and a growing number of pilgrims arriving from South India, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.
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