Traffic Chaos in Prayagraj as Devotees Head to Maha Kumbh

Prayagraj: Thousands of devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh are facing severe traffic congestion, with reports indicating jams spanning hundreds of kilometers. Vehicles are stranded for long hours on highways leading to Prayagraj, with queues extending up to 300 km, according to a report in NDTV.

Following the Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami, many assumed the crowd might subside. However, the influx of pilgrims continues to rise, creating unprecedented congestion. Struggling to manage the situation, police in neighboring Madhya Pradesh have halted vehicular movement on certain routes. Authorities stated that travel toward Prayagraj has become nearly impossible due to massive traffic snarls stretching between 200-300 kilometers.

Inspector General of Police (Rewa Zone), Saket Prakash Pandey, attributed the congestion to the weekend rush. He assured that the situation would improve in the coming days as vehicle movement is now being regulated in coordination with the Prayagraj administration.

A stranded traveler shared his frustration, stating that vehicles have been stuck for up to 48 hours, with some taking nearly 10-12 hours to cover just 50 km. Heavy congestion of about 25 km was reported on roads connecting Prayagraj with Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur. Within the city, traffic jams spanning seven kilometers have been observed, worsening the situation for residents and visitors alike.

The Prayagraj Sangam railway station has been temporarily shut down to prevent overcrowding-related incidents. Railways officer Kuldeep Tiwari explained that the decision was taken to ensure passenger safety, as heavy crowds outside the station made it difficult for people to exit. Meanwhile, the Prayagraj Junction station has implemented a one-way traffic system to manage the flow of travelers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Kuldeep Singh acknowledged that the primary cause of the congestion is the overwhelming number of vehicles trying to reach the Maha Kumbh Mela site. Devotees attempting to park as close as possible to the sacred venue have resulted in extended traffic jams.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to manage the traffic crisis. He claimed that the gridlock has led to shortages of essential commodities in Prayagraj. He also suggested making vehicles toll-free during the Maha Kumbh to ease travel difficulties, questioning why religious events should not receive tax exemptions similar to entertainment industries.

The situation remains critical as authorities continue efforts to manage the overwhelming influx of devotees.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">महाकुंभ के अवसर पर उप्र में वाहनों को टोल मुक्त किया जाना चाहिए, इससे यात्रा की बाधा भी कम होगी और जाम का संकट भी। जब फ़िल्मों को मनोरंजन कर मुक्त किया जा सकता है तो महाकुंभ के महापर्व पर गाड़ियों को कर मुक्त क्यों नहीं? <a href="https://t.co/1ceISd8WNK">pic.twitter.com/1ceISd8WNK</a></p>&mdash; Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavakhilesh/status/1888507814123020765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>