Patna: In a bid to ensure a smooth and hassle-free religious journey for the pilgrims heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraaj in Uttar Pradesh, the railways has announced to run eight more pairs of special trains. ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra said these special trains would run on key routes connecting various parts of the country to the cities near the Kumbh Mela venue, including Prayagraj. “These trains, scheduled to begin their operations ahead of the fair, will offer additional seating arrangements, and more trains will be introduced on busy routes to ease congestion and prevent overcrowding. Passengers are advised to book their tickets in advance as the demand for travel during this period is expected to be high,” he said. In addition to the special trains, the railways has taken several measures to ensure safety and security during the mela. This includes enhanced monitoring, proper sanitation, medical kiosks and adequate arrangements for crowd management at several stations, CPRO said, adding devotees will also be able to avail various conveniences such as additional coaches and medical facilities as they embark on their spiritual journey. The Saharsa-Tundla Mela special will run on January 18, 22, and 27 from Saharsa while on its return, it will leave Tundla on January 19, 23 and 28. Similarly, Raxaul-Tundla special (05205/05206) will leave Raxaul on January 18, and from Tundla on January 20 on its return journey, he said. Dhanbad-Tundla special (03695/03696 ), Muzaffarpur-Jhusi special (05267/05268) , Jayanagar-Jhusi special (05285/05286) and Darbhanga-Jhusi special (05295/05296) are other mela special trains which will be into operations, CPRO said.
