Each day at the Maha Kumbh brings an overwhelming influx of devotees, leading Prayagraj to grapple with intense traffic jams for the past week. Beyond main roads, the city and village lanes are clogged, affecting locals deeply. The chaos extends up to 30 kilometers outward from the city.
Station Platforms Packed Solid, Sangam Station Shut
The influx of devotees to the Maha Kumbh is so vast that there's no space to step on station platforms. Due to the congestion, Sangam (Daraganj) station has been closed. Similarly, surrounding districts like Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Satna, Rewa, Chitrakoot, and Jabalpur face gridlock with platforms packed.
Source: aajtak
President Murmu in Prayagraj Today
President Murmu is visiting Prayagraj, Maha Kumbh today, on Monday. Upon arrival, she will partake in a ritual dip at the Sangam. Event preparations by the fair administration are thoroughly complete.
Record-Breaking Attendance Over Recent Years
Visitor numbers to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh have shattered records from recent years. Though there was a brief decline after Mauni Amavasya, arrivals surged again from February 5th.
Currently, vehicles from all over the country are bringing devotees to the Sangam. As a result of this dense influx, vehicle speeds have drastically slowed, hindering even wedding processions from reaching guest houses via main roads. A wedding attendee from Triveni named Singh stated, "I came for the procession but have been stuck in traffic for hours."
Source: aajtak
Additionally, according to a local biker, the common man's disregard for traffic signs is exacerbating jams, while other areas remain clear. Traffic blockages persist round-the-clock, attributable to the massive crowds at the Sangam. Devotees are even breaking through barricades to navigate to the site.
Airport Routes Also Clogged
While air travelers are safely arriving in Prayagraj, reaching Sangam from the airport takes significant time. Private vehicle travelers face similar issues. Approximately 6,000-7,000 vehicles per hour arrive in Prayagraj, causing jams visible over miles. Thus, vehicles are slowed to a crawl on the roads.
A 20-minute journey is now a 2–3-hour ordeal. Many are abandoning their vehicles to walk towards the Sangam, seen for miles traveling on foot. According to one driver, a usual 12-hour trip turned into a 20-hour venture. A bus passenger shared that his 13-hour journey stretched to 36 hours.
In response to the jams, traffic to Prayagraj from nearby districts has been restricted. Estimates show over 500 vehicles from Mirzapur road heading towards the city. From Varanasi road over 1,500 vehicles per hour are arriving, along with over 1,800 from Chitrakoot road and 1,500 from Lucknow road.
