Every day, Mahakumbh sees an influx of devotees, entangling Prayagraj in relentless traffic jams for a week. The gridlock extends beyond main roads to city lanes and rural paths, posing challenges for locals. Traffic congestion stretches 30 kilometers around the city.
No Room to Stand at Stations, Sangam Station Closed
The throng of devotees at Mahakumbh leaves no room at stations, leading to the closure of Sangam (Daraganj) station. Neighboring districts near Prayagraj, such as Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Satna, Rewa, Chitrakoot, and Jabalpur, face similar traffic woes with jam-packed stations.
Source: aajtak
President Murmu Visits Prayagraj Today
President Murmu is visiting Prayagraj's Mahakumbh today, taking a sacred dip at the Sangam. The fair administration has ensured all arrangements for her visit.
Record-Breaking Turnout at Mahakumbh
This Mahakumbh in Prayagraj surpasses the attendance records of recent years. Although there was a slight dip post-Mouni Amavasya, the influx of devotees rekindled from February 5.
Devotees from across the country are converging at the Sangam. The sheer volume of traffic immobilizes vehicles, leaving marriage guests like Triveni Singh stuck for hours.
Source: aajtak
Bikers navigating these roads blame public noncompliance with administrative directions for the jams. Both day and night see congestion due to the throng of devotees bound for the Sangam. Defiant pilgrims attempting to break barricades further exacerbate the issue.
Jam Extends to Airport Routes
While air travelers reach Prayagraj safely, the journey from the airport to the Sangam is arduous. Private vehicles encounter significant delays, with roughly 6,000–7,000 cars arriving hourly. Traffic stretches for kilometers, reducing vehicles to a crawl.
Short 20-minute trips now span two to three hours. People abandon vehicles and drivers to walk towards the Sangam, sometimes for miles. One driver noted his 12-hour journey ballooned to 20 hours, while a bus passenger endured a 36-hour ride.
To manage Prayagraj's jam, vehicles are halted in neighboring districts. Data suggests over 500 vehicles come via the Mirzapur route, 1,500 via Varanasi hourly, and over 1,800 from Chitrakoot, with another 1,500 from Lucknow.
