Amid fresh wave of devotees, officials of Prayagraj & nearby districts told to ensure smooth traffic flow

At the meeting, district administration officials from Kaushambi, Kanpur, Sultanpur, Amethi, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Jaunpur, Chitrakoot, Banda, Pratapgarh, Bhadohi, Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur, Mahoba, and Lucknow, besides Prayagraj were present.

Over the past week, the influx of devotees to Prayagraj has increased significantly from all directions, and the number is expected to rise further.

At the meeting, officials said, the CM directed efficient operation of parking facilities at Prayagraj’s borders.

“The available parking capacity of over 5 lakh vehicles must be fully utilised. While providing necessary support to children, women, and the elderly, no vehicle should be allowed to enter the Mela area in violation of regulations. Shuttle buses should be used as required, with an increase in their numbers as per demand,” the officials were told in the meeting.

They were also told to take strict measures to ensure that vehicles are not parked on the roads, and vehicular movement remains continuous and unobstructed.

“District Magistrates of all districts sharing the border with Prayagraj must maintain constant coordination with the Prayagraj administration to ensure smooth vehicle movement. Mutual coordination should be maintained to prevent congestion in the Mela area, and barricading should be installed where necessary. There should be no traffic jams due to toll collection,” a press note issued by the government stated.

With railway stations in Prayagraj witnessing crowding, the officials were told to coordinate with the Railways, and additional state Transport Corporation buses be deployed for better passenger movement.

To ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims, 28 administrative officers of ADM and SDM levels, along with several police officers, have been deployed.

“Traffic in the Mahakumbh Mela area should continue uninterrupted. Unnecessary restrictions on movement must be avoided, ensuring there is no crowd congestion or traffic jams. If street vendors are occupying the roads, they should be relocated to designated open areas to maintain smooth vehicle movement,” the officials were directed.

The officials were also told that traffic should not be obstructed on any major route, including Rewa Marg, Ayodhya-Prayagraj, Kanpur-Prayagraj, Fatehpur-Prayagraj, Lucknow-Pratapgarh-Prayagraj, and Varanasi-Prayagraj.

All return routes from Prayagraj should remain open and functional at all times, the government directed.

According to the government, over 44 crore 75 lakh pilgrims have taken the holy dip in the Sangam in Maha Kumbh so far.

With February 12 also being Sant Ravidas Jayanti and various events have been planned across multiple districts, including in Varanasi, Varanasi Commissionerate has been told to remain alert and vigilant, “ensuring that all celebrations take place in a harmonious atmosphere”.

With lakhs of pilgrims visiting Maha Kumbh also travelling to Varanasi and Ayodhya, and significant numbers to Chitrakoot and Mirzapur, local officials have been told to implement heightened security and crowd control measures in all three major religious cities.