Maha Kumbh 2025: To fight cyber fraud & curb overcharging, UP govt publishes list of authorised lodging facilities, vehicle fare rates

To ensure transparency and prevent fraud, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has ensured that vehicle fare rate lists are displayed at public locations across the city. Pilgrims have been urged to report any instances of overcharging.

Regional Transport Officer, Prayagraj, Rajeev Chaturvedi said on Monday that the fare list released contains rates approved by the government. “A campaign is also underway to ensure that visitors are not harassed or overcharged,” he added.

The UP Police have released a list of 56 authorised paying guest houses, 72 hotels, four lodges, and three dharamshalas in Prayagraj, along with seven cottages. On Monday, the UP Police shared a link through their official page on X, providing details of these authorised accommodations, including phone numbers and locations. They have urged the public to book only through registered websites to avoid falling victim to cyber scams. The police confirmed that the accommodation details were sourced from the Prayagraj district administration.

According to sources, over 200 persons applied to the district tourism department to operate paying guest accommodations but only 56 applicants met the required standards. Many of these registered facilities have dedicated sections of their homes as paying guest accommodations, ensuring all necessary arrangements for a comfortable and pleasant stay.

Aparajita Singh, who is an official with the regional tourism department, pointed out that paying guest houses are registered only after ensuring that the applicant meets the criteria. A Kumbh Mela helpline number has also been activated to assist with any enquiries or concerns.

There are over 200 hotels operating across Prayagraj, with some among these having been newly opened specifically for the Maha Kumbh.
Prayagraj Hotel and Restaurant Association president Harjendra Singh said the district administration recently asked hotel owners to provide details of their establishments, including phone numbers, addresses and email IDs. While several owners have complied, the list of hotels released by the administration is incomplete as of now.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated nearly 23 parking areas near the Mela grounds for pilgrims’ vehicles.

During the previous Maha Kumbh, held 12 years ago in 2013 under the then government led by the SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, approximately 12 crore pilgrims attended the event.

Announcements in 12 regional languages across stations: Railway

One of the key initiatives introduced by North Central Railway (NCR) for devotees during Maha Kumbh is the implementation of announcements in 12 regional languages across railway stations, showcasing India’s linguistic diversity and cultural richness. The aim is to provide essential travel information in the pilgrims’ native languages, making their journey more convenient and comfortable, said Amit Malviya, Public Relations Officer, North Eastern Railway, adding that it has been started from today.

This effort is designed to enhance the travel experience for pilgrims from across the country and marks the first time such an initiative has been introduced.

To ensure smooth operations, NCR has recruited experienced announcers skilled in regional languages from other railway divisions. These announcers will provide accurate and clear information in the passengers’ native languages. This initiative not only benefits travelers but also highlights the railway’s commitment to India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, added Malviya.

In addition to Hindi and English, announcements will be made in 12 regional languages, including Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Maithili and Sanskrit, he added.

Malviya said the announcement in regional languages would be made upon arrival and departure of trains from the respective areas. The multilingual announcement system will provide essential information, such as train arrival and departure timings, platform changes, details about special trains, emergency instructions and crowd management and safety guidelines.