Ahead of the significant bathing event at Maha Kumbh on Maghi Purnima (February 12), the Prayagraj administration has issued a traffic advisory and declared a no-vehicle zone in the holy area to ensure smooth movement and safety for devotees.

Traffic plan for Maha KumbhTo facilitate the smooth flow of devotees in the fair area, the entire fair zone has been designated as a No Vehicle Zone from 4:00 AM on February 11, 2025. Reports add that only essential and emergency service vehicles will be allowed access. And all those devotees arriving from outside Prayagraj, will be required to park their vehicles in designated parking areas based on their respective routes.

Additionally, to further streamline movement, the entire Prayagraj city will be under a No Vehicle Zone from 5:00 pm on February 11, 2025. This restriction will continue until the smooth evacuation of devotees from the fair area on February 12. These rules also apply to Kalpvasis, who reside by the Sangam for a fixed period during the festival.

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The advisory comes in response to the anticipated influx of crores of devotees for Maghi Purnima, which is the fifth of the six sacred bathing days at Maha Kumbh. The decision also follows a tragic stampede on January 29 during the second Shahi Snan (Mauni Amavasya), where at least 30 pilgrims lost their lives and 60 were injured.


Measures to prevent congestionUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting with police and civic officials on Monday night. He emphasized the need for a structured traffic and crowd management plan, stressing the full utilization of the 5 lakh vehicle parking capacity. The Chief Minister directed authorities to ensure that long queues of vehicles do not form on the roads and that traffic congestion is prevented at all costs.

Judicial inquiry and compensationA three-member judicial commission has been appointed to investigate the causes of the January 29 stampede and will submit its report within a month. The panel includes Justice Harsh Kumar, former Director General VK Gupta, and retired IAS officer VK Singh. In addition to the probe, the Chief Minister announced a compensation of INR 25 lakh for the families of the deceased.

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Maha Kumbh 2025 attendance so farMaha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, commenced on January 13 and will continue until February 26, 2025. As of February 10, an estimated 44.74 crore people had already participated in the event.

With these strict traffic measures in place, authorities aim to ensure a safe and organized bathing experience for the millions of devotees attending the Maha Kumbh on Maghi Purnima.