The pilgrimage train schedule from Maharashtra is postponed due to the Maha Kumbh Mela, affecting many eager travelers.
Prayagraj: So, it looks like the pilgrimage train schedule from Maharashtra is on hold. The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela is causing quite a stir, and the trains are all booked up. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has let the state know that they can’t add more trains right now because of the high demand.
With so many people heading to north India for the Kumbh, the trains are packed. The railway ministry has even rolled out some special trains from Maharashtra to Prayagraj, but it’s still not enough. Gururaj Sonna from IRCTC Pune mentioned that the rush is really affecting train availability, and they’ll have to wait until after March to revise the schedule.
There were supposed to be 13 trains going to Ayodhya, but now they’re delayed. This is a bummer for senior citizens who were excited to visit Lord Ram’s birthplace. Before the assembly elections were announced, the social welfare department started taking online applications for the pilgrimage scheme, but now everything’s on pause due to the model code of conduct kicking in.
Even though nine trains have already been sent to various pilgrimage spots, the IRCTC has said that the trains under the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana are not available for now. The state government is working on informing everyone about the delays. Swati Ithape from the social welfare department confirmed they got the news from IRCTC and will adjust the schedule when things settle down.
There’s a huge crowd heading to Prayagraj, not just from Pune but all over Maharashtra and beyond. Trains to Uttar Pradesh are full, and people are scrambling for bus and flight tickets too. Swati Mujumle, a traveler, shared her frustration about not being able to find affordable train tickets for her family of 24. It’s a real struggle!
Ashok Jadhav, a travel agent in Pune, noted that train tickets are going for higher prices now since there are so few available under the Tatkal quota. Many folks have already booked their tickets in advance, and private tourist buses are now making the trek to UP from various parts of Maharashtra.
The Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana was launched in July 2024 for seniors over 60. It selects 1,000 beneficiaries from each district for pilgrimages to holy sites like Char Dham and Ayodhya. So far, over 7,500 people from districts like Kolhapur and Mumbai have completed their trips in nine rounds of the scheme.