In 2013, as many as 36 pilgrims died in a stampede at a railway station during Kumbh Mela in which nearly 3 crore people had visited the holy place to witness the event.
As the spiritual fervor builds up for the Magh Mela 2024 ahead of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, (earlier Allahabad) the city is not only preparing for the influx of millions of pilgrims but is also set to revolutionize the travel experience for devotees. To subscribe please click tau.id/2iy6f and access our live channel.
The Indian Railways is set to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crowd control management at stations in Prayagraj during the upcoming Magh Mela. This move is seen as a rehearsal for the Maha Kumbh in 2025.
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At a coordination meeting between railway official and the district administration, it has been decided that with the increase in crowd, the devotees would be stopped in 14 holding area including seven at Prayagraj Junction, four at Prayag station and three at Rambagh along with circulating areas.
Additional bogies and Mela special trains will also be operated to meet out heavy rush. Shuttle buses and e-rickshaws will operate from the station to the mela area too. Preparations to deal with emergency situations were also discussed.
AI for Crowd Management
- To closely monitor the movement of devotees, a control tower has been constructed on top of the station building, which will aid in crowd management.
- Divisional level officers will manage the nine stations from a control room equipped with CCTV, hotlines, wireless communication, and display area boards.
- This control room will be connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the mela area.
- During the mela, direction-wise entry will be done in a controlled manner through passenger shelters from the city side only.
Novel Ticketing System
During Magh Mela, tickets will be available through the new system. This time, the work of issuing tickets under the new system will be done on Leader Road outside the passenger shelter, for which special arrangements are being made.
Coloured stickers will be placed on the issued tickets as per the colour code of the holding area. Airport-like facilities be available for passengers at Prayagraj Junction, while smaller stations will also be upgraded.
Upgraded Stations
Retiring rooms and dormitories are now ready for the convenience of passengers at Prayagraj Sangam railway station. Furthermore, once the passenger shelters at Prayagraj Junction are full, entry from the city side will be closed.
Temporary hold-up areas, such as Khusrobagh, will be used to regulate the crowd. Similar planning is being done at Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Cheoki, Naini, Rambagh, Prayag, Phaphamau and Jhunsi stations.
Conclusion
The implementation of these innovative measures is a result of collaborative efforts between government agencies, railway authorities, and technology partners. The vision is to create a seamless and memorable experience for pilgrims, reflecting the essence of the spiritual journey they are undertaking.
