Akhilesh Yadav urges UP govt to extend Maha Kumbh dates as millions more plan to visit Prayagraj

An aerial view of the Sangam area showing thousands of devotees gathering for the holy dip at Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has requested the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to extend the dates of Maha Kumbh so that more devotees can visit Prayagraj, participate in the holy gathering and take the holy dip at Triveni Sangam ghat.

The UP govt today announced that over 54 lakh devotees have taken a holy dip at the Sangam till 10 am on Saturday, bringing the total number of devotees to an astonishing 50.11 crore. The Maha Kumbh started on January 13 and will end on February 26, the day of Maha Shivaratri.

“I just wish, and this is what I have said, that the Kumbh Mela time should increase so that elderly people can peacefully take a holy dip at the Sangam," said Yadav told reporters.

The SP chief also said that the Kumbh Mela had continued for 75 days in previous years and that this year, the duration of the gathering is comparatively shorter.

“Even now, many people want to go to Maha Kumbh but cannot. In such a situation, the government should extend the time limit of Maha Kumbh," he added.

To tackle the massive crowds, emergency crowd management measures have been implemented at Prayagraj Junction. Kuldeep Tiwari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway Lucknow, announced that the Prayagraj Sangam railway station will remain closed until February 14 to prevent overcrowding.

Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar acknowledged the challenges of managing 40 crore+ visitors and assured that efforts are being made to ease traffic congestion. Additional police personnel have been deployed to facilitate vehicle movement and manage the massive influx of devotees.

The Mahakumbh Mela 2025 continues to attract millions of pilgrims, but the ongoing restrictions have created logistical challenges, impacting both locals and visitors. Authorities are working to balance security measures with essential services, hoping for a resolution soon.

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