Prayagraj: Preparations are underway for the upcoming Kumbh Mela, which will take place in January 2025. As part of these efforts, sleeping pods have been introduced at Prayagraj Railway Station to provide easy accommodation for travellers arriving for the grand religious event. These pods, which were inaugurated earlier this year, aim to cater to the needs of the millions of pilgrims who are expected to visit the city.
What are sleeping pods?
The sleeping pods at Prayagraj Railway Station offer a modern and compact accommodation solution, inspired by a “Made in Japan” concept. Caretaker Vishwajit Singh spoke about the features of the facility to news agency ANI. He said, “These pods are equipped with amenities like air conditioning, lockers and washrooms. We have 10 green pods designed for couples, pink pods exclusively for single females and orange pods for single occupants. The entire area is monitored through CCTV for enhanced security.”
#WATCH | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: The Caretaker of the sleeping pods at Prayagraj Railway Station, Vishwajit Singh says, “This is a ‘Made in Japan’ concept… All arrangements- including AC, locker, and washrooms have also been made. We have 10 green pods for couples, pink… pic.twitter.com/gd0X23Bbef
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
High-tech comfort
Despite their small size, the pods are equipped with advanced features, including phone charging points, Wi-Fi access, lockers and deluxe bathrooms. According to reports by IANS, tourists will be able to rent these pods, which have been made after similar accommodations found in airport lounges and railway stations worldwide.
Apart from the sleeping pods, the Uttar Pradesh government has developed a sprawling “tent city” covering 25 hectares to accommodate the influx of visitors. The initiative is part of broader plans to make the Mahakumbh 2025 is succesful.
Tent city to cover 4,000 hectares
Spanning an expansive 4,000 hectares—800 hectares larger than its 2019 counterpart—the tent city will be located across Sangam, Arail and Phaphamau. Divided into 25 sectors, it will offer a variety of lodging options, ranging from basic tents to luxurious accommodations, to serve the diverse needs of visitors during the 45-day event.
Officials from the Prayagraj Mela Authority have projected that the 2025 Kumbh Mela could attract nearly 40 crore visitors. To facilitate this massive gathering, the event area will feature 30 pontoon bridges—eight more than the 22 bridges used in 2019. That apart, around 1.45 lakh toilets will be installed, supported by 10,000 sanitation workers. Around 25,000 dustbins and 800 cleaning teams will also be deployed, with the entire waste management process monitored through an ICT-based system.
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