The Mahakumbh, the world’s largest religious event, is a celebration of belief, piety, and sheer human scale. Conducted once every 144 years, the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, brings millions of pilgrims, saints, and tourists to seek spiritual cleansing at the historic Triveni Sangam. While the festival is a wonder of piety and culture, it also poses a behemoth logistical challenge; most significantly, a traffic nightmare of unmatched proportions.The ongoing Mahakumbh 2025 has caused what is being termed as the world’s biggest traffic jam, with traffic covering a whopping 300 kilometers, holding cars for as long as 48 hours. With more than 25 lakh cars pouring onto Prayagraj’s streets, the infrastructure of the city has been strained to its breaking point. Public transport networks have been unable to cope with demand, and response times for emergencies have been seriously affected. Managing traffic during such a massive event requires a combination of infrastructure readiness, technology-driven solutions, and policy interventions.
The entry of millions of pilgrims and tourists has clogged the city’s roads, railway terminals, and highways. VIP lanes, designed to ease movement, have ironically added to the congestion. The worst hit is the 150 ghats of Prayagraj, most notably the Triveni Ghat, which has seen maximum crowd concentration.
There have been reports that the scenario has witnessed a spike in abandoned cars and illegal roadside parking, adding fuel to the situation. The phenomenon highlights the shortcomings of controlling such a large congregation of people in the absence of a strong and anticipatory traffic management plan. Conventional measures of traffic management have failed to cope, creating delays, panic, and disgruntlement for devotees as well as domestic commuters.
One of the most important factors in enhancing traffic management during mass events is the use of technology. AI-based traffic monitoring, IoT-based smart parking systems, and real-time congestion mapping have been used in international events and can be a game-changer in reducing traffic during Mahakumbh. Different companies and government organisations have launched technology-based solutions like digital parking booking, automated congestion notifications, and dynamic route optimisation.
These technologies can assist in streamlining vehicle flow, enabling authorities to anticipate congestion points before they turn into bottlenecks. Infrastructure improvements, including well-planned entry and exit points, designated parking zones, and pedestrian-only pathways, are essential in preventing extreme traffic scenarios
Recognising the gravity of the situation, organisations like Park+ have entered as a crucial facilitator of organised parking and vehicle flow management. The company has acquired 30 parking deals, spanning a vast 600 hectares in the outskirts of Prayagraj, providing organised parking solutions to prevent congestion. Park+ has managed more than 3.5 lakh vehicles so far with a high-density parking infrastructure for parking as much as 5 lakh vehicles simultaneously. Through tech-based tracking technology and 24/7 monitoring by cameras, these digital age companies have ensured real-time tracking and optimal traffic flow. The adoption of digital parking technology has enabled guests to pre-book parking, which has prevented unwanted road obstructions and lengthy waits.
Apart from parking, the availability of EV charging points, hygienic washrooms, medical aid centers, and a challan enquiry center provide an added layer of convenience and assistance to visitors. The provision of these facilities has helped in ensuring that the flow of pilgrims is better managed. Significantly, even though Uttar Pradesh has the largest local vehicle density, a major portion of the vehicles availing these services hail from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi-NCR. The need for organised parking solutions has thrown into relief an emerging requirement for intelligent traffic and mobility management for such large-scale mass events.
Several strategies could have been implemented to prevent the massive traffic jam that unfolded. Firstly, AI-based real-time traffic management systems could have been employed to monitor congestion patterns and dynamically adjust traffic signals, divert vehicles, and suggest alternative routes. Secondly, integrating a more efficient public transport system, such as high-frequency shuttle services, could have reduced the dependency on private vehicles. Thirdly, enforcing stricter regulations on vehicle entry, such as pre-registration systems, designated time slots for arrivals, and controlled access points, could have mitigated road congestion. Finally, better urban planning, including the expansion of temporary road networks and the creation of vehicle holding areas outside the main city, could have alleviated the strain on Prayagraj’s roads.
Globally, smart cities utilise AI, IoT, and big data analytics to manage vehicular flow and avoid jams. The traffic mess at the Mahakumbh demonstrates the need for AI-driven congestion forecasting models that can examine real-time data from CCTV surveillance, GPS, and vehicle sensors to suggest alternate routes in real-time. Predictive congestion mapping, smart parking space allocation, and automated traffic management would have eased traffic congestion considerably. Heat maps of pedestrian and traffic flows may also assist the authorities in better controlling bottlenecks. Tokyo and London already have AI-based transport models in place, which can be models for improvements in Indian urban mobility in the years to come.
Although efforts made by these tech-powered companies have contributed to alleviating some of the congestion, there could have been a much better situation had there been better foresight and advance planning by the organisers of the event. Introduction of Tech-based traffic control early on and an AI traffic control center using real-time data would have permitted immediate tweaking. A coordinated public transport plan with additional shuttle buses and special pilgrim lanes would have reduced dependence on private transport.
Having a pre-registration system for parking would have minimised last-minute road congestion, while wider traffic diversion plans with additional alternative routes and temporary one-way roads should have been put in place well ahead of time.
The other key takeaway from Mahakumbh 2025 is improved communication strategies. Most of the visitors were not aware of parking areas and diversion routes because of the absence of necessary signage and public announcements. A strong information dissemination framework through mobile apps, SMS notifications, and real-time navigation updates could have compensated for a significant amount of confusion. Investment in public-private partnerships to organise large-scale events could have employed more innovative crowd and traffic management practices.
The traffic disaster during Mahakumbh 2025 serves as a sharp reminder of India’s urgent need for intelligent traffic management solutions. While Park+ has helped prevent some of the difficulties, the experience highlights the significance of tech-driven urban mobility solutions. In the future, AI-based predictive models, smart parking solutions, and frictionless traffic control systems will be necessary in order to ensure smoother flow of vehicles during mega events. As Mahakumbh goes on, the learnings from this years’ experience will be used as a template for future events to shape a wiser, more effective traffic management system for India’s burgeoning urban areas.
