The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticized the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) following severe traffic congestion in Prayagraj and on highways leading to the city during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, sources revealed.
The PAC expressed dissatisfaction with NHAI’s lack of planning for ensuring smooth traffic flow during the major religious gathering. Latest photographs and videos, including satellite images, have captured the widespread traffic congestion in and around Prayagraj, worrying authorities.
Chaired by Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal, the panel asked why toll charges on highways to Prayagraj were not exempted given the heavy traffic jam. At a review meeting on Wednesday about toll plazas on national highways, the PAC expressed its worries to NHAI.
Last Sunday, there were long lines of cars along the Sangam road, crawling slowly as police installed barricades to control the smooth passage of pilgrims. The authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar said that it had become “impossible to move towards Prayagraj as there is a traffic jam of 200-300 km.”
A committee member also questioned the absence of necessary facilities like drinking water, sanitation, and roadside restaurants to facilitate the huge number of stranded devotees. Sources informed that Venugopal concurred that although NHAI was already earning huge revenues from toll collections, it could have been more sensitive to the plight of commuters. He asked why adequate arrangements and planning had not been made.
As the Maha Kumbh started on January 13, around 50 crore devotees have taken the holy dip at the Sangam so far.
On Sunday, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav went on social media to bring to light the chaotic traffic scenario in Prayagraj, calling upon the Uttar Pradesh government to immediately take emergency steps for stranded pilgrims. In view of the huge crowd, the authorities have declared that the Prayagraj Sangam railway station will be closed till February 14.
The Maha Kumbh will end on February 26.
