02 June,2026 09:03 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
On Amrit Snan days, when pilgrim turnout is expected to peak, private vehicles will be restricted at outer parking locations.
The Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) has unveiled an ambitious public transport plan featuring a 4,500-bus network to facilitate the movement of crores of devotees during Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027.
The plan includes 3,000 buses for road-based shuttle services and 1,500 buses for railway-linked transportation. Together, the network is expected to handle more than 33 lakh passengers daily while minimising private vehicle movement in key pilgrimage zones.
Under the proposed system, devotees arriving by road will park at designated outer parking areas and use Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) shuttle buses to reach Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. The authority has identified 46 parking nodes connected through a dedicated shuttle network. Of the 3,000 buses, 900 will operate between Nashik parking areas and inner zones, 1,485 will connect Nashik with Trimbakeshwar, and 325 will serve internal routes in Trimbakeshwar. An additional 290 buses will remain on standby to manage crowd surges.
The road-based network is expected to transport nearly 25.36 lakh passengers per day.
For rail passengers, shuttle services will connect five railway stations - Nashik Road, Deolali, Odha, Kherwadi, and Kasbe Sukne - with pilgrimage areas. Around 1,500 buses have been earmarked for railway connectivity, including 520 buses linking stations to inner parking areas and 680 buses operating directly to Trimbakeshwar. Another 300 buses will remain on standby. The rail-linked system is projected to handle approximately 8.26 lakh passengers daily.
On Amrit Snan days, when pilgrim turnout is expected to peak, private vehicles will be restricted at outer parking locations. Devotees will then rely on MSRTC shuttle services, while core areas around Ramkund and the Trimbakeshwar temple will function largely as pedestrian-only zones.
To ensure efficient operations, all buses will be GPS-enabled and monitored through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), allowing real-time tracking, route management and crowd regulation.
NTKMA Commissioner Shekhar Singh said the transport plan has been designed with pilgrim safety and convenience as its primary focus. "Our objective is to ensure that devotees experience a safe, organised and seamless journey during the Kumbh Mela," he said.
MSRTC Divisional Transport Officer Kiran Bhosale said special attention has been given to the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar corridor, which is expected to witness the highest passenger movement during Amrit Snan days. Transport arrangements are also being aligned with railway operations, including proposed special trains during peak pilgrimage periods.
