ALLAHABAD: Bowing to popular demand, the North Central Railway (NCR) has decided not to hike the the existing 'mela surcharge' on train tickets of various classes for Kumbh Mela beginning January 15.NCR, which is gearing up in a major way for the mega event, announced that there would be no increase in the existing mela surcharge, which is currently being levied on tickets for major 'melas' (fairs) like ' Quar Navratri Mela' in Vindhyachal and Maihar station.CPRO, NCR, G K Bansal said: "The existing mela surcharge will only be levied in respect of tickets issued from Mela station and also on return tickets to the Mela station and back. This surcharge will not be levied on single journey tickets issued from various stations of Indian Railways (IR) to the mela station."Furthermore, the existing mela surcharge will be levied only on tickets costing more than Rs 15 (basic fare). Speaking on the decision, GM, NCR, Rajiv Chaudhry, said: "Though the Railways is making major investments for the Kumbh mela, the burden would not be passed on to the pilgrims and tourists coming to Allahabad for the mega religious event.""We are in the process of completing major infrastructure augmentation works in Allahabad comprising of all three railways - NCR, NR and NER - to the tune of about Rs 700 crore, which will make Kumbh experience of crores of pilgrims and tourists pleasant and memorable," he added.The NCR has already completed 14 projects directly related to the Kumbh, costing Rs 112 crore, while 32 other projects costing Rs 591 crore are under progress and will be completed before the Mela. Facilities at Allahabad Junction are being upgraded and strengthened to facilitate pilgrims during their visit to the Kumbh Mela next year.

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