Indian Railways and State Authorities Roll Out Extensive Travel Arrangements for Kanwar Yatra 2026
As Kanwar Yatra 2026 gathers momentum, authorities across North India have introduced a comprehensive travel and traffic management plan to ensure the safe movement of millions of devotees. Indian Railways, state transport departments, and police authorities have announced special train services, additional bus operations, road closures, and traffic diversions across several states.
If you’re planning to travel during the pilgrimage season, here’s everything you need to know about the latest transport arrangements and traffic restrictions.
Northern Railway Introduces Special Trains for Kanwar Pilgrims
To accommodate the large number of devotees travelling to Haridwar and Rishikesh, Northern Railway has extended several existing train services and introduced special fair trains.
Delhi–Saharanpur MEMU Extended to Haridwar
From July 30 to August 14, the Delhi–Saharanpur MEMU service will run up to Haridwar.
The train will depart from Delhi at 4:15 PM, reach Saharanpur at 8:50 PM, resume its journey after a brief halt, and arrive in Haridwar at 10:50 PM via Roorkee and Jwalapur.
On the return trip, the train will leave Haridwar at 2:00 AM and reach Delhi at 8:45 AM.
Delhi–Shamli DEMU Extended
The Delhi–Shamli DEMU will also operate up to Haridwar between July 30 and August 14.
The route will pass through Shamli, Thana Bhawan, Rampur Maniharan, and Tapri, while the return service will follow the same corridor before reaching Delhi.
Special Mela Trains to Improve Connectivity
To manage the festive rush, Northern Railway will also run dedicated Kanwar Mela Special trains, including:
- Haridwar–Delhi Shahdara Fair Special (via Tapri) from July 30 to August 13.
- Yoganagari Rishikesh–Delhi Shahdara Fair Special (via Tapri) from July 30 to August 14.
These additional services are expected to reduce crowding and provide smoother travel for pilgrims heading to the holy cities.
Haryana Roadways to Increase Bus Services
Haryana Roadways has confirmed that bus services between Ballabhgarh and Haridwar are operating normally.
Currently, two buses run daily:
- First departure: 5:30 AM
- Second departure: 8:00 PM
The fare remains ₹385 per passenger.
Officials have said more buses will be added if passenger demand rises during the peak pilgrimage period.
Ghaziabad Traffic Advisory: Major Restrictions in Place
Ghaziabad Police has announced extensive traffic restrictions to ensure the safe passage of Kanwar pilgrims.
Heavy Vehicles Banned
From 8:00 AM on July 29 until August 12, heavy vehicles, including trucks, DCMs, tractor-trolleys, and similar commercial vehicles, will not be allowed inside the city.
Traffic coming from Delhi, Hapur, Baghpat, and Bulandshahr will be diverted through:
- Eastern Peripheral Expressway
- NH-09
- Delhi–Dehradun Expressway
Heavy vehicle movement will also remain prohibited on:
- Ganga Canal Kanwar Marg
- Pipeline Marg
- NH-34 (formerly NH-58)
- Delhi–Meerut Expressway
Restrictions on Cars, Autos, and Light Commercial Vehicles
From August 5 to August 12, additional restrictions will apply to private cars, mini-trucks, tempos, pickup vehicles, and other light commercial vehicles.
Roads leading to Dudheshwarnath Temple from areas including Railway Station Road, Ramteeram Road, Kirana Mandi, Ghantaghar, Bajariya Road, and Delhi Gate will remain closed to regular traffic.
Auto-rickshaw services will also remain suspended on key routes, including:
- Seemapuri Border to Lal Kuan
- Mohan Nagar to Anand Vihar
Changes to Bus Routes in Ghaziabad
Beginning August 5, roadways, city buses, private buses, and electric buses will not enter Ghaziabad through Seemapuri Border or Tulsi Niketan.
- Buses arriving from Bulandshahr will terminate at Lal Kuan.
- Services from Anand Vihar and Kaushambi will operate through alternative routes.
Special Arrangements Near Dudheshwarnath Temple
To manage heavy footfall around the popular temple, authorities have prohibited two-wheelers and light vehicles from entering through:
- Chaudhary Mod
- Railway Road Cut
- Bajariya
- Hapur Tiraha
- Gaushala Gate
Emergency green corridors have been created for ambulances and fire services, while police personnel, CCTV surveillance, and drone monitoring will remain active throughout the Yatra.
Residents are advised to check daily traffic updates before travelling, as diversions may change depending on crowd movement.
Muzaffarnagar Announces Highway Restrictions
Traffic restrictions will also be implemented in Muzaffarnagar.
Heavy vehicles on the Delhi–Haridwar National Highway and Ganga Canal Road will face restrictions beginning July 30.
Between August 4 and August 12, all regular vehicular movement will be prohibited on these routes, with portions of the highway reserved exclusively for Kanwar pilgrims.
Delhi–Meerut Expressway to Remain Closed
To facilitate the pilgrimage, the Uttar Pradesh stretch of the Delhi–Meerut Expressway (DME) will remain closed for general traffic from August 7 to August 12, coinciding with Shivratri.
Travellers heading toward Meerut, Haridwar, and Muzaffarnagar should use alternate routes, including:
- Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE)
- Delhi–Dehradun Expressway
- NH-9 service roads
- Internal roads through Mohan Nagar, Link Road, and Hapur Road
Mirzapur Enforces Diversions Until August 28
The Mirzapur district administration has also introduced traffic restrictions during the month of Sawan.
From July 31 to August 28, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter the city, except those transporting essential supplies such as milk, fuel, medicines, school materials, and emergency goods.
Diversions have been implemented at several locations, including:
- Robertsganj Tiraha
- Madihan
- Bharuhana Chowki
- Gaipura
- Rajgarh Tiraha
- Barkachha
- Belan Baraudha
- Tengra Mod
- Shastri Bridge
Vehicles travelling from Prayagraj, Rewa, Rajgarh, and Ghorawal will be redirected through designated alternate routes.
To strengthen security, police divers will be stationed at major bathing ghats, while a temporary police station has been set up at Rampur Tiraha on the Delhi–Dehradun National Highway with dedicated personnel deployed throughout the pilgrimage.
Advisory for Pilgrims and Commuters
With millions of Kanwariyas expected to travel during Kanwar Yatra 2026, authorities have urged both pilgrims and regular commuters to stay updated on train schedules, bus services, and traffic advisories before starting their journey.
Travellers are advised to use officially designated diversion routes, cooperate with traffic police, and keep additional travel time in mind, as road conditions and traffic management plans may change based on the movement of devotees and weather conditions.