The Haryana government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to offer free train travel for eligible senior citizens visiting various pilgrimage sites under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana. The agreement was formalized on Tuesday by K. Makarand Pandurang, Director General of the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, and Harjot Singh Sandhu, Circle Regional Manager of IRCTC.

Launch of the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana

This initiative aims to facilitate free trips for senior citizens from Haryana to renowned religious places. Since its launch, the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana has successfully transported numerous eligible elderly devotees to pilgrimage sites, including Ayodhya, utilizing Volvo buses provided by the Haryana Transport Department. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed the expansion of this initiative to include rail travel.

Planned Destinations and Logistics

Pandurang shared that under the new agreement with IRCTC, senior citizens will have the opportunity to travel to major pilgrimage locations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Pushkar Ji, Vaishno Devi, Shirdi, and Shani Shingnapur. Additional destinations may be added to the program as necessary in the future. Each train will be equipped with 11 coaches, with ten designated for devotees and one reserved for staff support.

Travel Arrangements and Eligibility Criteria

The Haryana government will provide comprehensive arrangements for food, beverages, and accommodations at pilgrimage sites during the journey, along with transportation from the nearest railway stations. To qualify for the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana, senior citizens must be aged 60 years and above and have an annual income of less than ₹1.80 lakh. Eligible individuals can register for the scheme via the official pilgrimage portal.

Engagement of Officials

During the MoU signing event, other officials were also in attendance, including Harsh Deep and Nitin Sharma from the Railways, along with Ranbir Singh Sangwan, Additional Director of the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department. This collaboration marks a progressive step toward enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience for senior citizens in Haryana.

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