50% rebate on train fare for pilgrims

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 25

The Railways has decided to grant a 50 per cent concession on basic fare to pilgrims who will be attending birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Ravidass at Varanasi, said Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal today.

In a press release, Harsimrat said she had been pursuing the matter with the Railways through personal correspondence and a series of meetings with Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu.

While thanking the Railways Minister, Harsimrat said this decision would benefit a large number of Punjabis who would be attending the birthday celebrations of Shri Guru Ravidas at Varanasi.

She said as per a letter received from the Chief Commercial Manager (Commercial), Northern Railways, New Delhi, and Central Railways, Mumbai, the Ministry of Railways has agreed to grant a 50 per cent concession on basic fares of second/sleeper class to persons with earnings/emoluments of not more than Rs 5,000 per month. The concession would be available to pilgrims travelling from Ambala, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Pune to Varanasi and back from January 25 to February 25, 2017, to attend the birthday celebrations being organised by Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Sthan Public Charitable Trust, Jalandhar.

Harsimrat said the SAD-BJP government in the state and NDA government at the Centre were committed to provide affordable travel to pilgrims to places of their worship. She said in Punjab, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, “Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Scheme” had been started.