State seeks special trains for pilgrims

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 5

The state today suggested the Railways to start 10 special trains connecting it to various pilgrimage sites such as Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Varanasi and Pushkar.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal met Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and told him that the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, and other gurus/saints had travelled across the country and sites such as Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, New Delhi etc, were associated with them.

“It is the wish of all Sikhs and Punjabis to visit these holy places at least once in their lifetime. Punjabis, who follow other religions/sects, also aspire to pay obeisance at sacred places in Varanasi, Ajmer, Bidar, Pushkar, etc,” he added.

The Railways Minister indicated that the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) could run these trains within four to six weeks from Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Chandigarh to holy places.

The Railways Minister said the cost per person per day for such journeys would be approximately Rs 2,100, which besides the ticket would cover food, night stay at hotels and last mile connectivity to religious sites from railway stations through buses/taxis.

Sukhbir offered the last mile connectivity from all district headquarters to the stations in the state where such trains start. This facility, expected to cost Rs 100 crore, would be provided free of cost, a state government release stated.