Bhubaneswar: As many as 775 senior citizens Wednesday left for Varanasi and Ayodhya on the first pilgrimage train of the current fiscal under Odisha government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarik Teertha Yatra Yojana’.
The special train was flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the tourism portfolio, at the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station in Patia.
Under the scheme, a total of 8,000 senior citizens will undertake pilgrimage journeys in 10 phases during 2026-27.
The destinations covered under the programme include Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rameswaram and Madurai.
Flagging off the train, Parida extended her best wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey. Of the 775 pilgrims undertaking the journey, 333 are women and 442 men.
She said the pilgrimage from the sacred land of Lord Lingaraj to Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya would be a memorable experience for the senior citizens.
The first phase of the pilgrimage comprises senior citizens from six districts — Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Puri, Kendrapada and Dhenkanal.
The district-wise participation includes 169 pilgrims from Khurda, 85 from Jagatsinghpur, 197 from Kataka, 127 from Puri, 108 from Kendrapada and 89 from Dhenkanal.
To ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the pilgrims throughout the journey, 25 escort officers have also accompanied them.
Minister for Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain and Kendrapara MLA Ganeshwar Behera also extended their greetings and best wishes for a safe and successful pilgrimage.
Railway tickets and kit bags were also ceremonially distributed to the pilgrims.
