Under Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana train carrying 900 people to leave for Ajmer on Wednesday

Ranchi: Under Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana which has been resumed by the state government after a gap of four years a train with around 900 pilgrims will depart for Ajmer sharif, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri from the Ranchi railway station on February 15.

The state government has signed an MoU with IRCTC running this special scheme. A maximum of 1000 BPL senior citizens are entitled to avail this facility, but around 100 slots have remained vacant as the Ramgarh district has not sent the list of pilgrims owing to the by-election scheduled to be held on February 27.

The scheme had been launched by the previous government in 2016. The then BJP government had conducted seven religious tours for the BPL elders above 60 years of age drawn from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities till 2018. However, it had been discontinued during the Corona period and no pilgrims could avail this facility from 2019 to 2022. 

The JMM-led government resumed it this year and chose to send the Muslim pilgrims first. Meanwhile, the State tourism department has floated a notice for the Hindu pilgrims also and asked them to apply till February 16. Under this scheme, senior citizens of any religion can visit two religious places of his/her choice in the state and outside on the state government's expenses.

All sorts of medical, food and lodging facilities are given to the devotees during the Yatra. The travel and accommodation are taken care of by the IRCTC department.