Ahead of the Ram Mandir's grand opening on January 22, the BJP government in Chhattisgarh approved an annual free train travel scheme for people who want to take darshan of Lord Ram at Ayodhya temple. The decision was taken after Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai held a cabinet meeting, an official said.
"Fulfilling yet another guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised during the 2023 assembly elections," an official release said.
It said 20,000 people would be taken to Ayodhya on annual pilgrimage by train. Those in the age group of 18 years to 75 years who are medically fit would be eligible under this scheme. In the first leg, the selection of persons above 55 years of age would be done.
A committee would be set up under the collector in each district to select pilgrims.
"The scheme would be implemented by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and a necessary budget would be provided by the state tourism department," the release said.
An MoU would be inked with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to implement the scheme and a weekly special train would be arranged.
Chhattisgarh annual free train travel for Ayodhya
- People can board the special train from Raipur, Durg, Raigarh, and Ambikapur stations. The main destination of the 900-km tour would be Ayodhya, a government release said.
- During the tour, pilgrims will make a night halt in Varanasi where they will be taken to Kashi Vishwanath temple and participate in the Ganga Aarti.
- Notably, the Sai government had last week decided to declare January 22 as a “dry day” to mark the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
- In another decision, the state government has also decided to appoint Praffull Bharat, a senior advocate of the Chhattisgarh High Court, as the new Advocate General, the release said.
He will replace former AG Satish Chandra Verma who resigned after the BJP came to power in December.
With inputs from PTI
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