Delhi CM flags off first train of Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra

The train, equipped for medical emergency, food and volunteers for support, was flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot and Tirth Yatra Committee Chairman Kamal Bansal.

The Mukhayamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana covers five routes of religious importance.

The train flagged off today is the first train and it will take the senior citizens to Golden Temple, Wagah Border and Anandpur Sahib.

Addressing the yatris, Kejriwal said: "It was Delhi government's vision to ensure every senior citizen in Delhi gets the opportunity to go on a tirth yatra."

A total of 1,000 senior citizens have taken the train for the first Tirth Yatra.

"The 1,000 senior citizens have been booked in 17 AC coaches of the train. The train has the facility of food for all the pilgrims, two volunteers of the government for any kind of support would be available in every coach of the train, a medical team for any kind of medical emergency/help. The first train will be back in Delhi on the morning of July 16," Delhi government said in a statement.

The Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana enables 1,100 senior citizens from each Assembly Constituency of Delhi per year to undertake free pilgrimage, the expenses for which will be borne by the Delhi government.

The journey will be performed through Indian Railways, the government said.

( With inputs from IANS )