The trains for pilgrimage to Sri Hazoor Sahib, under recently-approved Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme, would run from all the three takhts (temporal seats). The scheme was approved by the Punjab Cabinet during its last meeting.
The cabinet sub-committee, comprising the state Tourism Minister Sohan Singh Thandal, Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, and Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, in its meeting on Friday decided that the first train under the scheme would run from Amritsar, wherein pilgrims assembled near Akal Takht, and would be taken to Sri Hazoor Sahib.
Thandal said that the Scheme would be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on January 1 at Amritsar and thereafter the train would depart with 1000 pilgrims for Sri Hazoor Sahib.
He said that under this scheme, Punjab Government will also provide free boarding and lodging facility coupled with complimentary food to the pilgrims. The scheme will cost the Punjab Government nearly Rs 150 crore per annum.
After Akal Takht, trains would run from Damdama Sahib and Anandpur Sahib, said Thandal adding that the trains would also run for free pilgrimage to sacred cities of Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi) and Ajmer Sharif.
The beneficiaries for the scheme would be identified by the respective Deputy Commissioners in the State, he said .