District Magistrate Haridwar HC Semwal flagged off the first troop of senior citizens for the scheme 'Mera Buzurg - Mera Teerth 2015' from near a bus stand here on Thursday morning.
It may be mentioned that scheme 'Mera Buzurg - Mera Teerth 2015' was announced by the Chief Minister Harish Rawat for the senior citizen of the state to facilitate them to visit Char dhams, free of cost.
The first troop consists of 32 passengers, including 20 female and 10 male passengers. Two female passengers are around 70. Trips of Mera Buzurg - Mera Teerth is being managed by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). There are three stoppages to facilitate the passengers to refresh themselves during the trip. They are at Pipalkoti, Badrinath and Shrikot.
Semwal said the district administration has made a target of 4800 senior citizens from across the district to be registered under this scheme for Badrinath and Gangotri dham yatra. He hoped the inflow of tourists will boost the yatra and would encourage the pilgrims from other states to come.
Regional tourist development Officer YK Gangwar said the next bus will move on Thursday for Badrinath and the next day for Gangotri from the same place. Free guide, medical, fooding /lodging facility is also being provided to the passengers travelling under this scheme. Gangwar added that one can get his/her name enrolled from the district tourist office and sub- divisional magistrate offices of the district.