The surge in Covid-19 infections has put a brake on the Delhi Government's Mukhya Mantri Tirth Yatra Yojna under which the elderly are taken to various religious sites, with a train scheduled to leave for the Velankani church in Tamil Nadu on Friday having been cancelled, officials said. Eleven train trips that were planned in January have been affected due to the pandemic. The train to Velankani on January 7 stands cancelled, said Kamal Bansal, chairman of Tirth Yatra Vikas Samiti.
"Further, trains of pilgrims, including those for Kartarpur Sahib route as well as Amritsar, Ayodhya and Rameshwaram later this month, have also been cancelled," Bansal said.
"The decision to suspend the scheme for the time being has been taken due to the rising number of Covid across the country. It will restart when the conditions are suitable," said a senior Delhi Government officer.
Under the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Yatra Yojna, people aged 60 years and above are sent on pilgrimage on 15 routes fully sponsored by the Delhi government. The Government pays for travel, accommodation and other expenses of each pilgrim who can also take along an attendant with them.