Fulfilling yet another promise made in the election manifesto, the Vishnu Deo Sai government on Monday approved a scheme to provide free tour for Chhattisgarh residents to the Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
This decision was taken at cabinet meeting held at Mahanadi Bhawan on Wednesday.
A senior state government said a total of 20,000 people would be taken on pilgrimage each year. Citizens aged between 18 to 76 years would be eligible to travel. The first leg would be open to persons above 55 years.
A committee under the chairmanship of District Collectors in each district will select the pilgrims.
The scheme would be implemented by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and necessary budget would be provided by the tourism department.
A MoU would be inked with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) to implement the scheme. A weekly special train would be arranged.
People can board into the train from Raipur, Durg, Raigarh and Ambikapur.
The main destination of the tour would be Ayodhya -- a journey of 900 km.
In between the tour, the pilgrims would have a night halt at Varanasi where they would be taken to Kashi Vishwanath temple and see the Ganga aarti.