The special train was flagged off under the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarik Teertha Yatra Yojana. The first batch was carrying 775 senior citizens and 25 escort officials to Varanasi and Ayodhya.
Odisha Flags Off First Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Train: Odisha flagged off the first senior citizen pilgrimage train of the current financial year on Wednesday. The first batch was carrying 775 senior citizens and 25 escort officials to Varanasi and Ayodhya.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Kendrapada MLA Ganeswar Behera flagged off the special train from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station (Patia) and extended their best wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey. The special train was flagged off under the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarik Teertha Yatra Yojana. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said, ‘We consider ourselves very lucky that we can send our senior citizens on a pilgrimage. This is the first train of 2026-2027 which is en route to Varanasi and Ayodhya. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that financially disadvantaged senior citizens can visit important pilgrimage sites without worrying about travel expenses. Tour guides have been sent along and health insurance has also been arranged. People will go and will have a good and happy trip. They will return with a lot of happiness.’
During the five-day journey, the senior citizens will visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and witness the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. The first phase of the pilgrimage covers six districts—Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Puri, Kendrapada and Dhenkanal. The district-wise participation includes 169 pilgrims from Khordha, 85 from Jagatsinghpur, 197 from Kataka, 127 from Puri, 108 from Kendrapada and 89 from Dhenkanal.
Minister for Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, Kendrapada MLA Ganeshwar Behera and other senior officials, were present on the occasion.
Under the Mukhyamantri Teertha Yatra Yojana, around 8,000 senior citizens will undertake pilgrimage journeys in 10 phases during 2026–27. The programme will cover major pilgrimage destinations including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rameswaram and Madurai.
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