Under 'Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme' approved by the Punjab Cabinet during its last meeting, the trains for pilgrimage to Sri Hazoor Sahib would run from all the three Tahakts, informed Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Tourism Minister Punjab, after the review meeting held by Cabinet Sub Committee at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh.The Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising of Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Tourism Minister, Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Education Minister and Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar Transport minister Punjab decided that the first train under this scheme would run from Amritsar where in pilgrims assembled near Sri Akal Takhat would be taken to Sri Hazoor Sahib, informed Mr. Thandal. The 'Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme’ would be inaugurated by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab on January 1,2016 at Amritsar and thereafter the train would depart with 1000 pilgrims for Sri Hazoor Sahib, said he.
Tourism Minister informed that under this scheme, government of Punjab 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. He said that after Sri Akal Thakat Sahib, trains would run from Sri Damdama Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib and added that 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, said he.