PM Modi Launches Pravasi Bharatiya Express, A Unique Tourist Train for NRIs
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remotely inaugurated the first journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a unique tourist train aimed at the Indian diaspora.
This train will journey to various tourism and religious destinations throughout India over a span of three weeks. This initiative is a component of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana led by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Express is a specially designed, state-of-the-art tourist train, crafted exclusively for the Indian diaspora, particularly catering to individuals aged between 45 and 65 years.
Commencing from its launch date on January 9, the train will visit a variety of locations across the country, including significant tourist and religious sites, for a duration of three weeks.
The selection of January 9 for the launch holds significance, as it marks the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa to India in 1915.
The train departs from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi and will follow a route that includes - New Delhi - Ayodhya - Patna - Gaya - Varanasi - Mahabalipuram - Rameswaram - Madurai - Kochi - Goa - Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) - Ajmer - Pushkar - Agra. The train has a capacity for 156 passengers.
This tour is organized to bridge the connection between the Indian diaspora and their roots under the auspices of the Ministry of External Affairs, in partnership with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
Indian Embassies globally have invited applications from participants, prioritizing Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from lower-income backgrounds who might not be able to afford a trip to India independently.
A statement from the ministry indicated that it will cover all costs associated with this guided train journey and also subsidize 90 percent of the return airfares for eligible individuals traveling from their home countries to India. Participants will need to fund only 10 percent of their return airfares. Travelers will be accommodated in 4-star hotels or similar as per the tour itinerary.
