Raipur(Chhattisgarh):The BJP government in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday approved an annual free train travel scheme for people who want to take darshan of Lord Ram at Ayodhya temple. This decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, an official said.
"Fulfilling yet another guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised during the 2023 assembly elections," an official release said. It said 20,000 people would be taken to Ayodhya on annual pilgrimage by train. Those in the age group of 18 years to 75 years who are medically fit would be eligible under this scheme. In the first leg, the selection of persons above 55 years of age would be done. A committee would be set up under the collector in each district to select pilgrims.
"The scheme would be implemented by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and a necessary budget would be provided by the state tourism department," the release said. An MoU would be inked with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to implement the scheme and a weekly special train would be arranged.