First pilgrimage train chugs out of Amritsar

January 4 (TravelAndy): Punjab has flagged off its first Tirth Yatra train from Amritsar to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra, said reports.

This special train has 18 coaches and can accommodate 1,080 passengers.

During the trip, the pilgrims will be provided with food, accommodation and transportation free of cost.

Seven more trains are scheduled to start run this January to Nanded Sahib from Maur (Bathinda), Sri Anandpur Sahib, Tarn Taran, Patiala, Batala (Gurdaspur), Sri Muktsar Sahib and Beas.

The first pilgrimage train is scheduled return on January 6.

This initiative is a part of Punjab government’s populist Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana (Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme).

Punjab also plans to start pilgrimage trains to Katra for Vaishno Devi and to Chennai for the Basilica in San Thome built over tomb of St Thomas.