Chandigarh: Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has launched Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme to facilitate the people in paying obeisance at the different religious places.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his Delhi counterpart and national convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal on Monday together flagged off the train carrying devotees to pay obeisance at the Sikh shrine Sri Hazoor Sahib.

The state government has earmarked Rs 40 crore budget for this scheme during the financial year 2023-24.

The scheme will enable residents of the state who cannot travel to the major pilgrimage sites in Punjab and India due to financial and physical constraints.

The state government will facilitate their pilgrimage by AC buses and trains.  For short distance within the state, devotees can travel by buses and by trains for the longer distances across the country.

Facility of food, local travel, welcome kit and accommodation will be provided free of cost to the pilgrims during the journey. The welcome kit will consist of a bag, sheet, blanket, pillow, paste, oil, soap, shampoo, brush, umbrella and mirror etc.

For the journey by train,, the pilgrimage destinations will include Sri Hazoor Sahib, Sri Patna Sahib, Varanasi, Mathura, Sri Vrindavan Dham and Ajmer Sharif. As many as 13 AC trains, each carrying 1000 devotees, will be in service during the current financial year.

The destinations to be reached by AC buses include Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Sri Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo, Mata Vaishnu Devi, Mata Jwalaji, Mata Chintpurni ji, Mata Naina Devi ji, Sri Khatu Shyam ji and Salasar Balaji Dham ji. During the pilgrimage of these places AC accommodation and meals will be provided locally.

All residents of Punjab are eligible to avail this scheme. The pilgrims will be selected by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district.