Sambalpur: Pilgrimage Train has again started from Sambalpur, Train run to Shirdi carrying 970 senior citizens of 8 districts

Sambalpur: After a gap of almost a month, the senior citizen pilgrimage train has again run from Sambalpur. A total of 970 senior citizens from the districts of Sambalpur, Angul, Deogarh, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda and Balangir and 30 guides from the district administration have start on this journey. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted all the pilgrims through virtual and launched the train journey. On this occasion, the Northern Revenue Prosecutor Dr. Suresh Chandra Dalai, District Council President Kumudini Naik, District Magistrate Ananya Das, Senior Citizen Pilgrim Scheme Adviser Durga Prasad Samantaray were chiefly present and wished the pilgrims well.

On this occasion, 5 senior citizens were given dummy tickets and kit bags by the guests. The senior travelers will visit Shirdi, Nashik and Triambakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra on this 5-day trip and return to Sambalpur on 21st. The Tourism Department of Odisha Government and IRCTC have made arrangements for the pilgrims with all the facilities of transportation and return along with accommodation, food etc. Along with this, guards, guides, medical facilities will also be provided in the train. 112 pilgrims from Sambalpur, 137 from Angul, 33 from Deogarh, 65 from Subarnapur, 159 from Bargarh, 250 from Sundergarh, 62 from Jharsuguda and 177 from Balangir have travelled on this journey.

For information, since 2016, the state government has implemented this pilgrim scheme for the poor citizens aged 60 to 75 years.