PM Modi flags off Pravasi Bharatiya Express for Indian diaspora

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually inaugurated the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train aimed at the Indian diaspora.

This train will embark on a three-week journey to various tourism and religious sites across India. The initiative is part of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana, launched by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express is a modern tourist train specifically designed for the Indian diaspora, catering to individuals aged between 45 and 65 years. Beginning its journey on January 9, the train will visit several notable destinations, including important tourist and religious sites throughout the country.

The choice of January 9 for the flag-off is significant, as it marks the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in 1915.

The train departs from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi, following a route that includes New Delhi, Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra. It has a capacity to accommodate 156 passengers.

This tour is organized under the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), aiming to reconnect the Indian diaspora with their heritage.

Indian embassies worldwide invited applications from participants, prioritizing Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from low-income backgrounds who may not have the means to visit India independently.