Carrying the spirit of seva and devotion, the Bhagwant Mann Government has expanded the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna, with pilgrims now travelling to sacred destinations including Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji, Haridwar-Rishikesh and Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham. On Wednesday, 15 buses carrying pilgrims to these destinations were flagged off from Hoshiarpur by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, who also visited the buses to review the arrangements and interacted with the pilgrims.
Under the scheme, pilgrims aged 50 years and above can undertake the yatra, with up to two members from a family eligible to travel, while the government is providing AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food free of cost. In Phase-I of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna, 4 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi in Phase-I.
Before flagging off the buses carrying pilgrims, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, “For the people, this is a very big opportunity in their lives to go on a pilgrimage. We just went inside the buses as well. The buses are very excellent, comfortable and air-conditioned. People do not need to spend anything.”
The AAP National Convenor pointed out, “Today, 15 buses are going to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham and Salasar- ShriKhatu Shyam. We spoke to the people inside the buses, many of whom are getting the opportunity to visit Salasar and Shri Khatu Shyam for the first time. In the coming months, a total of 1.5 lakh people from Punjab will be taken to different pilgrimage destinations.”
Speaking on the occasion of the flagging off of buses under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “On this holy occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has come from Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Mukerian and adjoining areas and is travelling to Khatu Shyam, Salasar, Vrindavan, Mathura, Rishikesh or wherever they are going for darshan.
He said, “In the first phase of the scheme, 4 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi. Clusters have been formed from different districts for this pilgrimage. ₹148 crore has been spent on this pilgrimage so far and a target has been set to take 10 lakh pilgrims on these yatras. A tent city has also been set up at Sri Anandpur Sahib for this special pilgrimage and the yatra is proceeding very smoothly.”