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In a significant move ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir on January 22 in Ayodhya, the BJP-led government in Chhattisgarh has approved an annual free train travel scheme for devotees wishing to visit the revered temple. The decision, announced after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitments made during the 2023 assembly elections.
Under this scheme, 20,000 people will be facilitated on an annual pilgrimage to Ayodhya by train. Eligibility is extended to individuals aged between 18 to 75 years who are medically fit, with initial preference given to those above 55 years. District committees, led by the collector, will be established for the selection process.
The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board will oversee the implementation of the scheme, and the state tourism department will allocate the necessary budget. An MoU will be signed with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to execute the scheme, involving the arrangement of a weekly special train. The journey will commence from Raipur, Durg, Raigarh, and Ambikapur stations, ultimately reaching Ayodhya.
During the 900-km tour, pilgrims will make a night halt in Varanasi, where they will have the opportunity to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple and participate in the Ganga Aarti.
In a related decision, the Chhattisgarh government declared January 22 as a “dry day” to commemorate the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Additionally, the state government announced the appointment of Praffull Bharat, a senior advocate from the Chhattisgarh High Court, as the new Advocate General, succeeding Satish Chandra Verma, who resigned following the BJP’s electoral victory in December.
