Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a special Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra train (pilgrimage train for senior citizens) through videoconferencing from State Secretariat here on Monday.
As many as 1, 000 senior citizens boarded the train at Sambalpur railway station for Shirdi, Nasik and Trimbakeshwar.
The Chief Minister wished them a happy and safe journey. He said that the initiative aims at providing affordable, safe and comfortable journey to the senior citizens.
“A total of 5, 933 senior citizens have so far benefit under Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana launched by the state government in 2016,” he added.
The elderly persons expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for organising the special trip for them.
In 2016-17, as many as 2, 931 senior citizens had availed this service and visited places like Rameswaram, Madurai, Allahabad, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and many other destinations.
Health minister Pratap Jena, labour minister Sushant Singh and commerce & transport minister Nrusingha Sahu were present at the launch ceremony.
