Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday unveiled the guidelines for Baristha Nagarik Tirtha Yatra Yojana 2026–27, launching the latest phase of the state’s flagship pilgrimage programme for senior citizens.
Speaking at a press conference at Paryatan Bhawan, Parida emphasised that the scheme underscores the government’s commitment to enabling elderly residents to visit important religious sites across India in a safe, dignified, and fully supported manner. Since its launch, the Baristha Nagarik Tirtha Yatra Yojana has already helped more than 45,555 senior citizens undertake pilgrimages to revered destinations nationwide, she added.
The newly released guidelines provide comprehensive details on eligibility requirements, the application and selection procedures, and all operational aspects of the scheme. Applications for the 2026–27 edition will be accepted from July 15 to August 14. Eligible senior citizens can apply either online through the portal yatra.odisha.gov.in or via the prescribed offline process outlined in the guidelines.
The press conference was attended by Tourism Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, Director of Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra, IRCTC Bhubaneswar Regional Officer Anuj Dutta, and other senior officials from the Tourism Department and IRCTC.
