Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to flag off the first pilgrimage train of the 2025–26 financial year under the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme on Wednesday, with 775 elderly passengers scheduled to travel to Ayodhya and Varanasi.
The special train will depart from Bhubaneswar Railway Station at 11 am on September 10, marking the beginning of this year’s spiritual journey for senior citizens across the state.
Deputy Chief Ministers Pravati Parida and Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo will formally inaugurate the service. Several MPs and MLAs from Khordha, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, and Dhenkanal districts are expected to be present during the flag-off ceremony.
A total of 775 senior citizens from six districts will be part of the pilgrimage, accompanied by 25 escort officers to ensure their safety, medical needs, and logistical support throughout the journey.
The initiative is being implemented by the Odisha Tourism Department in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Department of Tourism, Odisha, under the Incredible India campaign.
The pilgrims will visit two prominent religious sites — Ayodhya and Varanasi — before returning to the state.
