Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express on Thursday from Janata Maidan, the venue of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This significant event coincides with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915.
The special tourist train, which will embark on a three-week journey, departs from Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi and will visit various culturally and religiously significant destinations across India. The itinerary includes notable locations such as Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra, accommodating up to 156 passengers.
Launched under the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), this service is exclusively designed for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) aged between 45 and 65. The initiative aims to reconnect the diaspora with their cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Prime Minister arrived in Bhubaneswar the previous evening to officially kick off the PBD, which began with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Wednesday. Officials also noted that he would inaugurate four exhibitions and tour various promotional stalls set up by Union and state ministries and departments.
PM Modi unveils Pravasi Bharatiya Express, celebrating indian culture and heritage
