Bhubaneswar: On Tuesday, Suresh Pujari, the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, officially launched the third pilgrim train under the Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY) for the fiscal year 2026-27 from Lok Seva Bhavan. This train, which departed from Sambalpur Railway Station, is transporting 775 elderly passengers along with 25 escort officers from eight different districts: Sambalpur, Anugola, Baragada, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Subarnapur, Sundargada, and Debagada.
The pilgrimage aims to take these senior citizens to the esteemed religious sites of Varanasi and Ayodhya, providing them with an enriching spiritual experience. The BNTYY program is specifically structured to assist the elderly residents of Odisha in undertaking journeys to significant religious locations with a focus on safety, organization, and coordination.
Escort officers are assigned to accompany the pilgrims throughout their travels to offer essential support and ensure smooth coordination. During this pilgrimage, the elderly participants will have the chance to engage with the spiritual, cultural, and religious heritage of these iconic locations. The train is set to return to Sambalpur on September 27. The launch of this third pilgrimage train underscores the state government’s dedication to providing safe and enriching pilgrimage opportunities for senior citizens, allowing them to explore their faith, devotion, and cultural identity.
