Bengaluru To Banaras Bharat Gaurav Trains To Flag Off Soon As Karnataka Becomes First State To Offer Pilgrimage On Subsidised Rates

Kashi yatra for devotees from Karnataka will soon be a much more economical and easy affair as Karnataka becomes the first state in the country to offer the newly launched Bharat Gaurav train service at a low cost for pilgrims.

The state’s Muzarai department has formulated the pilgrimage package for the Bengaluru to Banaras journey. Minister for Muzarai Shashikala Jolle, who inspected the train at the Byappanahalli Sir M Visweshvaraiah Railway Station on Monday (11 July) said the state was gearing up to start the seven day tour by the end of the month of Shravan (around August), as reported.

The entire journey will cover a total of 4,161 km.

Jolle said Karnataka is the first state in the country and our department the first such to offer Bharat Gaurav train service at a discounted price and preparations have been made for the modification of trains after detailed discussions with the Railway officials.

The train has 14 coaches, of which 11 have been lined up for passenger travel, with each coach representing important temples in the state. One bogie is being converted into a temple for passengers to offer their prayers during the travel.

“It is the wish of most Hindus that they are able to undertake the Kashi yatra atleast once in their lifetime. And I wished that we organise efforts to enable this. CM Basavaraj Bommai has been the backbone of our work in this direction, and I thank him for making this possible,” said Jolle, overseeing the work in progress.

While the tour will cost Rs 15,000 per passenger, the state will provide a subsidy of Rs 5,000 with arrangements for food, water, accommodation, and local transport at the pilgrim centres made by the IRCTC.

Bharat Gaurav trains were first announced in 23 November 2021 and were said to be the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who suggested the theme-based trains to enable people in the country ‘to understand, appreciate and take forward India's heritage’.

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