| Rajasthan govt signs deal with IRCTC to facilitate free pilgrimage to senior citizens by eabhi200k on 13 June, 2013 - 12:30 PM | ||
|---|---|---|
 eabhi200k | Rajasthan govt signs deal with IRCTC to facilitate free pilgrimage to senior citizens on 13 June, 2013 - 12:30 PM | |
Keeping its promise of providing free pilgrimage to senior citizens, the state government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to facilitate travel to important pilgrimage sites in the country.The pact was signed at the chief minister's office (CMO) on Wednesday.Ten popular places of pilgrimage have been selected in the first phase. These include Jagannathpuri, Gaya, Rameshwaram, Vaishno Devi, Tirupati, Varanasi, Amritsar, Dwarkapuri, Bihar Sharif and Shirdi."In the first phase, 25,000 applicants will be covered under the scheme. All applicants will have to fill up a form available at the divisional headquarters in the state. The last date for submission of the form is July 1," an official said.If the number of applicants exceeds the limit, selections will be made through a draw of lots.The duration of the trip can vary between five and eight days."The selected persons can apply for one of the places of pilgrimage mentioned under the scheme," the official added.Special trains will be available at each divisional headquarters to ferry 1,000 people at a time. Medical services along with one attendant will be provided in each coach, said an IRCTC official after the MoU was signed.Arrangements for meals, boarding and lodging and road travel will be made by the IRCTC.It may be recalled that the chief minister Ashok Gehlot in his state budget 2013-14 early this year had announced this scheme. | ||