Udaipur: A special train carrying senior citizens from the Udaipur division departed from Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station for Jagannath Puri on Saturday under the Rajasthan government's Free Pilgrimage Scheme for Senior Citizens 2026.
The train was flagged off at 2.30 pm by Udaipur Assistant Commissioner Jatin Kumar Gandhi amid chants of “Jai Jagannath Swami”.
Gandhi said the senior citizens were asked to report at the railway station at 6 am. Officials of the Devasthan Department verified the passengers' forms and distributed tickets under the supervision of Nitin Nagar and Sumitra Singh.
A total of 780 senior citizens from Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Salumber, Banswara and Dungarpur boarded the train at Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station. Another 100 passengers from the division will board the train at Kota Railway Station, taking the total number of pilgrims to 880.
The train is scheduled to reach Jagannath Puri on October 5, where the pilgrims will be taken for darshan of Lord Jagannath. They will also visit the historic Konark Sun Temple during the pilgrimage.
Additional Chief Block Education Officer, Bali, Rajendra Singh, has been appointed as the train in-charge, while Sumitra Singh, Manager, Devasthan Department, will serve as assistant train in-charge.
The pilgrimage party includes 880 senior citizens along with a gazetted train-in-charge officer, medical team, escorts and other personnel, taking the total number of people travelling on the train to around 900.
The government is providing the senior citizens with free tea and refreshments, meals, accommodation, temple visits and other facilities throughout the journey.
For the first time, the state government has arranged an air-conditioned train for the senior citizen pilgrimage. Earlier, non-AC trains were used for the scheme.
The train is scheduled to return to Udaipur on October 8.