The train’s first trip will begin on Thursday, January 9, a date chosen to honor the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Express’ on Wednesday from New Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station. This modern tourist train is especially designed for the for Indian diaspora members aged 45 to 65. The purpose is to help them reconnect with their cultural and spiritual heritage.
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Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Launch Date and Destinations
The train’s first trip will begin on Thursday, January 9, a date chosen to honor the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. Over three weeks, the train will visit important tourist and religious sites across India. These include Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Kevadia (Ekta Nagar), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra.
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Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Amenities and Purpose
The state-of-the-art special tourist train can carry 156 passengers and is being launched under the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana by the Ministry of External Affairs, in partnership with the IRCTC. The goal of this initiative is to create a meaningful travel experience that strengthens the bond between the Indian diaspora and their roots.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This flagship event by the Government of India serves as a key platform to engage with the Indian diaspora and foster connections among them.
The 18th PBD Convention, organised in collaboration with the Odisha state government, will take place from January 8 to 10, 2025. The theme for this year’s event is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Developed India.” Over 50 countries are represented, with a large number of diaspora members already registered to attend.
