Times of India | 1 day ago
Tags: naik welfare trains social welfare social rs passengers government first velankanni two trip special trains special shirdi
Panaji: Social welfare minister Milind Naik on Thursday said that the first pilgrims to Velankanni and Shirdi under the new scheme Mukhyamandtri Dev Darshan Yatra Yojana will leave by two special trains on December 1. This come nearly a month after Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal promised Goans free pilgrimages to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer Sharif, if the party forms the government in the state. To avail of the scheme, Naik said that one has to be at least 50 years old and submit their voter and adhaar cards. Forms will be available online, at the deputy collectorâs office and the social welfare department, Naik said. Pilgrims can take someone to accompany them, but they will have to pay their own cost, which will amount to around Rs 10,000. The cost to Goa government will be between Rs 1 and Rs 1.5 crore per trip both ways where 1,000 persons can be accommodated in each trip. Secretary for social welfare Arun Kumar Mishra told reporters that there is no minimum limit on the number of passengers and that the two trains will proceed on December 1 with whoever has booked. When reporters asked whether this would lead to wastage of public money to send special trains with minimum passengers, Naik said the government has already received 700 applications and Mishra said there was no need to worry about money. Naik said citizens will be permitted on first come first serve basis. When asked about the safety of passengers, Naik said each one must be responsible for their own safety.
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