Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister Flags Off “Ganga Pushkarala Yatra” Bharat Gaurav Train

• Traditional Welcome and festive atmosphere greets the pilgrim passengers.
• Railways to start next Bharat Gaurav Train from Secunderabad connecting Mata Vaishnodevi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc from 10th June 2023.

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development Of North Eastern Region, Govt. of India flagged off “Ganga Pushkarala Yatra: Puri-Kashi-Ayodhya” Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train today i.e., 29^th April, 2023 at Secunderabad Railway Station. Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, SCR, Shri Abhay Kumar Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Secunderabad Division, Shri. P. Raj Kumar, GGM, IRCTC along with other Senior Railway officials participated the flagging-off of the Bharat Gaurav Train.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri G. Kishan Reddy stated that Indian Railways is providing a great opportunity to the pilgrim passengers all over India with the introduction of Bharat Gaurav Trains to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world. Bharat Gaurav Trains have evoked a great response from the people of two Telugu states. Indian Railways aims to leverage the core strengths of the professionals of the tourism sector to run pilgrimage based trains to tap the vast tourist potential of India. He also stated that Railways is also introducing Mata Vaishnodevi with Haridwar – Rishikesh Bharat Gaurav Tourism Train from 10^th June to 18^th June, 2023.

Shri Arun Kumar Jain, GM, SCR stated that the train offers a unique opportunity to pilgrim passengers to visit these culturally prominent places without the hassle of planning individual itinerary items. He stated that, Bharat Gaurav trains will give major fillip to the growth of Tourism in the country, while also fulfilling the desire the tourist passengers in the most convenient manner.

The 3^rd Bharat Gaurav Train from the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh commenced its journey from Secunderabad Station today. A festive atmosphere prevailed at the station premises with Rail Yatris being greeted with traditional welcome and Kuchipudi dancers evoking cultural heritage of the two Telugu states.

Introduction of Bharat Gaurav Trains is a testament of the continuous endeavor of the Indian Railways to provide enhanced train services to the rail passengers in the two Telugu states. This train provides a unique opportunity to the pilgrim passengers of both the Telugu speaking states.

• Till now, two trips (on 18^th March and 18^th April 2023) have already been operated under the initiative and have seen enthusiastic response from the passengers, with the train being fully booked (about 700 passengers in a trip).
• Already, the 4^th and 5^th trip have also been announced which will be commencing on 13^th May 2023 and 27^th May 2023 respectively.

Third trip of Bharat Gaurav Train from SCR

• The third trip of the present Bharat Gaurav Train coincides with the Sacred Pushkaralu in the holy river Ganga being held from 22^nd April to 3^rd May, 2023.
• The train provides a unique opportunity to pilgrim passengers of both Telugu states by providing boarding / de-boarding facility at: Secunderabad, Kazipet, Khammam, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram.
• The Train will take the pilgrim passengers to visit some of the most sacred religious places of Hindus viz., Kashi, Ayodhya, Puri, Konark, Prayagraj and Gaya.