K’taka Announces Special Train For ‘Kashi Yatra’ From August, Min Reviews Progress

Ahead of the Assembly elections in 2023, the BJP-ruled government in Karnataka has launched ‘Kashi Yatra’ scheme under which 30,000 people from the state will get a subsidy of Rs 5,000 each for undertaking the holy pilgrimage to Uttar Pradesh.
Minister for Muzrai, Haj and Waqf Shashikala Jolle visited Sir M Visvesvaraya Railway Station in Baiyappanahalli and inspected the train reserved for ‘Kashi Yatra’.
The state government had spoken to the Railways Department and arranged a special train for the scheme announced by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai during the budget in March this year.
Speaking to the reporters, Jolle said that all the arrangements have been made and the first train meant for the pilgrimage would leave from Bengaluru in August.
“Chief Minister had kept aside Rs 15,000 crore for the project during the budget. The train will be started by Railways under Bharat Gaurav scheme. The train will consist of 14 AC three-tier bogies. One compartment will be converted into a temple and another will be used as a canteen,” the Minister said.
She also said that the pilgrims can visit Kashi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya in the 7-day journey. For each passenger, the fare will come up to Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 of that sum will be given by the Muzrai department as subsidy.
The state government is planning to schedule 25 trips per year under the ‘Kashi Yatra’ scheme and details of the schedule are being worked out.
She also said that necessary arrangements for accommodation of pilgrims will be done at Karnataka Bhavan in Kashi.
Those who took up pilgrimage from April 1 to June 30 and want to take benefit of the ‘Kashi Yatra’ scheme would have to furnish proof that they visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple such as their darshan ticket or waiting list, pooja receipt, and submit it to the commissioner of religious endowment department in the prescribed proforma.
Any pilgrim taking up the government-sponsored ‘Kashi Yatra’ would get the benefit only once in a lifetime, Jolle said.
The Minister also added that those willing to avail themselves of the benefit should be the native of Karnataka and have to furnish proof of their domicile of origin in Karnataka such as their voter ID, Aadhaar Card or ration card.
Jolle also said that the government is planning to connect Ayodhya to Anjanadri Hills in Koppal (which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman) through railway.