PM Modi launches Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Historic step to connect diaspora
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 9 will unveil the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, the special tourist train for the Indian diaspora. The train is supposed to strengthen the cultural bonds of the overseas Indians.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a state-of-the-art tourist train dedicated to the Indian diaspora, on Wednesday. The launch will take place at New Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station and coincides with the commencement of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Odisha's Bhubaneswar.
A train designed for the Indian diaspora
It's a unique tourist train that has been created for the Indian diaspora, keeping only 45-65 years old in mind. This train is specifically curated to breathe the spirit of India through its cultural heritage and spiritual ambiance. Beginning January 9, it will take three weeks around Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Kevadia (Ekta Nagar), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra, which are the major tourist and religious destinations in the country. The date, January 9, is significant because it marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa in 1915.
Capacity and purpose
The train, with a capacity to carry 156 passengers, is operated under the 'Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana' scheme of the Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Indian Rail Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC). It seeks to link NRIs and PIOs to their cultural heritage and strengthen tourism in India.
Experiencing Odisha's heritage
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar would be a grand opportunity to bring before the NRIs from 50 countries the richness of Odisha's culture and heritage. The Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Arun Kumar Chatterjee said that the diaspora played an important role as a "living bridge" between their host countries and India.
The Indian diaspora stands at 35.4 million, including 19.5 million Persons of Indian Origin and 15.8 million NRIs. This community is one of our biggest strengths and a significant source of remittance," Chatterjee said. He also spoke of the unexploited potential in the tourism sector of Odisha, urging the diaspora to make their contribution in that direction.
