Chandigarh, Sept. 17 -- Punjab's Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme has enabled 5,10,807 pilgrims to visit religious destinations in and outside the state, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Sond said 95 AC buses were currently operating under the scheme and had completed 12,485 trips so far. The scheme was launched on November 9, 2025, with around four lakh pilgrims visiting Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Mata Naina Devi in its first phase.
The programme was expanded on August 12, 2026, to include Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji Dham, Haridwar-Rishikesh and Mathura-Vrindavan. People aged 50 years and above are eligible under the expanded scheme.
The government provides AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food free of cost. Medical and general attendants are deployed on each bus, while teams are stationed at destinations to assist pilgrims.
Sond said the scheme was open to eligible people irrespective of their area, caste or religion. Pilgrims are also provided prasad and a souvenir brass glass after completing the journey.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.