Punjab wants trains to connect pilgrimage sites

The Punjab government on Monday urged the railways ministry to run at least 10 special trains from the state connecting prominent pilgrimage sites in other parts of the country.

The issue was raised by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in a meeting with Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi, a state government spokesman said here.

"Badal urged the railways minister to run ten special trains from Punjab connecting prominent pilgrimage sites of India, thereby fulfilling the aspirations of its people to visit holy and sacred places situated in the country. On the proposal of Badal, the railways minister has indicated that Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) could run these trains within 4-6 weeks," the spokesman said.

Badal said that Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev and other gurus and saints had also travelled across the country to places like Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Delhi and others.

"It is the wish of all Sikhs and Punjabis to visit these holy places at least once in a lifetime. Punjabis, who follow other religions and sects also aspire to pay their obeisance at their sacred places like Varanasi, Ajmer, Bidar, Pushkar etc," he said.

The proposed special trains are likely to be run from Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Chandigarh to holy places like Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Pushkar and Ajmer.