Chief Minister Jayalalitha had in December 2011 announced that her government would subsidise the travel of Christian pilgrims intending to visit the holy site by granting Rs 20,000 per person.
The visit would also include other sites like Bethlehem and Nazareth, among others, a state government release here said.
Labour Minster ST Chellapandian and Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities, A Mohammedjan saw off the first batch of pilgrims at the airport here.