Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country, which is going to take elderly pilgrims for pilgrimage by aeroplane, under the Mukhya Mantri Teerth-Darshan Yojana.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will flag off the Indigo flight of pilgrims from Bhopal airport to Prayagraj on Sunday, May 21. In this, 24 men and 8 women will leave for Prayagraj.
While reviewing the preparations at the Mantralaya, Additional Chief Secretary Home and Religion Dr. Rajesh Rajoura said that Madhya Pradesh has also been the first state to make elderly pilgrims travel by rail. Now Chief Minister Shri Chouhan is going to take the elders of the state on a pilgrimage for the first time in the country by aeroplane. In the scheme, such senior citizens of the state above 65 years of age who are not income tax payers will be benefited. The first flight will leave on May 21 at 9:50 am from Bhopal airport for Prayagraj by Indigo. An escort will also accompany the 32 pilgrims going to Prayagraj.
Pilgrims travelling by air can carry one check-in bag with a maximum weight of 15 KG and one hand bag weighing 7 KG. A counter will also be set up at Bhopal airport to help the pilgrims. The pilgrims will return to Bhopal by Monday evening after visiting Prayagraj. It used to take 4 to 5 days for the pilgrims to visit the pilgrimage by rail. With the facility of air travel being made available to the elderly by the state government, it will be convenient for them to complete the journey in 24 to 36 hours.
Divisional Commissioner Malsingh Bhaydiya, Police Commissioner Bhopal Harinarayan Chari, Commissioner Public Relations Manish Singh, Airport Director Ramji Awasthi and senior officers of various departments were present. v
Pilgrimage programme of the first phase by air
Dr. Rajoura told that the first phase of the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Darshan Yojana will start from Bhopal on May 21. In the same sequence, on May 23 pilgrims of Agar-Malwa district will leave from Indore airport for Shirdi, on May 25 pilgrims of Betul district from Bhopal airport via Agra airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, on May 26 pilgrims of Dewas from Indore airport for Shirdi, on June 3 pilgrims of Khandwa from Indore airport via Kolkata for Gangasagar, on June 4 pilgrims of Harda from Bhopal airport for Prayagraj, on June 6 pilgrims of Mandsaur from Indore airport for Shirdi, on June 8 pilgrims of Narmadapuram from Bhopal airport via Agra airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, on June 9 Neemuch’s pilgrims from Indore airport for Shirdi, on June 15 pilgrims of Barwani from Indore airport via Kolkata for Gangasagar, on June 16 Indore’s pilgrims from Indore airport via Kolkata for Gangasagar, on June 18 pilgrims of Damoh from Bhopal Airport for Prayagraj, on June 19 pilgrims of Burhanpur from Indore Airport via Kolkata for Gangasagar, on June 19 pilgrims of Ratlam from Indore Airport for Shirdi, on June 20 pilgrims of Shajapur from Indore Airport for Shirdi, on June 22 pilgrims of Sagar from Bhopal Airport via Agra Airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, on June 23 pilgrims of Khargone from Indore Airport via Kolkata for Gangasagar, on July 2 pilgrims of Vidisha from Bhopal Airport for Prayagraj, on July 3 pilgrims of Alirajpur from Indore Airport for Shirdi, on July 4 pilgrims of Rajgarh from Bhopal Airport via Agra Airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, on July 6 pilgrims of Sehore from Bhopal Airport via Agra Airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, on July 7 pilgrims of Dhar will fly from Indore Airport for Shirdi, on July 16 pilgrims of Raisen will fly to Prayagraj from Bhopal Airport and on July 19 pilgrims of Jhabua will fly from Indore Airport for Shirdi.
