‘Discover India’ rail routes for Pravasi Divas

New Delhi: This time when they come to attend the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, young Indian diaspora will have the opportunity to connect with their roots with the government planning rail routes for trips to places like Agra, Jaipur, Haridwar, Varanasi and Lucknow.

The rail routes are being prepared by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, following a request by the ministry of external affairs.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas would be held in Bengaluru in February.

The IRCTC has prepared a set of trips connecting Agra, Jaipur, Haridwar, Varanasi, Lucknow and some other cities, where the diaspora hails from.

“The idea is to enable them to discover many features of India, its tradition, rich art and culture and also many facets of contemporary India,” a senior Railway official told this newspaper, adding the list has been sent to MEA for selection.

“We have sent to MEA all details related to rail tour which involve travel in semi luxury train, food, stay and sightseeing facilities at stopping stations. The MEA is yet to revert back and after that we will start preparations,” said a senior railway officer.

The government is also looking at getting the entire programme sponsored.

Discussions on sponsorship gained ground after plans to conduct the trip on IRCTC’s most luxurious Maharaja Express was put on hold after it was found that the cost of the trains were very high. The rates on the Maharaja Express range from Rs 4.6 lakh for a Deluxe cabin, Rs 6.6 lakh for a Junior Suite, Rs 9.2 lakh for Suite and Rs 16 lakh for Presidential Suite for an 8-night-7-day trip.

The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which is held along with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, is a platform to connect with the young diaspora. An estimated 25 million people of Indian origin live and work outside the country contributing to Indian growth and development through various components.

The government has several schemes and programmes to connect with the young diaspora. The ‘Know India Programme’ familiarises such youth with India and provides an exclusive forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit the country.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated each year to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The celebrations commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in Bombay on 9 January 1915.