PM Modi to Launch Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Everything About the Special Train

Launch Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Express’ on Wednesday from New Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station.

This modern tourist train is especially designed for the for Indian diaspora members aged 45 to 65. The purpose is to help them reconnect with their cultural and spiritual heritage.

Pravasi Bharatiya Express: Launch Date and Destinations

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express will embark on its maiden journey on January 9, a date chosen to mark the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa to India in 1915.

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The train will operate for a duration of three weeks, covering key tourist and pilgrimage sites across India. Its itinerary includes visits to Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra.

Capable of accommodating 156 passengers, the train is being launched under the Ministry of External Affairs’ Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

The 18th PBD Convention, organised in collaboration with the Odisha state government, will take place from January 8 to 10, 2025 flagship event of the Government of India The theme for this year’s event is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Developed India.” Over 50 countries are represented, with a large number of diaspora members already registered to attend.

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Arun Kumar Chatterjee, the Secretaryon Tuesday highlighted the importance of the Indian diaspora in this convention and said that they work as the “living bridge” between the nation where they stayed or worked and their motherland.

Security Arrangements for the Convention

Security Arrangements for the Convention Ahead of the convention, security arrangements in Bhubaneswar have been tightened, with around 2,700 police personnel and 1,200 central forces deployed for security and traffic management.

The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This special train journey and the convention reflect India's ongoing efforts to engage its vast diaspora, showcasing the country's cultural heritage while reinforcing its global connections.

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