TTT NEWS NETWORK
RAIPUR | 3 SEPTEMBER 2025
Minister of Tourism and Culture of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, flagged off the Bharat Gaurav Special Train from Rajnandgaon at 11:20 AM for the devotees of Durg-Bastar Division.
On the occasion of the train’s departure today for Ayodhya Dham, there was immense enthusiasm among the pilgrims from Durg and Bastar divisions.
The Rajnandgaon Railway Station echoed with chants in praise of Lord Shri Ram raised by the devotees. Family members and friends of the pilgrims witnessed this auspicious moment and extended warm wishes for a blessed journey. Before departure, the pilgrims were welcomed with traditional folk dances and folk music of Chhattisgarh. Representatives of IRCTC applied tilak on the foreheads of all pilgrims and greeted them with respect. After picking up passengers from Rajnandgaon, the train proceeded to Durg Railway Station to board the remaining pilgrims.
To bid farewell to the pilgrims from Rajnandgaon Railway Station for Ayodhya Dham, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Religious Affairs Shri Rajesh Agrawal, MP from RajnandgaonMr. Santosh Pandey, Mayor , Mr. Madhusudan Yadav, Mr.Khubchand Parekh, Mr. Santosh Agrawal, along with Rajnandgaon Collector Dr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, SP Shri Mohit Garg, General Manager of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Mr.Vedvrat Sirmaur, Additional Collector Shri Prem Prakash Sharma, IRCTC officials, BJP leaders, workers, and public representatives were present.
The Bharat Gaurav train, after picking up passengers from Rajnandgaon, halted at Durg Station. At Durg, the pilgrims were given a warm send-off to Ayodhya Dham by Minister of Tourism & Culture Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Minister of School Education & Rural Industries Mr. Gajendra Yadav, MLA from Ahivara Shri Doman Lal Korsewada, Mayor of Durg Smt. Alka Baghmare, Durg Collector Mr. Abhijeet Singh, and Durg SP Mr. Vijay Agrawal.
Originally designated for the Durg Division, this train now departs from Rajnandgaon as well, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr.Neelu Sharma, ensuring convenience for the devotees of Rajnandgaon. It will continue to pick up passengers from Durg and Bastar divisions before heading to Ayodhya Dham. Today, a wave of excitement was seen among the devotees, citizens, and BJP workers, all eager to witness this historic moment.
It is noteworthy that as per the State Government’s election manifesto promise of facilitating a once-in-a-lifetime darshan of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Dham for the people of Chhattisgarh, an MoU was signed on 23rd February 2024 between Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Under this scheme, around 28,050 devotees from Chhattisgarh have already been taken for free darshan.
As part of the Shri Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana, this special weekly Bharat Gaurav Train will continue to operate for the devotees of Raipur, Bilaspur, Surguja, and Bastar-Durg (joint) divisions, taking them for darshan of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Dham.
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