PM Modi to flag off Pravasi Bharatiya Express today: Check stoppages, expense and more

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express Train today, January 8, from Safdurjung Railway Station, New Delhi. The first trip of the train will begin tomorrow, January 9. It is a special tourist train designed for Indian diaspora members aged 45 to 65. The purpose of introducing this train is so that the Indian diaspora can reconnect with their cultural and spiritual heritage.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once every two years. The day aims to enhance the connection between the overseas Indian community and the Government of India and help them reconnect with their cultural roots.

About the Pravasi Bharatiya Express Tourist Train

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express Tourist Train can carry 156 passengers. This three-week tour connects the Indian diaspora to its roots. The Ministry of External Affairs organises it under the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) scheme in partnership with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

First Trip

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express Tourist Train’s first trip will begin on Thursday, January 9. This date honours Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915.

Stoppages

Over three weeks, the train will visit key tourist and religious sites in India, including Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Kevadia (Ekta Nagar), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra.

Expense

The Ministry will cover all costs for this guided train tour. It will also pay 90 per cent of return airfares for eligible Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) coming from other countries to India. To use this scheme, PIOs will only need to pay 10 per cent of their return airfares. The program will prioritise low-income PIOs who may find it hard to afford a trip to India on their own.

Purpose

This initiative aims to create a meaningful travel experience that strengthens the bond between the Indian diaspora and their roots.

Where is the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) held?

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This event is an important platform for the Government of India to engage with the Indian diaspora and encourage connections among them. The theme of the 18th PBD Convention 2025 is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”. More than 50 countries are represented, and many diaspora members are registered to attend.