Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida today unveiled the official Guidelines for the Baristha Nagarik Tirtha Yatra Yojana 2026–27 at a press conference held at Paryatan Bhawan, marking the formal rollout of the State’s flagship pilgrimage programme for senior citizens.
Addressing the media, Parida said the scheme underscores the Odisha Government’s commitment to enabling elderly citizens to undertake pilgrimages to revered destinations across India with dignity, safety, and full government support.
Since its inception, more than 45,555 senior citizens have benefited from the initiative, travelling to sacred sites nationwide under the State‑sponsored programme.
Key Highlights:
- Applications for the 2026–27 edition will remain open from 15 July 2026 to 14 August 2026.
- Eligible citizens can apply online at yatra.odisha.gov.in or through the prescribed offline mode.
- The guidelines outline eligibility criteria, application and selection procedures, and operational modalities.
The event was attended by Shri Balwant Singh, Commissioner‑cum‑Secretary, Tourism Department; Shri Deepankar Mohapatra, Director, Tourism; and Anuj Dutta, Regional Officer, IRCTC Bhubaneswar, along with senior officials from IRCTC and the Tourism Department.
The scheme continues to stand as a symbol of Odisha’s inclusive governance, ensuring that age and financial constraints do not hinder spiritual aspirations.
