This is an upcoming initiative of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, to launch the Pravasi Bharatiya Express on January 9, 2025 from New Delhi.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express is a special state-of-the-art Tourist Train exclusively designed for the Indian Diaspora (PIOs only in the age group of 45-65 years) that will travel to multiple destinations of prominent touristic interest and religious importance, all over India, for a period of 3 weeks starting on January 09, 2025 starting from the Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi. The date January 09, 2025 has been chosen to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on this date in the year 1915. 

The Pravasi Bharatiya Express will travel to Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Ajmer, Pushkar and Agra. The train would have a maximum capacity for 156 passengers. This specially conducted tour is being organized under the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) scheme of the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the M/s Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) aiming to connect the Indian Diaspora to their roots.

We seek nominations from all interested participants, with preference being accorded to PIOs belonging to the low income category who would otherwise not be able to afford to visit India on their own. Ministry will bear all expenses for the aforesaid conducted train tour besides also bearing 90% of the return airfares for the eligible PIOs from their countries of origin to India. PIOs will need to bear only 10% of their return airfares to avail of this scheme, that is to be launched by Ministry on January 09, 2025.

Kindly send your nominations to us at ca.berlin@mea.gov.in latest by December 5, 2024.