Chandigarh, April 28: More than 1.32 lakh pilgrims have availed free pilgrimage services under Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojana so far, with 97,041 devotees benefiting in the ongoing second phase alone, Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said on Tuesday.
According to official data, 2,462 trips have been conducted under Phase 2 (launched in October 2025), covering major clusters across the state. Among districts, Bathinda recorded 1,179 trips benefiting 46,030 pilgrims, followed by Ludhiana (596 trips, 23,747 pilgrims), Mohali (533 trips, 21,104 pilgrims) and Amritsar (154 trips, 6,160 pilgrims).
The scheme, a flagship initiative of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, provides free travel for senior citizens to prominent religious and heritage sites. Pilgrims in the current phase are being taken to destinations such as Sri Harmandir Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum.
Officials said the first phase of the scheme, launched in November 2023, benefited around 35,500 pilgrims, taking them to key religious destinations across India.
The government provides free transport, accommodation, meals and basic medical support under the scheme, with eligibility primarily for citizens aged 50 years and above. The initiative is open to people of all communities and aims to improve access to pilgrimage for senior citizens across Punjab.