A pilgrim special tourist train will run on the Puducherry-Shirdi-Mumbai route on November 11 for the benefit of the Shirdi Sai Baba devotees in the Union Territory.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Welfare and Tourism Minister P Rajavelu and additional general manager of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) (South zone) L Ravikumar said the special package had been arranged in a tie-up with the IRCTC from November 11 to 17, covering Shirdi, Mumbai and Triambakeshwar.

The train leaving from the Puducherry Railway Station would have 13 coaches - seven coaches would be sleeper class (SL), two coaches would be three-tier AC, one coach would be two-tier AC, a pantry and two power cars.

The special train on the Puducherry-Shirdi-Mumbai route can carry 190 tourists in AC class, 510 in SL class, a total of 700 passengers. The pantry car would dish out vegetarian food and an escort would be available in each coach to accompany the tourists.

Besides, security would be provided to safeguard the belongings of the tourists. A public address system facility would be installed in each coach to convey information, make announcements and deliver religious discourses during the journey. The introduction of the train was based on a plea made by Puducherry Tourism to the Railways following the difficulties faced by Sai Baba devotees while visit Shirdi.

 In Mumbai also, pilgrims would be provided conveyance and meals to facilitate the devotees.

Source: The New Indian Express