Freebies bleeding it dry, AAP Govt bites 40-crore bullet to ‘revive’ pilgrimage scheme from the Badal era

This scheme will be rolled out on 'Parkash Purb' of Guru Nanak Dev on November 27, the chief minister said in a post on X.

CM Bhagwant Mann signs the file for free pilgrimage scheme for elderly people on Monday. (Photo credit: @PunjabGovtIndia)

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The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab Monday paved way for a free pilgrimage scheme for the elderly people, more than six years after the previous Congress government had scrapped a similar scheme launched by the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP dispensation in the state.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave its approval to the Mukh Mantri Tirth Yatra scheme, which is likely to cost the fund-starved state Rs 40 crore annually.

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said under scheme, senior citizens could visit various religious places including Hazur Sahib in Nanded (Maharashtra), Mata Chintpurni temple, Mata Jwalaji temple, Naina Devi temple (all in Himachal Pradesh) through buses and trains free of charge. The scheme also allows the elderly to visit Patna Sahib in Bihar, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Ajmer Sharif and Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan, Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu.

This scheme will be rolled out on ‘Parkash Purb’ of Guru Nanak Dev on November 27, the chief minister said in a post on X.

A sum of Rs 40 crore has been earmarked for the scheme, Cheema said, adding that a sub-committee has also been formed for the implementation of the scheme. He said the sub-committee would take a call on the age of people who could avail of this scheme.

A similar scheme is being run in AAP-led Delhi where the ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana’ was launched by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on July 12, 2019.

Under this scheme, the Delhi government has facilitated pilgrimage for more than 75,000 elderly people of the national capital, Kejriwal claimed on Sunday.

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Earlier, then Finance Minister Manpreet Badal in 2017 had scrapped the pilgrimage scheme stating that the previous SAD-BJP government had splurged Rs 140 crore in one year on the scheme. Manpreet had informed the Vidhan Sabha that the previous government had failed to pay an outstanding amount of Rs 6 crore to the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Rs 7 crore to the Punjab Roadways for the use of the buses for these tours. He had stated that highest number of 6,481 buses were used for visits to Golden temple, 1,191 for Salasar dhaam, 484 to Mata Chintpurni, 337 to Anandpur Sahib, 223 to Patna Sahib, 87 to Hazur Sahib, 19 to Vaishno Devi, and 39 to Khuralgarh.

The freebies have already been bleeding the exchequer. Free travel for women is already costing it Rs 550 crore. The government has not been able to take the call to withdraw the scheme.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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