MAPUSA
The Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed an appeal by Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar regarding the hardships faced by Goan pilgrims travelling to Vailankanni, one of the most revered Christian pilgrimage sites in the country.
Raising the matter during the Assembly proceedings, Arolkar pointed out that devotees from Goa continue to face serious challenges in securing train tickets to the Tamil Nadu town, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons.
“The trains are always full and even if someone manages to get a ticket, the return journey schedule creates significant inconvenience,” Arolkar said, highlighting the logistical and emotional stress it places on pilgrims – many of whom are elderly or travel with families.
Vailankanni, also known as the “Lourdes of the East,” draws lakhs of devotees annually, especially during the annual festival in the first week of September. Pilgrims from Goa form a sizeable part of this influx, many of whom depend on rail transport due to affordability and convenience.
Arolkar requested the State government to take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Railways and seek special trains or increased reservation quotas during the pilgrimage season.
Responding to the plea, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House that the government would write to the Union Railway Minister, requesting better train connectivity and more favourable scheduling for Vailankanni-bound travellers from Goa.
