Indian Railways (IR) will run theme -based tourist circuit trains named Bharat Gaurav Trains. This was announced by the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Vaishnaw said “these trains will help realise the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world. The core strength of the professionals of tourism sector would be leveraged to develop/identify tourist circuits and run theme- based trains to tap the vast tourism potential of India,” he added.
How does this concept work?
Bharat Gaurav trains will be run either by IRCTC or by any other service provider including an Individual, Partnership Firm, Company, Society, trust, JV/Consortium (Unincorporated/Incorporated) called a service provider.
The service provider would be free to decide a theme say, Guru Kripa trains for covering important places of Sikh culture or the already running Ramayana trains for places connected with Lord Shri Ram.
The Service Provider to offer all inclusive package to tourist including rail travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing arrangement, visit to historical/heritage sites, tour guides etc.
Under this, service providers have been given full flexibility to decide package cost based on level of services being offered. They are free to choose coaches according to clientele segments such as luxury, budget and the like besides choosing to design/furnish the coach interiors as per requirement. Service providers have also been given the rights for branding and advertisement both inside and outside the train.
The train composition will be of 14 to 20 coaches long including 2 SLRs (Guard Vans).
How to apply
Entities interested in running Bharat Gaurav Trains have to register online paying a fee of Rs 1 lakh. Allotment of coaches to all eligible applicants will be subject to availability. Priority will be based on the rake security deposit (of Rs 1 crore per rake) time and date. The policy has notified Right to Use charges and Haulage charges for service providers to work out their business model. The Right to Use period given is from two to 10 years.
