Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains
An initiative under “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote domestic tourism
Policy from 01.04.2022
Theme-based tourist circuit Trains
To showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the People of India and the World.
At present, IRCTC is already running several tourist circuit trains on Railways.
Now, Railways Invited professional private tour operators to run the above trains
Themes like Ramayana - covering places connected with Lord Shri Ram, Guru Kripa - Cover important places of Sikh culture, etc.
The first phase - Allocated 180 Trains with 3033 coaches like Vande Bharat, Vista Dome, and LHB Coaches.
Salient features:
Private Tourist service provider - free to decide the theme
Offer all-inclusive package including travel, accommodation, sightseeing arrangement, tour guides, etc.
Full flexibility to decide package cost based on the services provided by them.
Choice of Coaches like AC and Non AC and Accommodation like Luxury, Budget, etc.
Free to design/furnish interior and exterior of Coaches.
Branding and advertisement are permitted both inside and outside of the Train.
Train composition - 14 to 20 Coaches
Process of selecting Tour operators:
Online registration
Registration fees - Rs. One Lakh.
Security Deposit - Rs 1 (one) Crore per rake.
Individual, Partnership Firm, Company, Society, trust, JV/Consortium (Unincorporated/Incorporated) are eligible.
Right to Use charges and Haulage charges are notified in the policy for Service Provider to work out his business model.
Right to Use Period: 2-10 years.
First / Maiden Bharat Gaurav Train
Between Coimbatore to Sai Nagar Shirdi round trip with tourist places of Mantralayam on 14.06.2022
5 days trip
Southern Railway gets an annual fixed revenue of Rs. 3.34 Crores.
Registered Service provider - South Star Rail, Coimbatore-based part of the conglomerate group - Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd.
Security Deposit - Rs. 1 Crore per 20 coaches rake, Annual right to use charges - Rs. 27.79 Lakhs and Quarterly Fixed haulage charges - Rs. 76.77 lakhs
Variable haulage charge of Rs.38.22 Lakhs (excl: GST) for 5 days trip
1100 tourists traveled
Composition : First AC Coach -1, 2-tier AC coaches – 3, 3-tier AC coaches-8, Sleeper Class coaches-5 , Pantry car-1 and Luggage-cum-brake Vans-2. (Total – 20 coaches)
All coaches - refurbished the interiors
Public Address system - provided for all coaches - for regular communication, playing devotional songs and mantras
Doctor on board to attend any emergency
Private security in Train
On board AC Mechanic and electrician
Maintained by branded housekeeping service providers
Catering facility - traditional vegetarian menus
Radio jockey to entertain the passengers during the journey.
Shri Ramayana Yatra
18 days trip - started from New Delhi on 21st June 2022
Operated by IRCTC as Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
Cover approximately 8,000 KMs
IRCTC is the first Indian agency to connect India and Nepal through a tourist train.
Covers Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya, Janakpur, Buxar, Kashi, Sitamarhi, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Hampi, Nasik, Kanchipuram, Rameshwaram, and Bhadrachalam.
The capacity of 600 tourists.
AC 3 Tier Coaches
Single occupance - Rs. 71,820, Double occupancy - Rs. 62,370, Child with bed (5-11 years group) - Rs. 56,700 (Ticket is uniform irrespective of boarding point)
All-inclusive package of Travel, Food, Accommodation, Guide, etc
Boarding points: Aligarh, Kanpur, Tundla & Lucknow
Key Takeaways for MCQ
Branded as Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
Initiative under “Dekho Apna Desh”
Policy w.e.f: 01.04.2022
First / Maiden Bharat Gaurav Train - Coimbatore to Sai Nagar Shirdi
First Registered Service provider under Bharat Gaurav Scheme - South India Star, Coimbatore-based firm
Right to use period - 2 to 10 years
Online Registration fees - Rs.1 Lakh
Security Deposit for each Rake - Rs. 1 Crore
Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train between India and Nepal - Operated by IRCTC
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