CHENNAI, APRIL 4
Southern Railway on Monday announced that one of the Registered Service Providers has registered demand for allotment of rake for running theme-based tourist circuit train under the scheme of Bharat Gaurav Trains by duly depositing Security Deposit of Rs 1 crore in the form of performance Bank Guarantee. The Registered Service Provider is likely to operate the country’s first ‘Bharat Gaurav Trains’ in the Coimbatore – Shirdi Sector and is likely to commence operation in the month of May 2022.
Southern Railway has a total of seven private parties who have registered under the Bharat Gaurav Trains Theme. This is the highest number of registrations across Indian Railways under this scheme.
Indian Railways had launched the operation of theme-based Bharat Gaurav Trains in the month of November 2021. The objective of this theme is to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, through Bharat Gaurav Trains. This scheme also aims to leverage the core strengths of the professionals of the tourism sector to run theme-based trains to tap the vast tourist potential of India.
- Southern Railway has a total of seven private parties who have registered under the Bharat Gaurav Trains Theme and the highest number of registrations across Indian Railways.
For this purpose of this theme based Bharat Gaurav Trains, Indian Railway has earmarked pool of ICF coaches in various categories namely AC-I, AC-II, AC-III, SL AC chair car, Pantry car, and SLR.
Press Conference on ‘Bharat Gaurav’ trains. https://t.co/giyAOjpya3
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (मोदी का परिवार) (@AshwiniVaishnaw) November 23, 2021
In this Bharat Gaurav Trains, Railways would get the revenue stream in the form of Right to use charges (for the rake), Haulage Charges, Empty haulage charges, stabling charges etc. Registered Service Providers will have the flexibility to decide the business model including themes, Routes, Itinerary, Tariff etc., The Registered Service Provider shall be given the Naming rights, Third party Advertisements rights and Branding rights.
For the purpose of facilitating registered service providers and for smooth implementation of the scheme various committees have been formed at the Railway Board level and Zonal Railway level.
Following are some salient features of Bharat Gaurav trains scheme:
- Indian Railways will offer service providers the “Right to Use” of its rakes as well as infrastructure.
- Tour operators who are interested including Individuals, Company, Partnership firm, Society, Trust, Consortium, Joint Venture, Government Agencies can register themselves for running train services under the website http://www.bharatgauravtrains.indianrailways.gov.in by choosing the concerned zonal railway. The operator has to pay registration fee of Rs 1 Lakh.
- The operator will be provided ‘right to use’ for a minimum period of two years and a maximum period upto the coaches’ residual codal life.
- The operator can also directly purchase coaches from Indian Railways’ manufacturing units under NRC scheme.
- Operators can decide business model as well as tariff based o¬n the level of services for these trains.
- An all-inclusive package will be provided by the operator to tourists including hotel accommodation, rail travel, visit historical/heritage sites, sightseeing arrangement, tour guides etc.
- Advertisements and branding are allowed both inside and outside of the train.
- The rake composition shall be a minimum of 14 coaches to a maximum of 20 coaches including two SLRs(Guard Vans).
- Coaches’ allotment will be done to all eligible applicants or registerd operator subject to availability.
- The operators can opt for unfurnished coaches and can furnish as per their requirements such as making suite or saloon or any other specific tourist need.
