The first ever private train under the “Bharat Gaurav Scheme” of Indian Railways has been flagged off from Coimbatore Railway station on Tuesday. The train runs on the tourist circuit between Coimbatore North and Sainagar Shirdi. It is aimed at promoting tourism by making travel comfortable and convenient for the tourist.
Ministry of Railways has shared this news on their Twitter handle.
The train will stop at Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam Road, and Wadi before arriving at its final destination at Shirdi in Maharashtra. The train is scheduled to return to Coimbatore on Saturday.
Facilities On Board
It has various luxurious facilities including, a snack trolley, high-quality meals, bedtime kits, and various magazines. It is also being said that there is an in-house doctor available on Train. It also has special arrangements for the elders and differently abled passengers.
To keep the passengers entertained during the trip, the coaches are equipped with high-bass speakers and an on-rail radio jockey. And, there will also be live interviews, spiritual anecdotes, and devotional songs to make the journey more enjoyable.
The hygiene of the train is maintained by premium housekeeping service providers who will clean the utility areas regularly, and the caterers are experienced and well-versed in serving traditional vegetarian menus.
It should be mentioned that India’s first private train was the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express.
“Bharat Gaurav Scheme” at a glance
The Indian Railways launched “Bharat Gaurav” trains in November 2021. These trains are to be based on themes and will be operated by private entities. It allows users the “Right of Use” of its rakes and facilities. With this scheme, the railways have attempted to liberalize and simplify a part of its operations that was mostly carried out by railway catering and tourism corporations.
With the introduction of this scheme, trains now have a third segment for tourism under the scheme. Previously, the railways had passenger and goods segments. These trains will be run by both private players as well as IRCTC.
During the journey, the tourists are to be offered all-inclusive packages that include rail travel, hotel accommodations, sightseeing arrangements, visits to historical/heritage sites, tour guides, and so on.
The Indian Railways launched “Bharat Gaurav” trains in November 2021. These trains are to be based on themes and will be operated by private entities. It allows users the “Right of Use” of its rakes and facilities. With this scheme, the railways have attempted to liberalize and simplify a part of its operations that was mostly carried out by railway catering and tourism corporations.
With the introduction of this scheme, trains now have a third segment for tourism under the scheme. Previously, the railways had passenger and goods segments. These trains will be run by both private players as well as IRCTC.
During the journey, the tourists are to be offered all-inclusive packages that include rail travel, hotel accommodations, sightseeing arrangements, visits to historical/heritage sites, tour guides, and so on.
Although any organization, including state governments, may operate these trains, it is implied that the regulation is aimed at tour operators.
India has incredible potential in tourism. Additionally, railways are still regarded as a very popular mode of transportation in the country. Trains operated under the Bharat Gaurav scheme will aid in bringing India’s rich cultural heritage and majestic historical sites to the attention of Indians and people around the globe. They will also facilitate the utilization of India’s enormous tourism potential.
