Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains, Desh Apna Dekho

 Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains - Desh Apna Dekho

 

·                     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

1.            Branded as Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train

2.            Initiative under “Dekho Apna Desh”

3.            Policy w.e.f:  01.04.2022

4.            First / Maiden Bharat Gaurav Train - Coimbatore to Sai Nagar Shirdi

5.            First Registered Service provider under Bharat Gaurav Scheme - South India Star, Coimbatore-based firm

6.            Right to use period - 2 to 10 years

7.            Online Registration fees - Rs.1 Lakh

8.            Security Deposit for each Rake - Rs. 1 Crore

9.            Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train between India and Nepal  - Operated by IRCTC

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