Indian Railway has launched “Bharat Gaurav Trains” policy recently in the last week of November 2021. The objective of the policy is to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world by operating theme based Tourist Circuit Trains called “Bharat Gaurav Trains.”
A meeting was organized through Video Conference by East Coast Railway on 7th December, 2021 where Tour & Travel operators from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh area participated. Sri P. C. Sahu Chief Commercial Manager (Passenger Marketing) briefly explained the salient features of the policy. Meeting was also attended by Sri J. P. Mishra, Chief Passenger Transportation Manager & Dy. Chief Mechanical Engineer (Coaching).
“Under this scheme, registered Service Providers shall be offered rake under “Right to Use” model by Indian Railway (IR) for operations of Bharat Gaurav Trains. Service providers will have the flexibility to decide the themes, tour packages and cost and also have the liberty to offer all inclusive packages to the tourists including Rail Travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing etc.
Interested Service provider can apply online registration www.indianrailways.gov.in under “Bharat Gaurav Trains”. Private operators will be offered the coaches for a period of minimum two years and maximum up to residual codal life of the coaches. “Bharat Gaurav” trains will have minimum 14 coaches and maximum 20 coaches with 2 SLR (Seating-cum-Luggage coach). The service providers can decorate the interior and exterior of the trains and can earn from third party advertisements & branding of the train. The service provider can use the SLR portion of the train for carrying luggage. Each “Bharat Gaurav train” will bear a unique number and will be given priority at par with other mail/express trains.
East Coast Railway has set up a Customer Support Unit for prompt redressal of issues of the service providers & Tour operators.