Are Bharat Gaurav Trains The Next Phase Of Travel? Know About Packages, Fare & Routes

The Bharat Gaurav Scheme trains are aimed at promoting Indian history and culture while also boosting employment.

The service provider is also free to design/furnish the interior of the coaches based on the theme. (Representational Image)

Source : Getty

New Delhi: The first train under the Bharat Gaurav Scheme was flagged off on Tuesday on roundtrip service from Coimbatore to Shirdi. The service is run by a private entity, South Star Rail. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called it an ‘opportunity for entrepreneurs’, it is because under the Bharat Gaurav Scheme, any private operator or service provider, like Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, IRCTC, can lease trains from Indian Railways to run 'Bharat Gaurav' train services on theme-based circuits, as a special tourism package. The aim of the scheme is to promote tourism at various historical places in India and help promote the traditions and culture of India.

This initiative by the Railway is expected to create new employment opportunities in the country's tourism sector.

Who Can Operate Bharat Gaurav Scheme Train? 

The Railway Ministry has separated 180 trains that can be leased by any individual, partnership firm, company, society, trust or JV/Consortium (Unincorporated/Incorporated) for two to ten years from Indian Railways just like the IRCTC. This train service will run as per a fixed timetable and not on a regular basis. 

During a press conference last year, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said, "We've allocated over 180 trains for ‘Bharat Gaurav’ trains & 3033 coaches identified. Stakeholders will modify & run the train & Railways will help in maintenance, parking & other facilities”.

Indian Railways has earmarked Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches for the operation of these trains. Vande Bharat, Vista Dome and Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches would also be added to these services in the future. The train will have 14 to 20 coaches including 2 SLRs(Guard Vans).

Services And Package

The service provider would be free to decide on themes like Guru Kripa trains for covering important places of Sikh culture, Ramayana trains for places connected with Lord Shri Ram etc. It offers an all-inclusive package to tourists including rail travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing arrangement, visiting historical/heritage sites, tour guides etc. The service provider is also free to design/furnish the interior of the coaches based on the theme.

Train Fare

While the service provider is free to decide the cost, the Indian Railways will keep an eye to make sure that exorbitant amounts aren’t being charged. The service provider can choose the coaches suiting the clientele, and different segments like luxury, budget etc. For example, on the maiden train, the coaches are fitted with high bass-sounding speakers and an on-rail Radio Jockey to keep the passengers entertained during the journey. There will be devotional songs, spiritual stories and live interviews to keep the journey pleasant.

Route Of Bharat Gaurav Scheme Trains

The service provider is free to decide on the routes and the halt points of the Bharat Gaurav Scheme train. The Coimbatore to Shirdi train that was flagged off Tuesday will stop at Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam and Wadi. During the return journey, the train will stop at Wadi, Dharmavaram, Yelahanka, Salem, Erode and Tirupur.

The train will also stop at Mantralayam Road station for five hours in order to help with the darshan at Mantralayam temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Boost To Railway Tourism

With this initiative, more employment opportunities will be created in the railway tourism sector such as tour guides, railway staff etc. Vaishnaw during last year's press conference said the scheme has been developed after extensive stakeholder discussions and several state governments, including Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have shown interest.