The Indian Railways have begun implementing a programme known as the “Bharat Gaurav Programme” beginning of November 23rd, 2021.
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In accordance with this plan, private tour operators are permitted to rent trains from Indian Railways and operate those trains along any desired route.
Following passenger and goods trains, the debut of “Bharat Gaurav Trains” will be regarded as the third phase for tourism, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
According to Ashwini Vaishnav, these trains will present to Indians and the rest of the world Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India’s rich cultural history and magnificent historical sites.
To further demonstrate India’s enormous tourism potential, he emphasized that the specialists in the tourism business must be used to build or identify tourist circuits and operate these theme-based trains. Interested parties can register online and apply to rent a train by paying a one-time charge of INR 1 lakh. Two to ten years can pass between the arrangements.
Each rake requires the operators to submit INR 1 crore. There will be two security vans and 14–20 coaches per train.
The “Right to Use” fee and freight costs would be sought after by the Indian Railways. Within the bounds of safety regulations, such as berth composition, interior coach modifications are permitted; nevertheless, it is not permitted to take apart essential components. In order to grow their businesses, have fun, and eat on the train, tour operators can partner with these organizations.
In accordance with this plan, non-AC sleeper coaches, AC pantry cars, and chair cars have been assigned to the traditional AC classes I, II, and III.
Depending on the type of clientele they are aiming for, the operator is free to put together a train with a mix. Two age groups—15 to 20 years old and 20 to 25 years old—are designated for the coaches.
The type of coach used and the amount of time are factors in the annual “Right of Usage” costs calculations. According to the Bharat Gaurav Plan, the fees for the first year’s “Right of Use” must be paid upfront, the second year’s payment must be made 15 days before the end of the prior year, and late payments are subject to an administrative cost of 3% in addition to the bank’s current interest rate.
The “Right of Usage” may be revoked if the fees are not paid within 30 days.
Objectives Of the Bharat Gaurav Scheme
The major goal of this plan is to provide operators with the ability to create and implement a business plan where trains are physically operated by the railroads in exchange for maintenance and a fee.
- The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been allowed to participate in railway operations thanks to a policy that allows any organization, including state governments, to operate trains. However, the main targets of this policy are the tour companies.
- People, including State governments, societies, trusts, and consortia, are eligible to rent out vehicles and operate them along a specific theme-based travel route, such as the Guru Kripa train, which travels to all the locations connected to Guru Nanak, and the Ramayan-themed train, which travels to all the locations connected to Lord Ram.
- Railways will establish a specific unit in each railway zone to train applicants in the end-to-end operational requirements.
- Private tour operators now have the option to determine the routes, prices, and level of services provided on the trains thanks to the railways’ assignment of 3033 ICF coaches, which is roughly equal to 150 trains.
- Making a customised unit is intended to prevent operators from having to go from one unit to another to find what they need.
Bharat Gaurav Scheme Coverage
One of the requirements of the Bharat Gaurav Program is that the operator would receive sightseeing, dining, local transportation, lodging at stopover locations, onboard entertainment, etc.
Railways will set up specialized units throughout the zones to assist and support the operators. Moreover, branding and advertising are permitted on the outside and inside of trains thanks to the railways.
The Plan would be designed to showcase the diverse and rich cultural history of India. This plan will generate new prospects for employment generation, both directly and indirectly. The Bharat Gaurav scheme would advertise and support India’s theme-based tourism circuits.
First Departure
On June 14, the Bharat Gaurav train left Coimbatore North towards Sainagar Shirdi. A little over 1,100 people boarded the inaugural roundtrip flight from Coimbatore to Shirdi. Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Mantralayam Road, and Wadi were among the stops made by the railway. For five hours, the train stopped at Mantralayam Road station so that passengers may visit the Mantralayam temple.
Significance
The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express, which was introduced in 2019, was Railways’ first encounter with a non-railway operator and its own subsidiary IRCTC operating a train. The Bharat Gaurav scheme, however, is significant on two counts in particular.
First, it permits private players with industry expertise in the tourism sector to operate these special trains. The IRCTC previously took care of this. The second is that a new source of revenue for the Railways is realized. Further privatization initiatives in the management of both freight and passenger trains may result from this.
Railway Revenue
The Bharat Gaurav plan provides the Railways with money in the form of rake usage fees, haulage fees, empty haulage fees, and stabling fees. The option to choose the business model, including topics, routes, itineraries, and cost, will be available to registered service providers.
The naming rights, branding rights, and rights to third-party advertisements are granted to the service providers. Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd operates South Star Rail, the first Bharat Gaurav train in India.
The annual right-to-use fees and set haulage charges would bring in a total fixed annual revenue of 3.34 crore for Southern Railway. Moreover, Southern Railway would be charged variable haulage fees for the five-day journey from Coimbatore to Sainagar, Shirdi, and back. Depending on the schedule, similar variable fees will be charged for each journey.
