News Highlights
The Indian Railway flagged of first train under Bharat Gaurav Scheme
Focus Points
- The first train operated between Coimbatore and Shirdi by a private operator, under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ scheme of the Indian Railways
- Private securities engaged along with the Railway Police Force to protect the train from any kind of harm
Bharat Gaurav Scheme
- November 2021: Indian Railways launched Bharat Gaurav trains that are operated by private players and run on theme-based circuits.
- Tenure: The tenure of the arrangement is a minimum of two years and maximum of the codal life of the coach.
- Objective
- To showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, through Bharat Gaurav Trains.
- To leverage the core strengths of tourism professionals to run theme-based trains in order to tap India’s vast tourist potential.
- Key Features
- Private players and tour operators can procure trains from railways on lease and operate them on any circuit of their choice
- And also they can decide fares, routes, and quality of services.
- However, the railways will ensure that there is no abnormality in the prices.
- What can the private operator do with the contract?
- The operator can carry out its own furnishings of the interiors of the trains if it wants within safety norms
- They can name the circuit, the train and sell advertisement space.
- They can tie up with agencies and entities for business development and logistics.
- They can decide the food and entertainment to add to the experience of the passengers.
- It has to be ensured that things that are not allowed by railway laws are also not carried out onboard these trains.
- Staff, like housekeeping and catering, etc, deployed by the operator.
- What Indian Railways do?
- Provide staff to drive the trains, guards and also maintenance staff on board for the coaches.
- It will also ensure that its entire infrastructure is in place to safely and efficiently host the train in its network.
- Also prioritize its tracks like the Rajdhanis and premium trains
- so these trains not be caught or sidelined to make way for regular trains.
Pic Courtesy: Indian Express
Content Source – Indian Express