(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to promote tourism through the Railways in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the funds allocated by the Government under the scheme; and
(d) the benefits likely to be accrued to the Railways as a result thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R. VELU)
(a) to (d): The Railways have taken steps for promoting
tourism by running special trains/coaches; luxury trains like
the Palace on Wheels and the Deccan Odyssey; the Bharat Darshan
special, a tourist train for the common people; and by
providing Indrail Passes, foreign tourists reservation quota,
facilitation centres for the foreign tourists etc. A new
company, the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation
(IRCTC) has also been set up by the Indian Railways for
providing value added tourism packages. The company is
actively engaged in promotion of tourism by rail. All the
above measures have been taken with a view to promoting tourism
and not as a measure for accruing benefit to the Railways.