Question : TRAINS FOR TOURISTS

(a) the details of trains being run by the Railways to boost domestic tourism in the country;

(b) whether Railways have received any proposal to link certain places of tourists’ interest with the Special Tourist Train Circuit including Kota and Boondi districts of Rajasthan;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the proposals; and

(d) the fresh steps taken by the Railways for promotion of tourism by providing connectivity to more number of tourist destinations across the country by including these places in Special Tourist Train Circuit ?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.205 BY SHRI OM BIRLA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2014 REGARDING TRAINS FOR TOURISTS

(a): Indian Railways promotes tourism by providing connectivity through trains to tourist destinations across the country. In addition, exclusive tourist trains / packages are also operated. The details of exclusive tourist trains presently in operation are at Appendix.

(b) & (c): Promotion of tourism by linking tourist places with tourist trains is a continuous process based on market demand, operational feasibility and availability of resources. No proposal has been received by Railways in the recent past for inclusion of Kota and Boondi districts of Rajasthan in the itinerary of tourist trains.

(d): Pilgrim special tourist trains were announced in Railway Budget 2014-15 with the purpose of connecting various pilgrim destinations across India. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have operated 5 Pilgrim special tourist trains from 25.10.2014 to 8.12.2014 and further 5 trains are planned till 12.1.2015. IRCTC plans to continue operating these trains in the year 2015-16. New pilgrim destinations covered are Bijapur, Solapur, Badami, Melmaruvathur, Vaitheeswarankoil, Thiruvenkadu, Keelaperumpallam, Thirunallar, Alangudi, Surianarkoil, Kanjanur, Thirunageshwaram, Thingalur, Parasnath, St. Francis Xavier (Old Goa), Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad), Nanded sahib, Nanak Jhira Gurudwara, Sri Patna Sahib, Kanchipuram etc.