business-northeast-logo

Railways flags off India' first private train under Bharat Gaurav scheme

BNE News Desk


Spread the love

Guwahati: The first private train hits the tracks in India.

Under the Bharat Gaurav scheme, the train named the ‘South Star Rail’ was flagged off from Coimbatore North in Tamil Nadu on June 14, under the Southern Railway. It completed its maiden trip to Shridi in Maharashtra on June 16 with stops at Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, and Mantralayam Road, and Wadi. 1100 passengers boarded the train on its first trip. The train has been granted stoppage at Mantralayam road station for 5 hours to facilitate holy darshan at Mantralayama temple during the onward journey from Coimbatore.

The theme-based train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme is aimed to promote India’s rich cultural heritage and domestic tourism.

The Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway, B Guganesan, informed that the South Star Rail had 20 coaches including 1st, 2nd and 3rd class AC coaches, 5 sleeper non AC coaches, and a pantry cart. It will take at least 3 trips per month.

The 20 coaches had been leased to the private service provided against a security deposit of Rs. 1 crore. The fixed revenue from the train is calculated at Rs. 3.34 crores per annum, and a variable haulage charge of Rs. 38.22 lakhs for a five-day round-trip.

The coaches have been refurbished by the service providers. Each coach has been installed with a public address system to play deviational songs and mantras during the journey. To ensure safe trips for the passengers, the train will have doctors and private security personnel on board in addition to the Railway Protection Force.

The Bharat Gaurav scheme was launched in November 2021 by the Indian Railways. Under the scheme, trains now have a third segment for tourism, and trains will be run by both private players and IRCTC, in theme-based circuits.

BNE News Desk