Single ticket for Delhi’s museums on the cards

Tourists in Delhi may soon need just a single ticket for entry to close a dozen museums here. Under the plan, the newly-revamped National Rail Museum will soon approach other museums in the city to work out an implementation strategy.

“We plan to introduce a package wherein one ticket will be enough to visit all museums. We will talk to other museums in Delhi. This one ticket will be valid for multi-entries in a single day,” said Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani.

Talks are on to strike a deal with Madame Tussauds wax museum that opened last December in Connaught Place. If finalised, a single ticket will grant buyers entry to the National Rail Museum and Madame Tussauds.

While the price of the ticket for entry to all museums is yet to be worked out, it could be in the range of ₹200 for a family of four.

Plans are also afoot to turn the rail museum into a destination for night tourism in the city to increase footfall. Starting next month, the museum will remain open till 9 p.m. “The rail museum is being repositioned as an evening destination in the city. The night package will be different from the day package. Visitors will be able to experience indoor gallery, musical fountains, multicolour lighting and good food,” museum Director Amit Saurastri said.

Efforts are on to add a light and sound show to the list as well. Timings for visiting the museum currently are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum, which opened on February 1, 1977, was revamped recently at the cost of about ₹20 crore to up the technology quotient and offer a more interactive experience to visitors. Tourists can now enjoy simulators and 3D virtual coach rides and toy train rides. The museum also offers free Wi-Fi to visitors. It currently receives a footfall of around 1,000 to 1,500 visitors on weekdays and up to 5,000 on weekends. Mr. Saurastri said the idea was to make tourists spend at least half-a-day at the museum. The rail museum has also partnered with the Delhi Tourism to include it in its Hop-on Hop-off bus service route.