State mulls luxury trains for tourism growth

The State Government is now considering to introduce luxury trains for achieving the high-end tourism in the State.

For this, a high-level meeting was held between State Government and Railway Board officials under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Thursday. Railway Board Additional Member Sanjiv Garg presented updates on various aspects of the proposal of introduction of luxury trains.

The Chief Secretary directed Tourism Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev to look into financial, administrative, technical and managerial aspects of the proposal and submit a feasibility report soon. It was opined that luxury trains can be introduced with partnership of the OTDC and the Railway Board.

It was revealed that running of luxury trains have helped the tourism sector develop in the States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Trains named ‘Palace on Wheels’, ‘Deccan Odyssey’, ‘Golden Chariot’ and ‘Maharaja Express’ are running for development of tourism in these States. Five-star hotel facilities are available in these trains. Seven and-three-day tour packages are made available for tourists. Volvo Buses are also made available from the station point to the tourism spot.

“The luxury trains can be termed as train cruise. The trains are very comfortable,” said Garg.

Each train comprises nine facility-coaches and 12-to-13 tourist coaches, each having 88 sitting capacity and About Rs 2.5 crore is spent for making a coach. Tourist spots like Chandipur, Bhitarkanika, Similipal, Konark, Puri-Konark coasts, Balugaon, Chilika, Debrigarh and Sambalpur can be connected with such trains.

Among others, Forests and Environment ACS Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Commerce and Transport Secretary-cum-Railway Coordination Commissioner Manoj Kumar Mishra, Tourism Director Nitin Bhanu Das Jawale participated in the discussion.