BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Mysuru and Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central today at KSR Bengaluru Railway Station. This is the fifth Vande Bharat Express started in the country and the first train in south India. The Prime Minister also flagged off Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan Train at KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru, today.
As an excellent example of the ‘Make in India’ success story, the Indian Railways launched India’s first indigenous Semi-High Speed train- Vande Bharat Express, which the Hon’ble Prime Minister flagged off on February 15, 2019, on the New Delhi – Kanpur- Allahabad –Varanasi route. Further, Vande Bharat Express trains have commenced on New Delhi- Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Gandhinagar Capital – Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central, and Amb Andaura – New Delhi routes.
This new train will enhance connectivity between Chennai’s industrial hub, the technological-software-startup hub of Bengaluru, and the world-famous tourist city of Mysuru. It will benefit software and business professionals, technologists, tourists, students, and regular passengers travelling on the Mysuru – Bengaluru – Chennai. It will offer airline-like comfort and redefine the travel experience by train.
The fare of Train No.20607 MGR Chennai Central Station to Mysuru is Rs. 1200 for Chair Car and Rs. 2295 for Executive Class. The fare of Train No.20608 Mysuru to MGR Chennai Central Station is Rs. 1365 for Chair Car and Rs. 2485 for Executive Class.
No concession and Child fare shall be admissible in the above Vande Bharat Express trains. Only full-fare adult tickets shall be issued. Other terms and conditions for booking, cancellation, refund, etc., shall be as per Shatabdi trains.
Features of Vande Bharat Express
It is a world-class train with modern facilities. Some of the salient features of this train are:
- Equipped with the KAVACH (Train Collision Avoidance System) for enhanced safety in operations.
- Improved safety with four emergency Windows in every coach. There are four platform-side cameras, including rearview cameras outside the coach.
- Better fire safety measures with Aerosol based fire detection and Suppression system in all electrical cubicles and toilets.
- Superior floodproofing for under-slung electrical equipment to withstand floods up to 650 mm in height. The train will also have four emergency lights in every coach in case of electric failure.
- Enhanced riding comfort for passengers at 3.5 riding indexes. It also has 32-inch LCD TVs and a train’s passenger information and communication system.
- A side recliner seat facility is made available for all classes. In addition, the Executive Coaches have the added feature of 180-degree rotating seats.
- Bio vacuum toilets with touch-free amenities and Wi-Fi content on demand.
- Finer heat ventilation and air conditioning control through a higher efficiency compressor, with Ultra Violet (UV) lamp for the germ-free air supply.
- The train’s time to reach 160 kmph is just 140 seconds. There will be driver-guard communication with a voice recording facility.
- Two signal exchange lights on the coaches exchange signals with the wayside stations.
The Vande Bharat train, which has been manufactured indigenously at Integral Coach Factory, Perambur, Chennai – is a testimony to the capability of Indian engineers and a culmination of the Make in India initiative. It is a significant milestone towards realizing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
Bengaluru – Varanasi Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan
Bharat Gaurav Train from Bengaluru to Kashi has also been started, offering comfortable and convenient rail travel, boarding, stay and darshan facilities in an all-inclusive package. This train will also go through Hubballi, Belagavi, benefiting not only the devotees of Bengaluru but also those from North Karnataka who wish to travel to Kashi. In addition, this train will go through Prayagraj and Ayodhya also.
The trip cost is Rs. 20,000, of which Rs. 5000 is provided as a subsidy by the State govt. The first train journey will carry around 600 pilgrims; apart from Kashi, the pilgrims will also visit Ayodhya and Prayagraj.
The objective is to run the Bharat Gaurav train to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world through Bharat Gaurav Trains (Theme- based Tourist Circuit trains).
Brief Scope of Policy
- Indian Railways aims to leverage the core strengths of the tourism sector professionals to run theme-based trains to tap the vast tourism potential of India.
- Under this policy, registered Service Providers shall be offered rakes consisting of ICF coaches under the “Right to Use” model by Indian Railways (IR) for operations of Bharat Gaurav Trains. In addition, service Providers shall also have the option of procurement of new coaches directly from production units through the NRC (Non-Railway Customer) plan.
- The Service Provider shall have the flexibility to decide the business model, including themes, routes, itinerary, tariff and other attributes connected with this model.
