Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Fare of Luxury Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.275 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## FARE OF LUXURY TRAINS

†275. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has decided to slash the fare of its luxury and popular trains namely Palace on Wheels, the Golden Chariot, Maharaja  Express  and  Deccan  Odyssey  due  to  rapid  decline noticed in their popularity and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)    the total number of people who travelled by these trains during the  last  two  years  along  with  the  revenue  earned  by  the Government;
- (c) whether the Government is planning  to  terminate  their  service due to loss being incurred by these trains;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.275 BY SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.12.2018 REGARDING FARE OF LUXURY TRAINS

(a)  and  (b):  Five  luxury  tourist  trains  namely  Palace  on  Wheels, Heritage Palace on Wheels (started on 29.12.2017), Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot and Maharajas' Express are run over Indian Railways. The fare of these luxury tourist trains is decided by concerned State Tourism  Corporations  (STCs)  /  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation  (IRCTC).  The  number  of  passengers  who  travelled  by  these trains along with the revenue earned during last two financial years is as under:

| Financial Year                                                       | Number of Passengers travelled                                       | Revenue earned (in Cr. D )                                           |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Palace on Wheels - Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation         | Palace on Wheels - Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation         | Palace on Wheels - Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation         |
| 2016-17                                                              | 1373                                                                 | 27.36                                                                |
| 2017-18                                                              | 1498                                                                 | 27.59                                                                |
| Deccan Odyssey - Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation         | Deccan Odyssey - Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation         | Deccan Odyssey - Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation         |
| 2016-17                                                              | 643                                                                  | 9.51                                                                 |
| 2017-18                                                              | 879                                                                  | 12.76                                                                |
| Golden Chariot - Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation     | Golden Chariot - Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation     | Golden Chariot - Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation     |
| 2016-17                                                              | 336                                                                  | 5.49                                                                 |
| 2017-18                                                              | 291                                                                  | 2.61                                                                 |
| Maharajas' Express - Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation | Maharajas' Express - Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation | Maharajas' Express - Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation |
| 2016-17                                                              | 894                                                                  | 41.38                                                                |
| 2017-18                                                              | 945                                                                  | 42.11                                                                |
| Heritage Palace on Wheels-Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation  | Heritage Palace on Wheels-Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation  | Heritage Palace on Wheels-Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation  |
| 2017-18                                                              | 44                                                                   | 0.21                                                                 |

(c)  to  (e):  No,  Madam.  Luxury  tourist  trains  are  run  over  Indian Railways  by  Rajasthan  Tourism  Development  Corporation  (RTDC), Maharashtra  Tourism  Development  Corporation  (MTDC),  Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and Indian Railway Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC).  The  operation  of  these luxury tourist trains is responsibility of these STCs/IRCTC.

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