Lok Sabha Question No. 3288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Revenue from Luxury Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3288 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## REVENUE FROM LUXURY TRAINS

3288. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  even  a  single  journey  of  any  luxury  train  generated revenue from 2011 to till date and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government  is considering to withdraw the functioning  of  the  luxury  train,  as  they  are  not  generating profit;
- (c)   if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether during the official travel under complimentary ticket of luxury train, the railway officials are allowed to take spouse or companion and if so, the details in this regard;
- (e)  the names of officials and others who travelled under complimentary  berth  from  2017  to  till  date  in  these  luxury trains; and
- (f)  the guidelines under which complimentary berth in luxury trains are allotted?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) :   Yes,  Sir.  The  details  of  revenue  generated  by  luxury  tourist trains are at Appendix-I.
- (b)  &  (c)  :      No,  Sir.  There  is  no  plan  to  withdraw  luxury  tourist trains.   The  Railways  has  been  operating  the  luxury  trains  on  a haulage charge collection basis, or on a revenue share basis and

not  on  a  profit  making  model.   The  clientele  of  Luxury  Tourist trains are mainly inbound foreign tourists traveling to India. These luxury tourist trains serve the broader purpose of showcasing the culture,  heritage,  natural  scenic  beauty  of  India  to  the  world through offering a comfortable, safe and hassle-free tourism package to international travellers.

- (d) and (e) : Yes, Sir. Officials are allowed complimentary travel for  the  purpose  of  inspections  and  feedback  from  tourists  in line with  duty  pass  rules  of  Indian  Railways.   The  details  of  the officials travelled for this purpose are at Appendix-II.
- (f) :    Guidelines  under  which  complementary  travel  is  permitted are as follows:
-  Two berths per trip in the luxury tourist trains may be utilized for complimentary  travel  by  the  authorized  officers  of  IR  for  the purpose of inspection and feedback from the tourists. Similarly, a complimentary  travel  quota  of  2  seats  per  trip,  subject  to availability of seats after giving preference to paid passengers on commercial trips, is permitted to the respective Tourist Corporation.
-  In addition, there may be 24 berths per season for international press media groups to be decided in mutual consultation between IR and the respective Tourism Corporations.
-  The complimentary travels announced by the Ministry of Tourism/Government of India at times like Commonwealth Games 2010 Medal Winners and like may be provided by the respective agency within their quota of complimentary travel on respective trains. However, in case of shortage of berths, they may pool the quota  of  other  departments  too  with  the  prior  consent  of  the concerned department.
-  Complimentary  travel  is  permissible  subject  to  availability  of seats after giving preference to paid passengers on commercial trips.
-  No complimentary travel is permitted on fully chartered trips.

* * *

APPENDIX-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3288 BY SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK  SABHA  ON  23.03.2022  REGARDING  REVENUE  FROM  LUXURY TRAINS

The  details  of  revenue  generated  by  operation  of  luxury  tourist trains from 2011 to 2022:

## ( ₹ in Crore)

|                                  | 2011- 12   |   2012- 13 |   2013- 14 |   2014- 15 |   2015- 16 |   2016- 17 | 2017- 18          | 2018- 19               | 2019- 20               | 2020 -21*         | 2021- 22* (upto Februr ary)   |
|----------------------------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-------------------|------------------------|------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------|
| Palace on Wheels                 | 35.42      |      35.83 |      38.33 |      35.71 |      33.8  |      27.64 | 27.87             | 30.81                  | 28.66                  | Nil               | Nil                           |
| Deccan Odyssey                   | 13.36      |      12.95 |       7.71 |       5.92 |       6.89 |       9.51 | 12.18             | 30.05                  | 21.11                  | Nil               | Nil                           |
| Golden Chariot                   | 7.47       |       8.41 |       8.71 |       5.47 |       4.74 |       5.49 | 4.49              | Not operat ed by KSTDC | Not operat ed by KSTDC | 0.15              | Nil                           |
| Maharajas' Express               | **         |      26.27 |      36.27 |      47.89 |      51.09 |      45.93 | 49.69             | 61.27                  | 52.42                  | Nil               | 2.60                          |
| Royal Rajasthan on Wheels (RROW) | 16.53      |      21.32 |      17.82 |      17.31 |      14.58 |       5.96 | RROW discontinued | RROW discontinued      | RROW discontinued      | RROW discontinued | RROW discontinued             |

* Tourism on Indian Railways was disrupted due to Covid-19 pandemic. ** Maharajas' Express being operated by IRCTC from January, 2012 onwards.

f

APPENDIX-II  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (d)  AND  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.3288  BY  SHRI  A.K.P.  CHINRAJ  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.03.2022 REGARDING REVENUE FROM LUXURY TRAINS

|                                  |   YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED | YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED   | YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED   | YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED   | YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED   | YEAR -WISE NUMBER OF RAILWAY OFFICIAL TRAVELED   |
|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|                                  |                                             2017 | 2018                                             | 2019                                             | 2020                                             | 2021                                             | 2022                                             |
| Palace on Wheels                 |                                               26 | 36                                               | 38                                               | 20                                               | NOT OPERATED                                     | NOT OPERATED                                     |
| Deccan Odyssey                   |                                               02 | 12                                               | 20                                               | 10                                               | NOT OPERATED                                     | NOT OPERATED                                     |
| Golden Chariot                   |                                               02 | 02                                               | 0                                                | 0                                                | 0                                                | NOT OPERATED                                     |
| Maharajas' Express               |                                               34 | 38                                               | 41                                               | 16                                               | NOT OPERATED                                     | 0                                                |
| Royal Rajasthan on Wheels (RROW) |                                               02 | RROW discontinued.                               | RROW discontinued.                               | RROW discontinued.                               | RROW discontinued.                               | RROW discontinued.                               |

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