Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Complimentary Travel in Luxury Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 111

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## COMPLIMENTARY TRAVEL IN LUXURY TRAINS

## *111. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  complimentary  travel  in  luxury  trains  like  Palace  on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan, etc. are still operational after 2017;
- (b) if so, the number of passengers who travelled under complimentary  travel  in  luxury  trains,  viz.  Palace  on  Wheels, Maharaja Express and Royal Rajasthan between 2017 to 2019;
- (c) the guidelines under which complimentary berths are allotted in luxury trains;
- (d) whether the rationale of providing complimentary berth in luxury trains is  not achieved as these luxury trains never generated any profit;
- (e) whether  the  Standing  Committee  on  Railways  has  also  made recommendation in this direction; and
- (f) if  so,  the details thereof and reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  111  BY  SHRI  A.K.P.  CHINRAJ  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.02.2022 REGARDING COMPLIMENTARY TRAVEL IN LUXURY TRAINS

- (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The number of passengers authorized by Railways to  travel  under  complimentary  travel  in  luxury  trains  viz  Palace  on Wheels,  Maharajas'  Express  and  Royal  Rajasthan  on  Wheels  for  the period from 2017 to 2019 are as follows:
- (c)  The  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MOU)/  Agreement  between Railways and State Tourism Corporations (STC)/Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) contains the provision for authorizing  complimentary  travel  on  the  Luxury  tourist  trains  which has  been  made  to  allow  intensive  monitoring  of  services  and  give feedback  of  services/deficiencies  to  enable  corrective  action  and maintain standards of the services.  Authorizing complimentary travel is also a marketing tool for this tourism product.  While State Tourism Corporations (STC's) / Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) are responsible for services and marketing of the  product,  Railways  is  responsible  to  ensure  that  the  condition  of track, rolling stock, facilities at the stations enroute are maintained to the satisfaction of the tourists. The powers for authorizing complimentary  travel  are  exercised  by  the  Ministry  of  Railways  and STC/IRCTC who may nominate a maximum of 2 berths per trip each, subject  to  availability.  No  complimentary  travel  is  allowed  on  fully chartered trips.

| Type of Luxury Tourist train   |   Year (No of Passengers) | Year (No of Passengers)   | Year (No of Passengers)   |
|--------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|                                |                      2017 | 2018                      | 2019                      |
| Palace on Wheels               |                        26 | 36                        | 38                        |
| Maharajas' Express             |                        34 | 38                        | 41                        |
| Royal Rajasthan on Wheels      |                         2 | N.A *                     | N.A *                     |

(d):   The luxury tourist trains are run in the interest of promotion of rail based  tourism in India and to provide a safe, hassle-free and comfortable  means  of  showcasing  India  to  international  tourists. Setting and maintaining quality and service standards at world class levels  is  an  important  aspect  of  running  these  trains  and  requires continuous  monitoring  and  inspection.    As  such,  it  is  required  that experienced officials from diverse fields/specializations are enabled to inspect  the  train  with  a  view  to    identifying  the  areas  needing improvement  or  deficiencies  requiring    rectification,  which  cover  a wide  range  of  parameters  which  includes  quality  of  ride,  safety protocols etc. Therefore complimentary travel, is in effect a travel for inspection  and  quality  assurance  purposes  which  is  important  for maintaining  quality  standards  for  the  train.    While  IRCTC/STCs  carry out  the  range  of  marketing  activities  as  a  full  fledged  effort,  the feedback from officials includes an understanding of passenger needs and  preferences  obtained  through  passenger  interaction  during  the trip, which guides further product development. Feedback/suggestions and inputs of officers are taken also into consideration to formulate or revise policies and guidelines.

The  rationale  for  providing  complimentary  travel  for  inspections  is achieved as the trains have consistently met quality standards, which is evident from the international awards and recognition won by these trains.  Maharajas' Express has won the World's Leading Luxury Train award at the World Travel Awards for 7 consecutive years from 2012 to  2018.  Similarly,  Palace  on  Wheels  has  won  'Best  in  Asia'  Luxury Train award, PATA Gold Award etc.  As such the trains have brought applause for the country at international level and created awareness about India as an attractive tourism destination.

contd./3

(e) and (f) Yes, Sir.  The Standing committee on Railways, in their 18th report  of  2017-18,  on  Tourism  Promotion  and  Pilgrimage  Circuit  had recommended vide Para 10 of the report that the Ministry discontinue the system of complimentary travel in luxury tourist trains in view of the low revenue generation and low passenger occupancy  from these trains.    In  response  thereof,  the  Ministry  of  Railways  had  submitted that  the  senior  officers  of  Railways  are  permitted  for  complimentary travel primarily for inspection purpose while others are permitted for promotion purpose as a marketing tool. Further, the Standing Committee on Railways, in their 24th report of 2018-19, recommended that the Ministry frame stringent guidelines for issue of these complimentary tickets to prevent possible misuse of public money.

In  response  to  the  above,  Ministry  of  Railways    had  submitted  that inspections    are  part  and  parcel  of  Railway  functioning  and  the products like Luxury Tourist Trains also require intensive monitoring, feedback  of  services/deficiencies  and  marketing.  The  inspections include  interaction  with  passengers  and  their  feedback  is  necessary for  improving  services  for  promotion  of  the  product  in  the  future. 'Complimentary travel' permission is the authority given to officials for conducting  these  inspections.  After  conducting  inspection  on  these trains, officers submit their inspection reports that are examined and shortfalls/ suggestions indicated are taken care of on a regular basis. Further, it is emphasized that authority for inspection is issued subject to availability of vacancies. Guidelines for issuing authority for complimentary travel for inspection of the luxury trains are scrupulously followed.

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