Lok Sabha Question No. 5350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: BGT Policy
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5350 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## BGT POLICY

5350.       SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  under  Bharat  Gaurav  Trains  (BGT)  22 service providers have  registered with 11 zones  of Indian Railways, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has decided not to allow new registrations under BGT policy and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  proposal  of  the  Government  to  continue  BGT  policy  with private participation for further rake allotment; and
- (d) the  details  of  status  and  operation  of  the  proposal  received  by south eastern railway under BGT policy therein?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5350 BY SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023 REGARDING BGT POLICY

(a)  Yes,  Sir.  Zone-wise  details  of  service  providers  registered  under Bharat Gaurav train scheme is as under:

| S.No.   | Zone                       |   No. of registered service provider |
|---------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Central Railway            |                                   02 |
| 2.      | Eastern Railway            |                                   01 |
| 3.      | Northern Railway           |                                   01 |
| 4.      | North Eastern Railway      |                                   01 |
| 5.      | Northeast Frontier Railway |                                   01 |
| 6.      | Southern Railway           |                                   11 |
| 7.      | South Central Railway      |                                   01 |
| 8.      | South Eastern Railway      |                                   01 |
| 9.      | South East Central Railway |                                   01 |
| 10.     | South Western Railway      |                                   01 |
| 11.     | Western Railway            |                                   01 |
|         | Total                      |                                   22 |

(b)  and  (c)  In  order  to  rationalize  future  demand  of  Linke  Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches for operation of Bharat Gaurav Trains, instructions  have  been  issued  vide  Commercial  Circular  No  02/2023 dated  13.02.2023.  As  per  this  policy,  new  registration  as  well  as placement  of  new  rake  requests  under  Bharat  Gaurav  Trains  (BGT) policy is permissible for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation  (IRCTC)  only  till  further  orders.  However,  the  service providers, who have already been allotted rakes and who have already placed  rake  demand  requests  are  allowed  to  continue  to  operate Bharat Gaurav Trains as per extant policy. So far, 09 rakes have been allotted to various service providers. These rakes are being operated by Travel Times India Private Limited, M and C Property Development Pvt.  Ltd.,  Commissioner,  Hindu  Religious  Institutions  and  Charitable Endowments  (HRICE)  department,  Government  of  Karnataka  and IRCTC. Remaining 08 rakes are under process of allotment.

(d)  Over  South  Eastern  Railway,  no  rake  demand  request  along  with Rake Security Deposit has been received from the registered service provider to operate Bharat Gaurav Train under the extant BGT policy.

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