'Village on Wheels' to start chugging next summer

Bangalore, Dec 22: 'Village on Wheels' train, described as the common man's 'Palace on Wheels', would be introduced in the South Western Railways by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, from next summer, its Southern Regional Director V Sriram said.

Addressing newspersons here yesterday, he said the concept, already introduced in different railway zones, would soon have Karnataka on its map.

The IRCTC was on the course to finalise the 'Village on Wheels' for Karnataka and it would be fitted with more value-added services.

Mr Sriram said that for the last couple of years, rail-enabled domestic tourist potential was significantly increasing and the authorities were gearing up meet the challenge.

The train, part of the Railway's efforts to promote domestic tourism which registered an annual growth of over 40 per cent, would help the common man travel across the country at an affordable cost.

The IRCTC would charge only one Rupee per kilometre for the Village on Wheels package, which included food and visits to places of religious, cultural and historical significance. It would have medical facilities and a 'banker system' wherein passengers could deposit extra cash while they go for sight-seeing, he said.

The Railway Minister had announced the scheme in the 2004-05 Budget, receiving overwhelming response from the general public.

On the much-delayed introduction of a new luxury train on the lines of the 'Palace on Wheels' of Rajasthan as a joint initiative of the Karnataka Government and the Railways, he said the project was in its advanced stage and was expected to roll out by the end of 2007. The entire on-board services of the new luxury train, including internet reservation, would be managed by IRCTC.

UNI