Special tourist trains to be launched

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) In order to promote tourism inthe country, Railways have proposed the launch of four specialtourist trains called ''Janam Bhoomi Gaurav''.

Presenting the Railway Budget for 2011-12 in the LokSabha today, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said that thesespecial trains will connect important historical andeducational places in various parts of the country.

The routes identified for running of the proposed JanamBhoomi Gaurav trains are Howrah-Bolpur-Rajgir-Pataliputra-Varanasi-Gaya-Howrah,Bangalore-Mysore-Hassan-Hubli-Gadag-Bijapur-Bangalore,Chennai-Puduchcheri-Tiruchichirappali-Madurai-Kanniyakumari-Thiruvananthpuram-Ernakulam-Chennai andMumbai-Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar--Gir-Diu-Rajkot-Mumbai.

Railway Ministry is also planning to improve 24 stationson a 50:50 cost sharing basis with Tourism Ministry.