The Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu while presenting the Railway Budget 2016-17 in Parliament today said that Tourism holds great potential for economic development and job creation. Indian Raileays will be partnering with the State Governments for operating tourist circuit trains and explore the possibility of a revenue sharing model. Indian Railways have recently upgraded our National Rail Museum. Promotion of tourism through Railway museums and UNESCO world heritage Railways will be our special focus.

Railway Minister also added that India’s rich bio diversity and wildlife is one of the mainstays of Incredible India campaign. Last year, Indian Railways initiated a project to target reduction in elephant collisions, especially in North Eastern states. This year, to spread awareness about our National Animal, the Tiger, Indian Railways will offer complete packages including train journey, safaris and accommodation to cover the wildlife circuit comprising Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh.

Railway-State partnership for tourist circuit trains exploring a revenue sharing model and heritage-led tourism promotion. Indian Railways will partner with State Governments to operate tourist circuit trains and explore a revenue sharing model, promoting tourism via upgraded rail museums and UNESCO heritage railways. The plan includes packaged wildlife circuits combining train journeys, safaris and accommodation, alongside safety measures such as a project to reduce elephant collisions, aligning railway operations with tourism development and conservation objectives.