New Delhi: The Lucknow Junction- New Delhi Tejas Express (12585) is all set to become the first train in the country to be operated by private players. The Railway Board is now progressing on a second such route, which too would be within the 500-km range.
The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express is all set to be the first train to be operated by the private players, as per the market experts, as Railway Ministry had given principal nod and also green signal with it’s 100 days Action Plan, despite a strong agitation of the Railway Union over this decision.
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Under the 100 days Action Plan, it was considered that two trains will be handed over to the private players for operations in haulage concepts with ticketing and on board services. Recently, a meeting was chaired by Member Traffic, Railway Board, where the modalities of this decision were discussed, wherein it was being decided that IRCTC would submit a detailed proposal to the Railway Board by 10th of July, 2019.
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Initially it was introduced in 2016, the new time table of the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will be released as soon as possible. The Railway Board is also deliberating on a second such route, which would be within the 500-km range.However, this proposal has come under severe criticism by the Railway Union who already given a ultimatum that they will go on a large scale protests over this Railway privatization. Even the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed the idea of Public Private Partnership model to railways for better development as well as the manufacturing of rolling stock.
The Tejas Express will be providing wide range of premium services and variety of elite services to the passengers. The train will have aircraft-like personalized LCD entertainment-cum-information screens, on-board Wi- Fi facility, big comfortable seats, mobile charging points, personalized reading lights, modular bio-toilets and sensor tap fittings.
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The proposal, however, has come under severe criticism from the railway unions, who have threatened large scale protests over the issue.
The train, one of the most-awaited trains on the route, is currently parked at the Annandnagar railway station in Uttar Pradesh and will be handed over to private players after an open bidding process for operationalization.