IRCTC to run two more Tejas trains

Indian Railways has decided that IRCTC will run the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express as test cases. The move is a part of Indian Railways' 100-day action plan and this is the first step towards the plan.

New Delhi: As part of its move to hand over certain trains to private players, the railways has decided that IRCTC will run the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express as test cases, sources said on Tuesday.

The fare structure of these trains will be decided by the IRCTC and will run six days a week.

According to a blueprint prepared by the Railway Board to hand over the two trains to the railways' tourism and catering arm for a period of three years as a pilot project, no concessions, privileges or duty passes will be allowed on these trains.

The railways also said on-board ticket checking will not be done by the railway staff on IRCTC trains.

However, it said the trains will be uniquely numbered and operated by the railways' operating staff -- loco, pilots, guards and station masters.

Presently, these two trains have been handed over to IRCTC as a pilot project for an initial period of 3 years, which can be extended on mutual consent.

According to sources, the services of these two trains will be at par with Shatabdi Express trains and will be given a similar priority.

Bringing in private train operators to provide world-class passenger service was a proposal mooted by the railways in its 100-day plan.

According to reports, the handing over of the two Tejas Express trains to IRCTC was a first step towards the plan.