Special Trains for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan | Special Trains for Tirumala Tirupati
Introduce Special Trains for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 239
ANSWERED ON: 10.03.2021
Special Trains for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan
Goddeti Madhavi
Midhun Reddy
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government has taken any measures for the convenience of pilgrims visiting Tirumala Tirupati from different parts of the country;
(b) If so, the details thereof;
(c) Whether the Government proposes to introduce special trains for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan; and
(d) If so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons there for?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 239 BY SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI AND SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.03.2021 REGARDING SPECIAL TRAINS FOR TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DARSHAN
(a) & (b) Over the years the facilities to handle trains bringing pilgrims from different parts of the country to Tirupati and Renigunta stations have been vastly augmented. Adequate modern passenger amenities have been provided at these stations for convenience of passengers. These include Retiring Rooms, air-conditioned and non-air conditioned Waiting Halls, Refreshment Rooms, Catering Stalls, Water-vending Stalls, Cloak Rooms, Pay & Use toilets, lifts, escalators, Tourism Facilitation Centres run by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. A Premium Lounge has been set up for passengers. As a tourist attraction, Dashavatara statues have been set up in the concourse area. Airport style lighting has been provided at the station and rainbow colour lighting has been provided in the facade.
(c) & (d) presently, taking into account the precautions and protocols to be observed in the ongoing Covid scenario, 45 pairs of special train services (some of them Daily and other non-Daily) connecting various parts of the country to Tirupati and Renigunta stations are in operation. Besides, IRCTC organises tour packages by rail, road and air from different parts of the country for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan. These packages include transportation, meals, accommodation, sightseeing, travel insurance, tour escort / tour guide and arrangement of ‘Darshan Passes’ for Tirumala Tirupati Darshan in advance.