Though the first impression of its exterior proved thoroughly disappointing, the train is bound to be a much sought-after tourist vehicle once final touches are given in a week’s time.
The train aims at holding a mirror to the public on beauty and heritage of the State, in a week’s time by halting near key tourist spots. Its coaches are named after dynasties that ruled here like Chalukya, Adilshahi, Hoysala, Vijayanagara etc. The interior walls have handmade carvings by local artisans.
The train looks like it will justify the cost of nearly Rs One lakh per night. The coaches will be fully air-conditioned, well-furnished and carpeted, and can accommodate a total of hundred passengers. Eleven passenger coaches, two restaurants, (veg and non-veg), one bar, one gym and spa, one staff car and two generator rooms make up the train composition. Each coach has four cabins with options of single bed or twin bed. “One more coach will be added within two months and it will serve as a conference hall,” said Golden Chariot’s Project Director Anand Menon.
Wi-fi connectivity, LCD televisions with six-channel option, facility to choose between six DVD movies, cabin service, wardrobe with mirror, attached bathroom–you name the luxury and the train has it.
This is the third such luxury train in the country. The ‘Palace on Wheels’ in Rajasthan has been in existence for 25 years while a similar luxury train in Maharashtra has been running for five years. Integral Coach Factory has designed and built the shell of the train and Indian Railways is the joint partner. Mrs Kusum Pendse of Pendse and Associates designed the interiors of ‘Palace on Wheels’. Mapple is taking care of the onboard activities while Arun Pai of Bangalore Walks will take care of off-board activities.
The train will be shifted from the Whitefield station to Bypanahalli later. It is scheduled to be flagged off from Yesvantpur on February 2. After trial runs, it will be opened to the public from March 3.
ON TRACK...
Exemption from excise duty
I M Vittal Murthy, Commissioner, KSTDC Chairman said, “Central Board of Excise & Customs had slapped a notice to the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai asking it to pay Rs 3.65 crore as excise duty on Golden Chariot. But the Board today told me over the phone that the duty has been waived. We had paid the duty but it will be reimbursed now.”
Reasons for delay
Golden Chariot was officially supposed to leave Chennai Central at 9.30 pm. “The fact that President Pratibha Patil is likely to travel in it in the 100-km stretch from Bangalore to Mysore made it mandatory that security system in the train was of the highest standard. So, it had to undergo stringent tests and ICF and Railways faced tremendous pressure from many in the Union ministry,” said sources. The Pit tests for the undercarriage of the train at Chennai also took considerable time, he added.
