Punjab is planning to get its super luxury tourist train back on track, with the lone bidder for the project, the Oberoi Group, pulling out earlier this month. It will invite bids for the project again.
Only the Oberoi Group had submitted bid to boost tourism in Punjab. The train, to be developed on the pattern of ?Palace on Wheels? in Rajasthan, was to be a joint venture between a private group, the Northern Railways, and Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB). The bid submitted by the Oberoi Group to be the ?management partner? had been approved by the state government last year.
Talking to FE, director of tourism, Punjab, Hussan Lal said management partner had problems with the haulage charges to be levied by the Northern Railways.
In addition, there are also disputes over its revenue-sharing formula with the Railways.
?The group found these two to be on the higher side, and has pulled out. We are taking up the matter with the Railways to review the haulage charges, and also the revenue-sharing formula with the management partner,? he said.
?We will have to now go in for the entire process of inviting bids for the project again. We will also request the Railways to reduce its haulage charges, and also review its revenue-sharing formula with the management partner,? Lal added. According to Hussan Lal, the Railways had proposed that it would charge Rs 38 lakh to Rs 40 lakh for one complete journey of the train. The amount will be levied as haulage charges, since the train will run on Railways tracks.