Good news for travellers! The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation’s (MTDC) luxury train Deccan Odyssey will soon operate with an Electric engine. The move will reduce carbon footprint and will help in achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030. The train was launched on September 21st after a gap of around four years. The service was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21.
Presently, the MTDC is conducting a survey of the carbon footprint of this prestigious train and the details will be available in a month. The authorities are using induction stoves instead of LPG cylinders in the Pantry Car.
Introduction of Deccan Odyssey:-
This luxury train was manufactured at Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in 2003. It was flagged off by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
‘Receives huge response’
Between 2004 and 2020, the luxury train services registered huge responses from tourists. The MTDC has hired an operator on a turnkey basis. The operator will be responsible for operating 40 tours in Maharashtra and covering other premium tourist destinations across the country.
Itineraries for Deccan Odyssey:-
The MTDC has planned six itineraries for this luxury train. These are – Maharashtra Splendor, Indian Sojourn, Indian Odyssey, Maharashtra Wild Trail, Heritage Odyssey and Cultural Odyssey.
Coach Composition of Deccan Odyssey:-
The renovated luxury train has 21 coaches with four deluxe cabins each in 10 coaches and two presidential suites each in other two coaches. The other coaches include two coaches each for the dining room, staff quarters and for generator cars and storage houses. The train also has one coach each houses a conference house, a health spa, and a bar.