By IANS
New Delhi : After the success of the ‘Palace on Wheels’ train-package run by the Indian Railways, a similar luxurious train service will soon start in Karnataka, to be run by the state government.
“The tentative itinerary is Bangalore-Srirangapatna-Mysore-Shravanabelagola-Hassan-Hospet-Gadag-Vasco/Dabolim-Bangalore,” Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
“The manufacturing of the coaches is almost completed. The train is likely to become operational in tourist season 2007-08,” the minister informed the lower house.
The proposal from the Karnataka government was to run the train throughout the year with 18 coaches, including 11 air-conditioned saloons, one air-conditioned bar car, one conference car, one air-conditioned restaurant car and a staff car.
Tourists were to be offered a weeklong package and the train was scheduled to cover nearly 2,000 km. Coastal areas such as Mangalore was to be included after the completion of gauge conversion between Hassan and Mangalore.