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The long-awaited Deccan Odyssey is likely to start operations from September this year.
“The train is undergoing renovation at the Central Railway (CR) Bandar Valley depot. An official from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), which owns the luxury train, said the work should be finished by August, and from September onwards. .
On the delay in starting services, the official said that although a new operator was appointed, there was no free path available to take the rake to the warehouse, which delayed the start of the renovation. “The train was parked on a side track near Mulund. Due to the high traffic in the suburban section, it took some time for the rail. At the side track, where there is no light and water, renovation work cannot start,” the official said.
Deccan Odyssey is completely closed during the pandemic. In 2014, travel company Cox & Kings was awarded a contract to manage its internal and external services, sales, marketing and operational activities for a period of five years by MTDC. However, the company went bankrupt.
When it was running before the pandemic, Deccan Odyssey offered six different rides, each with a unique name. The price of the trips ranged from 5 lakh to 11 lakh rupees, depending on the travel package chosen. MTDC has now appointed Ebix Travel to operate the train. An MTDC official said that the operator has already started bookings for the train, which mainly serves NRIs and foreign tourists.
Deccan Odyssey will also take trips across the country. Earlier, it only covered the tourist spots in Maharashtra and allowed travelers to get a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the state. The luxury train consists of 22 coaches, 11 of which are to accommodate guests and the rest are used for various purposes such as dining, lounge, conference car and spa.
India currently has five luxury trains – Palace On Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot, Royal Rajasthan On Wheels and Maharajas’ Express.
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