Lack of response, Chanda prohibition derail Deccan Odyssey

Nagpur/Chandrapur: The much-hyped luxury tourist train Deccan Odyssey, which chugged off to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) on December 1 after lot of hassles, has been called off for want of bookings.
On August 14, 2014, Cox and Kings Ltd, authorized operator of Deccan Odyssey, had announced a schedule of the train from October 6, 2014, till September 15, 2015, to Tadoba and Pench, Maharashtra, from Mumbai.However, as Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) wanted more time, the first train reached Tadoba only on December 1. Later, as per the schedule it was to reach Tadoba every month. During the peak wildlife tourism season, the train was to reach Tadoba and Pench thrice in March and April. In May, six schedules were planned — two to Pench and four to Tadoba. Now none of that would happen.
TATR field director GP Garad said, “The train trips have been called off but I’m not informed. Our job is to make the tourists comfortable. I have no role to play in the operation of the train.” MTDC general manager Kishori Gadre said, “The train has not stopped. As green signal from the railways to operate the train on Tadoba route reached late, there was a problem on the booking front.”
Gadre said from next tourism season, train will be revived by adding Ramtek to its itinerary. “Apart from Tadoba, foreign tourists will now also be taken to Pench from Ramtek,” she said. Cox & Kings representative Anjali Tolani did not come clear on the issue. She said there was no schedule for this summer.
However, TOI has copy of the schedule announced earlier. As per the schedule, train was to have 21 trips between October 6, 2014, and September 28, 2015. Hence, MTDC cannot say they did not have enough time to get bookings. Tourism experts said, the luxury train might not have received the response expected. Tadoba is among the eight days and seven nights Maharashtra Splendour between Mumbai-Aurangabad-Tadoba–Ajanta-Nashik-Kolhapur-Goa-Mumbai. Foreign tourists are charged between $5075 and $11,025 for the entire eight-day tour.
When the train reached Tadoba on trial run, there were only 13 tourists on board including two mediapersons and three Indian tourists. The train, which started its journey from Mumbai on November 29, reached Chandrapur the third day, a cumbersome journey.
A new dampener for foreign tourists has now come up in the form of prohibition in Chandrapur district. One attracted of Deccan Odyssey was having a full-fledged bar that would become illegal once train enters Chandrapur unless it is given a special exemption by government.
“All liquor permits stands null and void in Chandrapur. If the train has a bar, cops would confiscate liquor and arrest those in possession, unless special exemption is granted,” said SP Rajiv Jain.
Forest minister Sudhir Mungatiwar had listed Deccan Odyssey as a major achievement on completion of 100 days of new government. It appears his prohibition move could have ended up killing his own project. MTDC’s Gadre was quick to deny the possibility though. “The liquor ban is not at all on our mind,” she added.
Luxury Train Derails
* As per Deccan Odyssey’s one-year schedule from October 6, 2014 to September 28, 2015, the train was to make 21 trips —four to Pench and 17 to Tadoba.
* Trial run of the train was held on December 1, with only 13 tourists aboard.
* Tadoba is among the eight days and seven nights Maharashtra Splendour between Mumbai-Aurangabad-Tadoba–Ajanta-Nashik-Kolhapur-Goa-Mumbai.
* Foreign tourists are charged between $5075 and $11,025 for the entire eight-day tour.
* Ban of liquor in Chandrapur may prove to be ahurdle in smooth movement of the train.