The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will manage and operate “The Rails”, the newly constructed swanky restaurant at the National Rail Museum (NRM) designed to attract visitors and tourists with an array of sumptuous cuisines.
The restaurant, which is to be made operational soon, has a replica of the Central Dome portion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Mumbai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage building.
The elegant eatery is part of the Railway Ministry’s plan to develop the rail museum as a prominent evening tourist destination in the national capital. Plans are also afoot to develop some other facilities at the museum, including Light & Sound Show and vintage hotels on ‘Palace on Wheel’ coaches.
A prominent feature of the restaurant is the depiction of formation of Indian Railways through unification of a large number of independent rail companies. It also possesses a unique ‘serving train’, which was recently showcased in a Bollywood film.
“We have received a directive from the Railway Ministry to operate the restaurant,” said IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director Dr. A K Manocha. “IRCTC, which has forayed into hospitality and tourism segment in a significant way, is known for its credibility and brand recall value. We will be delighted to manage and operate the new restaurant at the National Railway Museum, a landmark in the national capital.”
Dr Manocha said IRCTC would also be developing the two other facilities in the museum complex — Light & Sound Show and vintage hotels made from the coaches of ‘Palace on Wheels’, a luxurious train with royal trappings.
“The restaurant, with a-la-carte dining options for the upmarket segment, has the potential to generate revenues for the railways as tourists and visitors will find it an attractive place for having food and also as a relaxing place during their visit to the rail museum,” he noted.
The museum has a footfall of about 2,000 on weekdays and 5,000 on weekends and holidays. With likelihood of installation of light and sound show and operating existing fountain and indoor gallery during evening hours also, “The Rails” can play a major role in repositioning the National Rail Museum as a prominent evening destination in the tourist landscape of Delhi.