New Delhi: In an interesting move, the railways ministry will launch “Incredible Rail for Incredible India” and train drivers of auto rickshaws and taxis as tourist guides, emulating the model of the Konkan railway to promote tourism. Railway minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu announced it on Thursday while presenting his maiden Railway Budget 2015-16.

The minister also said that in order to mark the occasion of 100 years of the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will promote the Gandhi Circuit to attract tourists.

As a part of its social initiatives, the minister said that railway stations and training centres will be made available for skill development. “Incredible Rail for Incredible India will be launched and training of autorickshaw and taxi operators as tourist guides on the model of the Konkan railway will be taken up for tourism promotion,” he said.

Proposing a plan outlay of Rs 100,011 crores (an increase by 52 per cent from the previous year) for the development of Indian railways for the next five years, the minister said that they aim to make Indian railways the backbone of national connectivity without increasing passenger fares.