Showing posts with label Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Show all posts

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway worried about encroachment and occupation of railway lands

9:54 AM
DHR
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway officials are worried with the regular encroachment and occupation of railway land in the hills. They allege DHR land is being illegally used to construct private buildings, schools, playgrounds and other establishments.

Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway_Logo.jpg
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 

Besides, people have also been constructing houses and shops very close to the tracks, leaving just enough space for the toy train to pass. The railways officials fear such activity could be harmful for both the train and the general people.

The officials cited examples of a large portion of railway land and tracks near Kurseong Railway Yard that is being used as a parking space for vehicles. This has disrupted normal movement of the train, while in some instances the trains even have to stop before the tracks are cleared. Such incidents of parking along railway tracks are not only limited to Kurseong town, but has been seen all along the route starting from Siliguri to Darjeeling.

A senior DHR official said a toy train once got derailed in Kakjhora near Darjeeling due to the negligence of locals. The cause of the accident was found to be construction materials thrown on the tracks. He said such practices should be stopped to avoid major mishaps in future. The official urged the people to step forward and help make the DHR successful in its efforts to resume rail services and protect the legacy of the famed toy train. (EOIC)

Source:EOI

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is in trouble with Unesco

10:00 AM
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is in trouble with Unesco. A Unesco team Thursday expressed concern over encroachments on the world heritage site and pulled up railway officials over slow restoration of tracks hit by landslides.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway tracks hit by landslides
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway tracks hit by landslides

A three-member Unesco delegation led by Heritage Committee chief Haribansh Kirat inspected the narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal.

The team expressed displeasure over the slow progress of restoration work of tracks badly affected by landslides in 2010 that disrupted train services.

The team inspected tracks in Kurseong, Ghoom and Darjeeling.

It said illegal shops and houses have been constructed near the tracks at many places which have considerably slowed down the speed of the trains.

"There are so many encroachments. A world heritage site should be free from this," said Kirat.

He said he will send a detailed report regarding the encroachments to the chief of the Unesco heritage committee.

Built between 1879 and 1881, the 78-km-long Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is only the second railway to have the honour of world heritage site bestowed upon it, the first being Semmering Railway of Austria.

The Unesco team also said the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was yet to submit a proposal on how it proposed to spend the $6 million sanctioned to it by Unesco.

Railway officials assured the team they were committed to make efforts to attract tourists from across the globe.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is also planning to run a Red Panda special train from Darjeeling to Kurseong giving passengers a glimpse of the endangered species.

"We are planning to soon start the Red Panda special train," said Darjeeling station master Suman Pradhan.

Meanwhile, South Eastern Railway's Area Manager (Siliguri) Partha Sarathi Seal said train services between the landslide-affected Siliguri and Gayabari was likely to resume by Dec 25.

"Restoration work between Gayabari and Kurseong is in full swing and only 30 percent of work is left," said Seal.

Unesco had earlier issued a warning to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway threatening to withdraw the world heritage site tag following disruption of train services between Darjeeling and Siliguri due to the 2010 landslides. Subsequently, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway allocated Rs.85 crore for restoration work.

Another Unesco delegation is slated to make a re-inspection in January.
 
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