SURESH PRABHU ON 2 DAY VISIT TO DARJEELING- RAILWAY MINISTER TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH UNESCO

SNS, Darjeeling, 19 January 2017: Railway minister Mr Suresh Prabhu along with ministers including Mr SS Ahluwalla and eight members of Parliament arrived in Darjeeling today.

During his two-day visit to Darjeeling,Mr Prabhu hold a discussion with Consultative Committee members of Parliament on Railways in Darjeeling tomorrow. After the meeting, the railway minister would attend a ceremony where Fund in Trust Agreement will be signed between UNESCO and the Railways.

This agreement will pave way for formulation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan(CCMP) for preservation of rich heritage of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).

UNESCO director Shigeru Aoyagi along with other representatives are here in Darjeeling.

Sources said Mr Prabhu will also be holding another meeting with public representatives and other stakeholders on "Good Governance" in Darjeeling. It may be noted that Mr Prabhakar Prabhu will also be visiting Gangtok on 21 January and take part in an interactive session at Chintan Bhawan on 'Good Governance" where media persons, members from chamber of commerce, prominent citizens would be present along with the governor and Sikkim chief minister. In Darjeeling, the railway minister's programme will be held at Gorkha Ranga Manch.

According to railway sources, Mr Prabhu will announce and inaugurate new railway projects through video conference.

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief Mr Bimal Gurung , who is the president of Gorkha JanMukti Morcha, met Mr Prabhu. Speaking to the reporters, Mr Prabhu said the objective of the meeting is to bring developments in the Hills and the region through railway networks including the tourism industry through DHR.

"We usually announce new railway projects and program from country's capital or the state's capital. But this time we have decided to announce and introduce railway plans and programmes for the country from Darjeeling," Mr Prabhu said.

"Besides Sikkim, I will visit Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. This visit is to bring in developments in the Hill areas under the North East region," he added.