TOURISM INDUSTRY UPBEAT ABOUT RESUMPTION OF DHR SERVICE BEFORE PUJA.... NJP-Kurseong toy train rides to begin on Oct 8

TT, Siliguri: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway said on Sunday that toy train services would resume on the NJPKurseong tracks before Durga Puja, two months after the stretch was damaged in landslides.

The resumption of the DHR rides should sound musical to the travel industry and tourists as last year's Durga Puja season was spoiled by the Gorkhaland agitation.

The tourism stakeholders are pinning hopes on the coming season with a semblance of peace prevailing in the hills and huge bookings reported for hotels in the destinations.

"We have tentatively decided to resume toy train service from October 8. We are constantly inspecting the tracks and working for restoration of the damaged portion at Paglajhora and other stretches between NJP and Kurseong. Trial runs of trains will be conducted next week to check the tracks' condition. If it is found that the tracks are safe to run regular trains, we might resume the service even before the tentative deadline," said M.K. Narzary, the director of the DHR.

A toy train passes through the Darjeeling hills. File picture The service had stopped between NJP and Kurseong from August 1 after a landslide damaged about 60m of the tracks at Paglajhora, located about 35km from here.

The railways faced difficulties in carrying out rest- oration works because of frequent landslides which brought down boulders and debris to the spot.

According to DHR officials, the monsoon is almost over in this part of Bengal and recent changes in the weather have made them hope for the resumption of the service before the festival season.

As of now, toy trains are available between Darjeeling and Kurseong. There are also joy rides between Ghoom and Darjeeling. "If there is a rise in the number of passengers during the tourism season, we might increase the schedule of the joy rides," said a source in the DHR.

Members of the travel trader have sounded relieved. "Whenever tourists inquire about Darjeeling, they are mostly curious about toy train services. If the NJP- Darjeeling service via Kurseong is resumed, it would largely help bring in more tourists to the region," said Debasish Maitra, the president of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators Association.