DRM angry at toy train workshop mess.... LEAKING ROOF, WATERLOGGING AND SCRAP ACCUMULATION AT SITE

BIRESWAR BANERJEE , TT, 21 Jul 2019, Siliguri: The divisional railway manager (DRM) of the Katihar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) expressed displeasure over the sordid state of affairs at the workshop of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at Tindharia, 35km from Siliguri, during a visit to the site on Saturday.

Ravinder Kumar Verma, the DRM, instructed the railway staff at the workshop to clean it and carry out repairs within a fortnight.

According to railway sources, Verma, who was accompanied by other railway officials, was displeased with the huge accumulation of scrap, waterlogging on campus and a leaking roof that is wetting items at the workshop during rain. "I found there are leaks in the roof. Scraps have accumulated at the workshop but have not been cleared. My observation is that some maintenance work should be carried out immediately and I have given necessary instructions to our officials," said Verma after his visit.

The DHR has two workshops where the locos and the coaches are maintained. While one is in Tindharia, the other is at Siliguri Junction.

The DRM's visit comes soon after the World Heritage Committee of Unesco expressed concern over the status of the conservation of the DHR. Back in 1999, the DHR was recognised as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

According to sources, construction of the work- shop had started in 1913 and it was made operational in 1925.

"Like the stations, the rolling stock and tracks, the workshop is also a part of the World Heritage Site. It is obvious that its shabby state has irked the official. We hope the authorities will take up necessary works on a priority basis so that the workshop can be conserved and the rolling stock maintained in a better manner," said a DHR enthusiast based in Siliguri.

Before visiting Tindharia, Verma inspected the railway museum at Sukna station, located around 10km from here.

The DRM, when asked about the resumption of the toy train service between NJP and Darjeeling, said the safety of passengers was the prime concern. The service was stopped on July 9 following landslides at different locations which blocked and damaged the tracks Earlier, some DHR officials had hinted that the services might resumeon Sunday but on Saturday, a fresh landslide at Chunabhati (about 30km from here) made them postpone the trial run that was planned for Saturday.

"The new landslide has changed the situation. We need to make a fresh assessment before commencing the service," said an official.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has announced that it will open restaurants in Darjeeling and Ghoom stations..