ENCROACHMENT BLOCKS VIEW FROM TRAINS: OFFICIALTalks to mark DHR boundary

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 07 Nov 2019, Darjeeling: The railways have started negotiations with different agencies of state and central governments to draw up memorandums of understanding to mark a clear boundary and create a buffer zone for the 80-km-long tracks of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

"There are a lot of garbage dumps (along the DHR route); encroachment is taking place; scenic views are getting blocked," said R.Verma, divisional railway manager, Northeast Frontier Railways.

The official said as per the Unesco's recommendation, the railways are trying to ink MoUs with different agencies of both the state and central governments in an effort to bring various stakeholders on a common platform for the boundary marking.

"We are trying to sign MoUs so that we can mark a specific boundary and create a buffer zone along DHR The see-through vistadome coach of the special DHR train that ran between Darjeeling and Ghoom on Wednesday tracks. Talks are progressing in the right direction. We can't have a situation in which billboards block scenic view," Verma said after taking a joy ride on a special train from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back.

Unesco has been working with the railways to develop a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) for the DHR since 2016. "The plan will be completed soon," said Verma.

There is no delineated DHR zone as it runs largely along NH55 (which was earlier called the Hill Cart Road).

"We want the DHR boundary to include the entire NH55 but the road belongs to the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and is managed by the state public works department," said Verma.

Sources said the railways were in consultation with different stakeholders, like ministry of transport and highways, heritage commission of Bengal, state PWD, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, state forest department and the Darjeeling district magistrate's office.

A Unesco team is sched- uled to visit Darjeeling in December for further consultations. The DHR has also started the renovation of Ghum museum at an estimate cost of Rs 4.5 crore.

"The printing press in Kurseong (which has been closed) will also be converted into a railway museum," said G.K. Gupta, chief workshop engineer.

Gupta, along with Verma and Vinita Srivastav, executive director, Railway Board (Heritage), flagged off the special train to mark the month-long celebration of 20 years of the DHR's inclusion in the Unesco's world heritage list.

The DHR was accorded the heritage status on December 5, 1999.

The special train was attached to a see-through vistadome coach and an open freight trolley where singers and dancers performed through the journey. "During the month long celebration, we will have events involving students and others," said Verma..