Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Runs ‘Democracy Express’ to Promote Voter Participation

PTI, Apr 17, 2026, Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway on Friday ran a special 'Democracy Express' to encourage electoral participation among people in the hills ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Polling in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills is scheduled on April 23 in the first phase of the two-phase Assembly elections in the state.

Flagged off from Darjeeling station, the Democracy Express travelled to the famous Batasia Loop, around five km away, carrying the message of electoral participation.

"By harnessing the charm of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage toy train, the initiative successfully captured the attention of both local residents and tourists, transforming a scenic railway journey into a powerful statement on the significance of the Assembly election," an official said.

In a collaborative effort to boost voter awareness, the DHR partnered with the office of the District Election Officer, Darjeeling, for a ‘Mega SVEEP’ (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) programme.

"The initiative aims to promote democratic engagement and encourage informed participation across all sections of society regarding the Assembly election," he said.

A cultural performance, which began with a welcome dance by the Sherpa cultural team, was held at Darjeeling railway station during the flagging off programme.