Siliguri, 03rd October: The Station Mahotsav of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway began at Sukna Station on Saturday, as Northeast Frontier Railway stepped up efforts to showcase the heritage, history and attractions of the iconic hill railway to a wider audience.
Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava inaugurated the Station Mahotsav at Sukna Railway Station on Saturday morning. He also inaugurated a special photo gallery showcasing the long history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway through photographs of trains from earlier eras.
Various equipment associated with railway services has also been displayed at the station. The gallery and exhibition are aimed at giving tourists, railway enthusiasts and history lovers an opportunity to learn more about the heritage and past of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
After the inaugural programme at Sukna, Shrivastava left for Kurseong, where he is scheduled to inaugurate a viewpoint and a Railway Protection Force barrack.
He is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Darjeeling Himalayan Railway officials to discuss railway services, infrastructure development, tourist facilities and future plans.
Speaking on the occasion, Shrivastava said several initiatives were being undertaken to increase the popularity of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. He said the coaches were being refurbished keeping tourists’ requirements in mind and that efforts were underway to introduce more Joyride services.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has already introduced six additional Joyride services from October 1 for the Durga Puja season, including four single-trip services between Darjeeling and Ghum and two round-trip services between Kurseong and Mahanadi.
