Darjeeling toy train loses Rs 2.5 crore due to agitation
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 2.5 crore due to the ongoing Gorkhaland agitation in West Bengal, an official said lately.
“If the situation would have been normal, that is the amount we would have earned in this time by running our trains. Services have been suspended since June 12,” Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma told IANS.
Till June 12 this year, the DHR registered earnings of Rs 3.05 crore. The heritage train operates under NFR. The UNESCO granted world heritage status to the DHR on December 2, 1999.
Following the agitation, the Sonada and Gayabari stations of DHR were damaged besides the DHR headquarter Elysia building at Kurseong. The Gayabari station was gutted in a fire.
“We used to run nine trains daily from Darjeeling to Ghoom. There used to be a train from Siliguri to Darjeeling and one from Darjeeling to Siliguri. All the trains have stopped. We have to sit back till the situation normalises,” Sharma said.
All advance bookings from July 12 for DHR toy trains were cancelled and money refunded. The annual expenditure of the DHR is estimated at Rs 15 crore. The hill passenger railway started operations in 1881.
Local parties have been protesting in the West Bengal hills demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland.
You might also like
Ethiopian to augment flight frequency to Guangzhou
Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest growing and most profitable African airline, is pleased to announce that it will add a thrice weekly service, on top of its daily flights, to Guangzhou
Cruise tourism can be a game changer for India says Gadkari
Right atmosphere, easy immigration, simple taxation and proper security is required to boost cruise tourism in India. Union minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari unveiled a standard operating procedure (SoP) for
ETIHAD AIRWAYS TO RESUME SPECIAL PASSENGER SERVICES TO AND FROM ABU DHABI TO SIX DESTINATIONS IN INDIA
Special flights to and from Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Mumbai Following the partial lifting of international flight restrictions by UAE and Indian authorities on travel for eligible individuals