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
Vistara Signs V2500 Engine Services Agreement with Pratt & Whitney
Vistara, a TATA SIA JV and India’s fastest growing full service carrier, has signed a V-Services agreement to maintain its fleet of 26 V2500® engines. The V2500 engine is offered
Sabre expands presence in Mongolia through new distribution agreement
Conversion of the country’s largest travel agency, Air Market, propels Sabre to GDS leader in Mongolia! Sabre Corporation, the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, has entered into
Lords Hotels & Resorts celebrates World Tourism Day
On the occasion, Lords Hotels & Resorts held workshops at its different units emphasizing the need for conservation of environment by preventing wastage of water resources, keeping surroundings clean, green
