The Northeast Frontier Railway will introduce vistadome coaches on two routes by August to enable passengers enjoy the natural beauty.

According to NFR sources, trains with vistadome coaches will run on the Siliguri Junction-Sevoke-Alipurduar Junction route and the Lumding-Badarpur route in Assam.

“The vistadome coaches will be added to passenger trains running between Alipurduar and Siliguri junctions. Similar coaches will be attached to trains which run along the Lumding-Badarpur route.

The plan is to introduce the coaches in August provided that existing Covid-19-related restrictions are withdrawn and the situation becomes normal,” NFR chief public relations officer S.Chanda said.

Railway minister Piyush Goyal had launched similar coaches on Mumbai-Pune Deccan Express special train. From the coaches, which have huge window glasses, and even a glass roof, one can enjoy the rivers, valleys, waterfalls and scenic beauty of Western Ghats during the journey.

“We believe such coaches would equally attract people to travel on the two routes in the NFR zone. Passengers can enjoy the pristine forests, hills and rivers across the Dooars,” said a railway official.

The Dooars tracks cut through Chapramari and Mahananda wildlife sanctuaries and the Buxa Tiger Reserve and through the fringes of Jaldapara and Gorumara forests.

The NFR sources said each train would have two vistadome coaches. “The coaches will be ready in Chennai and will reach us by next month. There will be 44 seats in each coach and can revolve 180 degrees,” Chanda said.

Around three years ago, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway had launched vistadome coaches on its trains.