The railways are drawing up a plan to revamp the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s workshop at Tindharia, which, according to tourism stakeholders, has the potential of being an added attraction for visitors in the hills.
The workshop is considered a one-of-its-kind in the world. This is because the DHR is the only commercially running two-feet narrow gauge passenger railway system in the world.
This unique mountain railway system was declared a world heritage site by Unesco in December 1999.“We have chalked out an initial plan to revamp the workshop. The workshop is considered as the only two-feet narrow gauge locomotive workshop that is carrying out regular maintenance and repairs, mainly on steam engines,” Sabyasachi De, the chief public relation officer of the Northeast Frontier Railways, told The Telegraph.
According to the official, the railway ministry has sanctioned Rs 4 crore for refurbishing the workshop. “The initial fund will be spent on the installation of new machines, upgrade of the electric works and some other infrastructure. Everything will be done keeping the heritage value intact,” De said.
According to a source in the railways, the installation of the workshop started in 1913 and became operational for steam locos in 1925. The workshop is spread over 6,670 square meters. The workshop carries out maintenance and repairs of steam and diesel locos and coaches of the DHR. There are 13 steam locos of the British era in operation.
“Presently, there are 82 workers at the workshop. Of these, 68 are artisans (technical workers) and the rest officials and clerics,” said a source at the DHR.
Tourism stakeholders said the workshop could be a major tourist attraction.Raj Basu, the convener of the Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT), said Tindharia, situated about 25km from Kurseong, is entwined with the film industry.
“The small hill town has several interesting stories related to the film industry. Apart from the railway workshop, the area also has a good potential for tourism. If the authority highlights the area properly, it could emerge as another tourist spot,” said Basu.
The Indian film legend Dilip Kumar had a special connection with the small hill hamlet. He was the protagonist in Tapan Sinha’s cult movie Sagina Mahato.The movie was extensively shot at Tindharia, near the railway station and on the premises of the old railway workshop. Some other blockbusters to be shot at Tindharia are Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Barfi! and Saif Ali Khan starrer Parineeta.
