Revamped Darjeeling Himalayan workshop could become a tourist attraction

INDIAN Railways is planning to refurbish the British-built Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s workshop at Tindharia, with the potential for turning it into an added tourist attraction for the locality.

The country’s railway ministry has sanctioned almost £415,000 for revamping the workshop.

The 2ft gauge mountain railway system was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1999.

Sabyasachi De, chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railways, said: “We have chalked out an initial plan to revamp 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.”

The works, which dates from 1913, currently employs 82 staff, including 68 technical workers.