By: ML Sharma
Shimla: To protect the world heritage narrow gauge Kalka-Shimla railway line from the menace of plastic waste littering, Northern Railways have decided to install suitable dustbins on all trains running on the track, an official told HimVani.
According to Shimla station superintendent GS Rajput, “On the appeal of the state government, Northern Railways have decided to install dustbins in all trains running up and down the world heritage railway route.” He said that the matter has been taken up by the Himachal Pradesh government with railway authority showing concern about the littering of non-biodegradable waste like plastic bottles and sachets of food items on the tracks.
“Initially, the specially designed dustbins would be installed in the Shivalik Express coaches and later attached with rest of the trains to tackle the garbage problem,” he said. During peak tourist season, 7 trains ply over this route but currently only five are operating. Each train has about seven bogies and can accommodate nearly 200 passengers.
The Kalka-Shimla rail line was declared UNESCO world heritage site in 2008. About 96 km of spiral track passes through glens and valleys having 102 tunnels and about 70 bridges.
