Railways to remove encroachments on Kalka-Shimla rail line

Shimla, July 10 (UNI) The ''World Heritage Site'' status to Kalka-Shimla railway track would also imply creation of buffer zone along the rail track free from all encroachments and indiscriminate constructions.

The UNESCO has already issued directions to railways to remove all such encroachments and constructions to give it a distinct look.

''We have been told to create a buffer zone on both sides of the Kalka-Shimla rail track, which could also be outside railway land, remove encroachments, discourage indiscriminate construction along track and check dumping of garbage or any material, (which is a problem in Parwanoo area) which creates a unsafe condition and triggers hill slips,'' Ambala Divisional Railway Manager H K Jaggi revealed.

He said he had taken up with the state government all these points, and the government has assured all help in initiating action against the defaulters as per existing legislations.

Proper beautification of the rail track would be done by planting ornamental plants along the line to make the journey more enjoyable, Mr Jaggi added.

UNI AS HS VN1821