Kangra railway seeks world heritage status

Dharamshala, Feb 3 (ANI): Tour operators and locals in Himachal Pradesh are upbeat over the prospects of pre-independence era Kangra valley railway from Kalka to Shimla being included in UNESCO's World Heritage status.

Operational since 1929, the 163-km track of the Kangra valley railway going through a maze of hills and valleys of picturesque state, was recommended for the heritage status in 2009.

State Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, however, said that they have not received official intimation but the process is on.

"We have not received any official intimation, but we know that a process is on." He added.

The locals believe that the coveted status would boost the state's tourism prospects.

"Now all of us have hopes on UNESCO. After getting the heritage status, it will be a great boon to the state's tourism prospects," said Arvind Sharma, a local.

The other Indian railway sites -the Darjeeling Himalayan toy train, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station are already on the UNESCO Heritage list. (ANI)