Latest news with #RishavChoudhary
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Eastern Railway audits Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, reviews safety & heritage standards; praises efforts, suggests improvements
DARJEELING: A safety audit was carried out on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) by a team of senior officials from Eastern Railway, led by SAG-level officers, to evaluate safety protocols, operational procedures, and to promote knowledge sharing between railways. DHR Director Rishav Choudhary stated that the audit began with a detailed inspection of Mahanadi Railway Station, followed by a line check between Mahanadi and Kurseong, focusing on key safety-related infrastructure along the historic route. 'The team visited the DHR Headquarters in Kurseong, where they were briefed on current heritage conservation efforts alongside ongoing safety upgrades. The presentation highlighted the unique challenges of operating a UNESCO World Heritage railway, stressing the need to maintain both safety and heritage values,' said Choudhary. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata He added that the officials were satisfied with DHR's operational standards and praised the team's continued efforts. They also shared useful recommendations to further improve safety and maintenance practices. 'DHR is committed to preserving its rich heritage while meeting modern safety standards and welcomes such inter-railway collaborations as valuable opportunities for shared learning and progress,' Choudhary said.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Retired' DHR coach turns cinema hall
1 2 3 4 Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has converted two of its decommissioned toy train coaches into a cinema hall at Kurseong station, offering film buffs a "heritage experience on the tracks" during the three-day DHRUMA film festival in the Hills. DHR director Rishav Choudhary shared that two decommissioned coaches stationed at Kurseong were repurposed into fully functional cinema spaces to provide an accessible film-viewing experience. A 52-inch TV has been installed inside each coach, which can accommodate 26 seats. The DHRUMA film festival launched its unique 'Screening on Wheels' concept, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy award-winning films inside the iconic toy train coaches. "This is the first time such an initiative was undertaken. It brought cinematic magic to the tracks and allowed both tourists and locals to experience our heritage in an entirely new way. A curated selection of award-winning short films and documentaries were screened inside the retrofitted compartments, completely free and open to all. We also held a blood donation camp on Friday, drawing participation from tourists, locals and railway staff alike," said Choudhary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He added a masterclass on photojournalism and photography was conducted by Padma Shri awardee Sudharak Olwe, engaging aspiring photographers and storytellers from across the region. "The DHRUMA film festival will continue at Kurseong, with parallel screenings at Ramakrishna Siksha Parishad, Darjeeling, till Sunday. A session on filmmaking will be conducted by National Award-winning directors Anirban Datta and Amitabh Singh. The festival will end at Siliguri, where we will award the winners," Choudhary said. DHR officials emphasised that the summer festival aimed at infusing the hill stations with creative energy — providing a fresh attraction for tourists and a platform for local talent. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
NDTV
31-05-2025
- NDTV
Steam Engines That Run Darjeeling's Iconic Toy Train Turn 125
The steam engine-powered narrow-gauge railway known as the toy train or Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a train service from the New Jalpaiguri railhead near Siliguri to the hill station of Darjeeling, has achieved a major milestone. The steam engines that run the toy train have turned 125, and they continue to function even today, hauling trains daily. The DHR, through its journey, climbs nearly 2,200 metres, and the vintage British-built B-Class steam locomotives are deployed on the heritage services available from Siliguri and Darjeeling. These steam engines that have been around since the early 1900s are perhaps the oldest surviving locomotives in India. The unmissable charm, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Steam Engine chugging along the mountainside, struggling up the mountain slope, brings back memories of a bygone era in the history of Indian railways. Nostalgia fills the air as the sounds of the musical rhythm of the chugging of the steam engine truly showcase the heritage of the 125-year-old steam engines of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway started its services in 1881 and is over 140 years old. The trains climb more than 2,000 meters into the mountains daily along the Hill Cart Road from New Jalpaiguri near Siliguri to Darjeeling. The Director of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Rishav Choudhary, told NDTV, "First of all, it's not just 125 years, it is way more than that. We started our services in 1881, so some of our locomotives, which are running, are turning 125 years old. Recently, a month ago, we celebrated the 125th anniversary of our oldest running locomotives." "As far as the services are concerned, I would like to tell you that this is one of the only few railways in the world which has regular steam services for passengers. Very few railways in the world have steam services, and those that have them are only heritage have daily runs. This year, we have introduced a morning joyride at 7:15 in the morning, and we have had a tremendous response to that," he added. It is a huge challenge for the DHR staff to keep the steam engines fit for hauling trains as they turn 125. The stars of the show perform only when the few engineers bring all their skills and expertise together. Regular refurbishments, some good old Indian 'jugaad', and dedicated engineers at the Tindharia workshop have kept the charm alive by making sure the engines generate enough power to handle the slopes that it traverses. "The steam locomotive and the DHR as a whole are a big part of the people of Darjeeling. We at Darjeeling Himalayan Railways strive to better it. We are introducing newer technologies at the Tindharia workshop, where we maintain our locomotives and at the steam loco sheds at Siliguri and Darjeeling," Rishav Choudhary told NDTV. "We have expert engineers as well as loco pilots who continuously monitor the progress of the steam locomotive despite being 125 years old. All of these locomotives are running well only because of the efforts and the tireless nights that these loco pilots and engineers spend at the sheds and the workshop. We meticulously monitor every detail of the locomotive to ensure that it keeps on running well," Mr Choudhary added. For tourists, the steam engine brings back memories of Hindi films that have immortalised the DHR. From films like Aradhna, where in the song 'Meri Sapno Ki Rani', superstar Rajesh Khanna serenades Sharmila Tagore, who is aboard the DHR train, to Shahrukh Khan in 'Dil Hai Mera Deewana' in the opening song of the film, 'Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman' to more recently Saif Ali Khan in 'Parineeta' where he is on the train in the song 'Kasto Mazza', the DHR has a recall value for tourists from India and across the world. The film industry has often used it as a backdrop for romance, which the railway offers. Sanjana Sawant, a tourist from Mumbai who is visiting Darjeeling, told NDTV, "This experience was a lot of fun. Earlier, we had seen it in movies, and now we are seeing it in front of us." The toy train is beautiful, and it feels great to be at the highest railway station in India. It's a great experience, adds Sandeep Sawant, another tourist. Shashikant Salunkhe, another tourist, said, "I had seen that song 'Meri Sapno Ki Rani' and immediately realised that the song was filmed on this train." Brij Gupta, a tourist from Delhi, told NDTV, "I took the toy train ride, and it was a great experience to come to the highest railway station in India. I enjoyed it." Gaurav Raje, a tourist from Surat in Gujarat, told NDTV, "It was a one-of-a-kind experience." "This was once in a lifetime. It is a different feeling. It certainly feels like nostalgia, and I am enjoying the toy train experience here." The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, originally run on the steam engine, is now also hauled by diesel locomotives that run the services for tourists to enjoy a glimpse of the past, and the heritage associated with this mountain railway that is celebrating 125 years of existence.
