There is a need for joint action to protect and promote the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, said Rajesh Agarwal, Deputy General Manager, North East Frontier Railway here on Monday.
Participating in an interaction facilitated by the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust here, he said that the district administration, the Department of Tourism, the Forest Department, the Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage, and the railways should join hands for the purpose.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway were unique railway systems, and should be projected properly.
The 115th anniversary of the mountain railway would be commemorated on October 15, he said. By then an action plan should be put in place to exploit its potential.
The stations on way could be improved. He was of the view that the services on the line could be doubled or tripled.
Mr. Agarwal said that the mountain railway could be used to attract high spending tourists.
The former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, M.R. Srinivasan, said that the rare rack and pinion system of the mountain railway should be showcased to visitors.
The convener, INTACH, Geetha Srinivasan, said that ugly structures should not be allowed to come up along the line which extended over 50km between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam.
The founder-trustee of the HSCT K. Natarajan said that many were still not aware of the world wide popularity of the mountain railway.
It was suggested at the interaction that a Nilgiri logo should be brought out with a picture of the mountain railway.
