Shimla, Sep 17 (IANS) A Unesco team has examined the entire Kalka-Shimla narrow railway track in Himachal Pradesh and their report will decide whether it will be granted world heritage status, officials said Monday.
The two-member team of Robert Lee and Ian Walker completed their weeklong study of the 96-km track late Sunday.
They will submit their report to Unesco in October after which the world body will decide whether the track, built in 1903, should be given heritage status, railway officials said.
Asked about the possibility of the track figuring on the heritage list, Lee said: “I do not want to comment on this at this stage but … let’s hope for the best.”
The team examined the winding railway track, bridges, tunnels and railway stations along the winding mountain route.
The spectacular track rises from 650 metres to almost 2,100 metres and passes through 103 tunnels, 969 bridges, 919 curves and 18 railway stations.
“The team was also shown mementos, seals, telegraph belts, rule books, registers, oiling machines and other antiques of the century-old track,” said P.S. Gill, superintendent of the Shimla railway station.
The Kalka-Shimla railway track was built by the British and the first train was started by Lord Curzon in 1903.
The Indian Railways is hoping that the rail track gets Unesco world heritage status as that would bring in more resources for its maintenance.