Darjeeling, December 16: Darjeeling trip and toy train ride go hand to hand for tourists but due to Gorkhland agitation, the service stopped temporarily. After over six months of suspension, the World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan services, commonly known as toy train service from New Jalpaiguri station to Darjeeling resumed on Friday.
"It will send a signal of normality in the Hills. We hope that tourists start visiting again," stated Goutam Deb, Bengal Tourism minister. Due to the indefinite shutdown called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the violent situation the service stopped from June 11. Resumption of the service has brought back smile to tour operators, West Bengal Tourism Ministry, GTA members.
"We are loving it. We have come here for the first time. We were unsure if we will get to ride the toy train till last night but we are lucky since we are the only passengers in this whole train," said Nimesh Saxena, one of the passengers, an Ahmedabad resident said.
After coming out of a dark phase, the hill area of Bengal is trying to boost tourism again as tourism is the main industry of the area. The Gorkhaland stir had already caused an estimated Rs 2.5 crore loss to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.