‘Van Rani’ toy train continues to remain off track at Sanjay Gandhi National Park

The red Van Rani mini-train is readied for inauguration at Krishnagiri railway station in SGNP on March 14. FILE PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

Van Rani - the mini-train attraction at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) with a project cost of over Rs 43 crore - continues to struggle with delayed repairs and maintenance. As of Tuesday, exactly one month after its formal inauguration, the mini-train service remains partially operational with one of the two trains serving visitors while the other one remains out of service due to pending part replacements.

The closed model red Van Rani broke down on March 23, with park officials expecting it to be back on track by April 9. A delay in supply of parts from the vendor - Khodal Corporation JV - has now shifted the tentative resumption date to April 20.

Vendor Speak

Khodal Corporation JV
‘Issues [with Van Rani], including the breaking system, design, and the motor, will be resolved by us shortly. The reason for the delay in supplying the parts is that the train we have provided [to SGNP] was specifically customised. So its parts are also specially made on order'

Official Speak

Kiran Patil, deputy director (south), SGNP
‘We are still awaiting a part's arrival from the vendor, post which, the closed model train should be back with necessary upgrades. We expect it to resume service by Monday [April 20]'