National park’s iconic Van Rani — brought to a halt by cyclone in 2021 — is set for a comeback, most likely by end of the month
The Van Rani plies through the wooded surroundings of Sanjay Gandhi National Park on May 9, 2006. File pic (right) The revamped version of the train, which is battery-operated. PIC/SGNP
The iconic Van Rani, a mini train that was once one of Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s (SGNP) biggest attractions, will be up and running by the end of the month if everything goes according to plan. The service, which was started in 1970, has been non-operational since May 2021 after the toy train sustained significant damage when Cyclone Tauktae struck the city.
The train, comprising a diesel locomotive and three bogies, was operated along a 2.7-km stretch. Its replacement is battery-operated and has four bogies, while tourists will enjoy the view of the park through vistadome coaches. The technical verification process and trial run with passengers were completed in July this year.
An official from the Maharashtra Forest Department said, “The majority of the work is complete, and we hope to resume services by this month’s end.” Sources from the department also told this newspaper that over Rs 43 crore has been spent on the purchase of the new train and civil work related to the same.
The revamped version of the Van Rani, which is battery-operated. PIC/SGNP
It was anticipated that the toy train services would commence by the end of 2024, but it was announced that it would happen in July-August this year. However, as some work is pending, the opening was pushed back.
Around 70 to 80 people could travel in the three coaches of the old toy train, and the revamped service is anticipated to boost SGNP’s revenue. The work of laying new tracks, new stations, and other related activities has been done by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service.
Pride of place
It’s not only people staying in and around Mumbai who visit SGNP; tourists from other states and foreigners also visit the park. It is one of the most visited national parks within city limits in the whole of Asia. The toy train route lies in an area measuring approximately 5.5 sq km known as Krishnagiri Upavan. This spot is reserved as an easily accessible public recreation zone. Among the several attractions of Krishnagiri Upavan is a mini-zoo, where visitors can view animals up close.
The narrow-gauge toy train plies the tourist zone where rich biodiversity is on display. When the toy train was operational, it was operated every 30 minutes from 9 am to 12 pm, and from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm. A minimum of 20 passengers are required for the train to depart.
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