India's World Heritage Railway Privatization: Residents Lose Livelihoods as Government Pushes Economic Growth
The "Darjeeling Himalayan Railway" (DHR), designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), is located at the tri-junction of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is the most famous mountain railway in India and even the world.
The "Darjeeling Himalayan Railway" (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, DHR), designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), is located at the tri-junction of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is the most famous mountain railway in India and even the entire world, spanning an altitude of over 2000 meters, making it one of the must-visit attractions for many tourists. But now the Indian government plans to privatize the railway, and many residents who make a living alongside the railway fear they will be forcibly evicted in the future, small businesses will be replaced by large shopping malls and hotels, and railway workers also fear losing their jobs.
