(a) the procedure/criteria outline for declaring a railway station as world heritage
site by UNESCO;
(b) the details of the railway lines accorded world heritage status by the UNESCO in
the country so far;
(c) the details of the other railway lines which are in the process of being
designated on world heritage sites by UNESCO; and
(d) the benefits likely to accrue to Indian Railways after certain rail lines are
accorded world heritage status?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS(KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.312 BY
SHRIMATI DEEPA DASMUNSI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.12.2009 REGARDING WORLD
HERITAGE STATUS.
(a) An application is to be made in the prescribed format to UNESCO for inclusion of
the property in the tentative list. UNESCO considers the application for its
inscription as World Heritage Site and takes decision based on the unique heritage
features of the property.
(b) The following three Railway lines in India have been inscribed as World Heritage
Sites by UNESCO:-
(i) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.
(ii) Nilgiri Mountain Railway – between Mettuppalayam and Udhagamandlam.
(iii) Kalka Shimla Railway – between Kalka and Shimla.
(c) The following three Railway lines in India are being processed for World
Heritage inscription:-
(i) Matheran Light Railway – between Neral and Matheran.
(ii) Kangra Valley Railway – between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar.
(iii)Gwalior Light Railway – between Gwalior and Sheopur Kalan.
(d) World Heritage inscription is the highest heritage recognition for the Railway
lines that are a part of the rich rail heritage of the great Indian Railways. World
Heritage inscription is also, a catalyst for benefits arising out of tourism.