Mumbai, March 14 Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the revamped 'Van Rani' toy train at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) here on Saturday, restoring a popular attraction for children and visitors after several years of disruption.
The Mumbai North MP dedicated the modernized toy train service to the public at the park's Krishnagiri Upvan area. He also took a ride along with children during the inaugural event.
The Van Rani toy train, a well-known attraction in the park since the 1970s, remained shut after Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 caused extensive damage to the tracks and infrastructure. The project to revive the service gained momentum with efforts led by Goyal and the support of the Maharashtra government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The newly introduced train is battery-operated and designed to be environmentally friendly. It features modern coaches with enhanced safety measures and improved stations along the route. The coaches include heritage and vista dome-style designs that offer panoramic views of the forest landscape.
Speaking at the event, Goyal said the toy train should start running immediately to bring joy to children and families rather than waiting for formal schedules.
He said the vista dome-style design of the coaches draws inspiration from tourism coaches introduced during his tenure as railway minister to enhance travel experiences.
Highlighting the natural landscape of Mumbai North, Goyal said the region has the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, making it one of the most scenic constituencies in the country.
"Coordinated efforts of the Centre, the Maharashtra government and local civic bodies have created opportunities for development in the region. The government is working to strengthen SGNP as a major eco-tourism and heritage destination. Plans are also underway to develop the historic Kanheri caves as a globally recognised heritage site with improved visitor facilities through public-private partnership initiatives," he said.
The revived Van Rani train is a battery-powered narrow-gauge service with four coaches and a capacity of about 80 passengers per trip. The coaches feature glass roofs and large windows to provide panoramic views of the forest area.
It operates on a 2.3 narrow gauge (762 mm) track passing through biodiversity spots, a mini zoo and artificial tunnels in the Krishnagiri Upvan area of the park. The route begins at Krishnagiri station, halts at Trimurti station and returns to the starting point.
In a press release, transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering PSU RITES said the redevelopment of the toy train project was completed in 12 months at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore.
It was undertaken by the Maharashtra forest department, with RITES as the project consultant, the release added.