New Delhi (PTI): Railway Ministry has taken steps to get the Shimla Toy Train included in the World Heritage List, Lok Sabha was told on Thursday.

The Ministry has submitted an application to UNESCO for the inscription of the Kalka-Shimla Railway as a World Heritage site. This is being considered by UNESCO and a team from International Council on Monuments and Sites inspected the KSR in September this year.

This was stated by Minister of State for Railways R Velu in a written reply.

Porters: The number of licensed porters working at various railway stations in the country is approximately 36,000. They are provided with uniform, medical facilities in railway hospitals, admission to their children in railway schools, pass and rest shelters at important stations, Velu said.

Projects: Five new line projects have been taken up in Maharashtra for which an outlay of Rs 43 crores has been provided during 2007-08 and works are being progressed as per availability of resources, he said.

Catering: As an ongoing process, catering services of railways receive constant attention of the zonal railways and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is upgrading the catering services.

IRCTC is also setting up food plazas and automatic vending machines to dispense hot and cold beverages besides modernising existing base kitchens.

Source :- Hindu