High Court takes suo motu action as Vanbala shuts down again

 

 

 

The famous Vanbala toy train, which has been a major attraction for children and families visiting the Seminary Hills area, has come to a halt once again. This repeated shutdown has now drawn the attention of the judiciary. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter after a news about the issue was published in The Hitavada. The Division Bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas took the issue seriously and initiated Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on its own. During the hearing on Wednesday, the court appointed Advocate Gemini Kasat as amicus curiae to assist in the matter.

 

The court has directed Adv Kasat to file an appropriate petition within four weeks so that further action can be taken to revive the toy train service and address the underlying issues. The Hitavada had published the report on October 16 and highlighted how the iconic toy train, which brings joy to hundreds of children, had once again stopped operating due to erosion of the old tracks and technical malfunctions. Originally, the Vanbala toy train had been relaunched in December 2023 after remaining closed for nearly seven years.

 

The reopening had taken place with much excitement and public enthusiasm. However, within just two years, the train has had to be stopped once more due to the deteriorating condition of the tracks and frequent mechanical issues. Forest Department officials had claimed that the old tracks are no longer safe for use, “We plan to contact the Central Railway and conduct a joint inspection of the railway line within the next one or two weeks. If the inspection confirms that the tracks need to be replaced, we will do so at the earliest with the help of the railway authorities,” said the officials. When the train was restarted in December 2023, the ceremony had been attended by the Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway. At that time, the District Planning and Development Committee Fund had provided Rs 1.20 crore for the revival project.

 

The Central Railway had offered technical assistance, while the Public Works Department (PWD) had taken charge of cleaning, painting and repairing the station. Adventure sports facilities were also added to attract more visitors to the area. Despite these efforts, the 1.9-kilometre-long track and sleepers that were supposed to be replaced last year have not yet been changed. As a result, the train service has once again been disrupted. The Vanbala has been a cherished part of Nagpur’s Seminary Hills for decades, offering a nostalgic and fun experience for children and tourists. However, repeated closures, technical failures, and delays in maintenance have raised concerns about the management and upkeep of this iconic attraction.