An awareness campaign is being launched for protection, conservation and cleanliness of UNESCO world heritage Kalka Shimla Railway Track on 12 May.

The campaign, to be launched by Governor Acharya Devvrat, would start along the railway track from the Bhalku Museum near old bus stand to Railway Station, Shimla, covering a distance of more than 800 metres.

The aim of the campaign would be to create awareness about protection and preservation of Kalka-Shimla railway track. Simultaneously, walk along the railway track will be organised in 43 sections identified in the entire length of the Kalka-Shimla railway track falling in Himachal Pradesh.

A meeting to launch the drive was held on Tuesday between HP State Legal Services Authority and various stakeholders and it was chaired by the acting Chief Justice Justice Sanjay Karol.

Addressing the stakeholders, Justice Sanjay Karol emphasised on preservation and cleanliness of Kalka- Shimla railway track, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“It is important to sensitise the younger generations about their heritage, especially children as their association in such social activities would a long way in creating awareness in the society as they are the real ambassadors,” he said.

Justice Karol said the drive, besides providing cleanliness on the track would help in sensitising people about protection and preservation of environment and ecology in general and Kalka-Shimla railway track in particular.

“Cleanliness, beautification, forestation and soil conservation measures in the area of Kalka-Shimla railway track would add to its attraction and glory,” he said.

The Kalka-Shimla railway track has been divided into 43 sections of around 2 km each for conducting the walk along the track out of which 32 sections covering a length of 67 km fall in Solan district and 11 segments covering a length of 23 km fall in Shimla district.

Accordingly, 43 groups of students and other participants have been formed who will collect litter and waste as they walk along the track in their specified sections.

Group In-charge of all the 43 sections have been nominated for smooth and safe conduct of the cleanliness drive along the track. Besides students, PRI representatives, Lawyers, NGOs, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, clubs, MCs, transport unions etc have also been involved for the cleanliness of the track.

Safety precautions are being taken special care of during the cleanliness campaign and teams from Police, Health, Forest, Education, IPH, Railways, Territorial Army have also been deployed. The participants will not cross tunnels, bridges and track during the cleanliness campaign along the railway track.