The petition, filed by Ali Akbar Adamjee Peerbhoy, great grandson of Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, has argued that despite the recommendation made by the Maharashtra government to rename Matheran Railway station after its founder, the Centre has rejected the proposal without applying its mind on the issue.
Justices D D Sinha and Vijaya Kapse-Tahilramani while declining to grant interim relief, recently ordered that the hearing of the petition be expedited so that the matter is finally decided.
Long ago, when palanquin was the only mode of transport from Neral on the foothills of Matheran to the hill top, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy and his son Abdul Hussain Adamji had set up a railway at a cost of Rs 16 lakh in 1907. Four engines and accessories including the tiny tracks were imported from Germany to lay down the railway, says the petition.
After independence, the department of Railways in the Union government took over Matheran railway from the Peerbhoy family and promised to pay compensation to them. However, the compensation still remains unpaid, the family has claimed in a separate petition which is yet to come up for hearing.
The heritage toy train runs from Neral to Matheran on a small track at a slow speed taking about two hours to reach the hill station on the top. There are four pair of trains currently in use. (More)
