The Railway Board has planned to turn the Bahraich-Malani railroad on the lines of Shimla and Darjeeling toy train route. Reportedly, this proposal was put forth by the UP state government so as to increase the movement of tourists to Dudhwa National Park.
According to the railway official, by developing this train route as an eco-tourism destination, not only will the headcount of tourists increase in Dudhwa National Park, it will also help in keeping the poachers at bay.
Indeed, it is true that the Bahurich-Malani railroad passes through beautiful jungles of the state, and the variety of animals roaming in the forest add to the beauty of the region. In order to maintain the beauty of this destination, and also develop this route like the Darjeeling and Shimla train routes, the forest department has requested the railway board to refrain from developing it into a broad gauge route.
The Dudhwa National Park–a well-known tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh–extends across Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts on the Indo-Nepal border. It features the Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. The tributaries of Ganga, Mohana and Suheli, pass through this region. Plus, the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains facilitate the growth of fauna and flora throughout the region.