HC admits plea on renaming Matheran Rly Stn after its founder

A century ago, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy set up a railway link between Neral and Matheran Hill in the Sahyadri ranges to provide tourists a joy ride in toy trains but little did he realise that his services would be forgotten in the years to come.

A century ago, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy set up a railway link between Neral and Matheran Hill in the Sahyadri ranges to provide tourists a joy ride in toy trains but little did he realise that his services would be forgotten in the years to come.

HT Image

Today, 102 years after Peerbhoy's gift to the nation in the form of toy trains and a well-planned rail network on this hill, his family continues to fight for the honour which he deserves - renaming Matheran Railway station as 'Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy Railway station.'

The Bombay High Court recently admitted a petition seeking renaming of the Matheran Railway station after its founder.

Justice S B Mhase and Justice R M Sawant have kept the matter for hearing in December.

The Court's decision to admit the petition comes on the eve of visit of a UNESCO team here next week to consider granting World Heritage status to the century-old Railway which has become a tourist delight.

As the union government turned down the proposal of the Maharashtra Government to rename Matheran Railway after its founding father, Ali Akbar Peerbhoy, grandson of Sir Peerbhoy, moved the High Court seeking to get this honour.

"We are happy that the petition has been admitted. We have full faith in judiciary and shall wait for its decision," said the petitioner.