Shakuntala Express: The Shakuntala railway line is a unique railway track in India that remains under the control of a British company even after India's independence. It is the only railway line in India that is owned by a foreign entity, and Indian Railways must pay royalties to use it. The British company Click Nixon & Company collects these royalties in exchange for the use of the narrow-gauge railway track.

Indian Railways, which transports around 20 million passengers daily and operates over 7,000 trains across the country, manages most of the rail infrastructure, including tracks, trains, stations, and passengers. However, the Shakuntala railway track stands out as an exception, remaining under the ownership of a British company.

Historically, this railway line was built to support the booming cotton trade in Amaravati, Maharashtra, which was a hub for cotton cultivation. The British needed a way to transport cotton from the farms of Amaravati to Mumbai’s port for export. As a result, Click Nixon & Company established the Central Provinces Railway Company (CPRC) to construct and operate the railway line. Even after India's independence in 1947, this particular route did not come under Indian government control, unlike most other railway lines, which were nationalized in 1951.

The Shakuntala Express was the only train running on this track, serving local communities and transporting passengers daily. With five coaches, it used to carry between 800 and 1,000 passengers to their destinations. Unfortunately, the train service was suspended for the first time in 2014, resumed briefly, but was again halted in April 2016. Its final run took place in 2020, and since then, the train has been out of service. Local residents, especially in Amaravati, have been pushing for the resumption of this vital train service, as it was a key mode of transportation for the region. There have also been calls to convert the narrow-gauge track into a broad-gauge one for better efficiency.

The track's ownership has remained with the British company, which was responsible for its maintenance. Over the years, however, the company’s poor management led to the track’s deterioration. This neglect eventually raised safety concerns, forcing authorities to suspend services on the line. Despite the track's rich history and importance to the region, its current state and foreign ownership have left it in limbo, with residents hoping for the train's return and the track's modernization.