Bankura-Masagram_line

Bankura–Masagram line

Bankura–Masagram line

Railway line in India

The Bankura–Masagram line is an Electrified broad-gauge rail line connecting Bankura town and Masagram. The 120.3-kilometre-long (74.8 mi) railway line operates in Bankura and Purba Bardhaman districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. It falls under Adra railway division of South Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways.

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History

The old 97.3 km (60 mi)Narrow Gauge route of Bankura Damodar Railway(closed in 1965) was planned to be revived by South Eastern Railway of Indian Railways in 1998 as a Broad Gauge line. The plans were to convert the old track with some minor diversions to a broad-gauge one and connect it with the Howrah–Bardhaman chord near Masagram. The work has been scheduled to be completed in three phases: Bankura–Sonamukhi, Sonamukhi–Rainagar, and Rainagar–Masagram.[4]

The 41.4-kilometre-long (25.7 mi) Bankura–Sonamukhi broad-gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005.[5] The 55-kilometre-long (34 mi) Sonamukhi–Rainagar broad-gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008[6] and one stop extension to Mathnasipur was completed in 2011. According to Indian Railways, the missing link between Mathnasipur and Masagram was planned to open in the financial year 2012–2013. On completion of the 23-kilometre-long (14 mi) Rainagar–Masagram new broad-gauge section, the distance between Howrah and Bankura was to be reduced from 231 kilometres (144 mi) (via Kharagpur) to 185 kilometres (115 mi). The last section involved the construction of a bridge across the Damodar River.[6][7] The 1,444-metre-long (4,738 ft) bridge over the Damodar was constructed and work on the Mathnasipur-Masagram new project was completed with the addition of four new halts – Gram Masagram (Mustafachak), Habaspur, Dadpur and Berugram.[8]

Construction on the 48.25-kilometre-long (29.98 mi) new broad-gauge railway line between Bankura–Chhatna–Mukutmanipur has also been inaugurated.[9]

Route description

The previous 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Narrow gauge line near Bankura was a bit different. The former NG station was physically isolated from the BG station. It was after the adjacent road, so if anyone wanted to change from BG to NG, he/she should cross the road to entrain the NG train. To continuing journey from Adra to Rainagar, the new 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line is branching just before Bankura Jn. (going towards Kharagpur from Adra), then it turns as a semicircle, and then meets on the old narrow-gauge line alignment. On the rest portion it completely follows the old line's alignment. The line is entirely single. There are crossings at Sonamukhi, Patrasayer, Bowaichandi, Seharabazar and Rainagar. It passes through land of red soil and part of a partly cut jungle.

Train service

The Rainagar broad-gauge station of Bankura–Masagram line built in place of old narrow-gauge terminus station of BDR. It is built with special elevation keeping in view of flooding of Damodar River in monsoons.

As of April 2021, MEMU services are available between Bankura Junction and Masagram.

On 20 February 2021 South Eastern Railway has decided to introduce two pairs of MEMU trains between Bankura and Masagram from 21 February 2021.[10]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Bankura-Masagram DEMU 78052". India Rail Info.
  2. [2]
    "Adra Division Railway Map". South Eastern Railway.
  3. [3]
    "South Eastern Railway Pink Book 2017-18" (PDF). Indian Railways Pink Book.
  4. [4]
    "Bankura Damodar Rail to roll again from 14th Jan". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  5. [5]
    "S-E Rly opens new line". The Hindu Business Line, 21 September 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  6. [6]
    "BDR resumes service after 13 yrs". The Statesman, 23 January 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
  7. [7]
    "Train to Bankura". The Telegraph. 12 September 2005. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  8. [8]
    "SER GM reviews Bankura–Masagram rail project". Web India 123. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. [9]
    "Opening of Eklakhi – Balurghat new line". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  10. [10]
    "INTRODUCTION OF MEMU SERVICE IN BANKURA-MASAGRAM NEWLY ELECTRIFIED SECTION". South Eastern Railways. Retrieved 20 February 2021.

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