Bankura–Masagram line explained

Box Width:28em
Bankura–Masagram line
Color:800000
Status:Operational (Electrified)
Locale:West Bengal
Stations:22
Open:2005 (as broad-gauge railway)
Close:1965 (as Bakura-Damodar Railway)
Owner:Indian Railways
Operator:South Eastern Railway
Linelength:Broad gauge: 120.30NaN0
Tracklength:Broad gauge: 120.30NaN0
Gauge: broad gauge
Old Gauge: Narrow gauge
Electrification:Yes
Speed:100 Km/Hr
Map State:collapsed

The Bankura–Masagram line is an Electrified broad-gauge rail line connecting Bankura town and Masagram. The 120.3adj=midNaNadj=mid 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.

History

The old 97.30NaN0Narrow 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.[1]

The 41.4adj=midNaNadj=mid Bankura–Sonamukhi broad-gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005.[2] The 55adj=midNaNadj=mid Sonamukhi–Rainagar broad-gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008[3] and one stop extension to Mathnasipur was completed in 2011. According to Indian Railways, the missing link between Mathnasipur and was planned to open in the financial year 2012–2013. On completion of the 23adj=midNaNadj=mid Rainagar–Masagram new broad-gauge section, the distance between Howrah and Bankura was to be reduced from (via Kharagpur) to . The last section involved the construction of a bridge across the Damodar River.[3] [4] The 1444adj=midNaNadj=mid 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.[5]

Construction on the 48.25adj=midNaNadj=mid new broad-gauge railway line between Bankura–ChhatnaMukutmanipur has also been inaugurated.[6]

Route description

The previous 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, the new 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

As of April 2021, MEMU services are available between 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.[7]

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bankura Damodar Rail to roll again from 14th Jan . 2009-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516215710/http://www.bardhaman.com/news/news_bdn_030904.htm . 16 May 2008 . dead .
  2. Web site: S-E Rly opens new line . 2009-08-22 . The Hindu Business Line, 21 September 2005.
  3. Web site: BDR resumes service after 13 yrs . 2009-08-22 . The Statesman, 23 January 2008 .
  4. Web site: Train to Bankura . https://web.archive.org/web/20060209143103/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050912/asp/bengal/story_5227660.asp . dead . 9 February 2006 . 2009-08-22. The Telegraph. 12 September 2005.
  5. Web site: SER GM reviews Bankura–Masagram rail project. Web India 123. 9 February 2012 . 13 April 2013.
  6. Web site: Opening of Eklakhi – Balurghat new line . 2009-08-22 . Press Information Bureau .
  7. Web site: INTRODUCTION OF MEMU SERVICE IN BANKURA-MASAGRAM NEWLY ELECTRIFIED SECTION. South Eastern Railways . 20 February 2021.