Mandra–Bhaun Railway Explained

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Mandra–Bhaun Railway
Status:Dismantled
Start:Mandra Junction
End:Bhaun
Event1label:District's
Event1:Rawalpindi & Chakwal
Owner:Pakistan Railways
Operator:Pakistan Railways
Linelength:74km (46miles)

Mandra–Bhaun Railway (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|مندرہ–بھون ریلوے) was one of several railway lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line began at Mandra Junction[1] and ended at Bhaun, a village about 12km (07miles) south of the Chakwal city,[2] at the foothills of Salt Range.[3] The total length of this railway line was 74km (46miles) with 8 railway stations.[4]

History

A railway line between Bhaun and Mandra was originally proposed to freight and ore from the mineral rich area of Chakwal, at the turn of the 20th century.[5] In 1913, the North Western State Railway began constriction began of the line. The 44 kilometer Mandra–Dhudial section was opened on 1 May 1915, the Dhudial–Chakwal section was opened on 1 June 1915 and the Chakwal-Bhaun section was opened on 15 January 1916.[6] In 1993, against the wishes of the locals, the railway line was abandoned and dismantled. It is alleged that the Nawaz Sharif government allowed the dismantling to occur, as some members of the ruling government had intricate ties to the private road transport businesses of the region.[7] In 1997, the Supreme Court took notice of the dismantling and a categorical assurance was given by Pakistan Railways to revive the rail section.[8] In 2007, Pakistan Railways finalized a plan to reconstruct the line and resume rail services.[9] Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, who was then Minister of Railways, promised to revive the railway line within one and half year at the cost of .[3] Again, Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique proposed to revive the still defunct railway line in 2017.[7]

Stations

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mandra Junction Railway Station. 28 April 2023. pakistani.pk.
  2. News: Dhakku. Nabeel Anwar. 100-year-old railway track yearns for revival. 12 May 2017. Dawn. Pakistan. 3 May 2015. en.
  3. News: Nabeel Anwar Dhakku. Plea to revive Mandra-Chakwal railway line. 12 May 2017. Dawn. 14 June 2009. Chakwal, Pakistan. en.
  4. Web site: [IRFCA] Pakistan - Closed Sections ]. 2024-07-16 . www.irfca.org.
  5. http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 "British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue" – Search
  6. https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n124/mode/2up " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 116
  7. News: Mumtaz Alvi. Proposal to revive Mandra-Chakwal-Bhoun rail link hailed. 12 May 2017. thenews.com.pk. 26 April 2017. ISLAMABAD. en.
  8. News: Iftikhar A. Khan. Nabeel Anwar Dhakku. PM urged to revive old Mandra-Chakwal railway line. 12 May 2017. Dawn. 6 April 2017. Islamabad, Pakistan. en.
  9. News: Bhaun rail service to be resumed. 12 May 2017. Dawn. 29 January 2007. Rawalpindi, Pakistan. en.