Bankura–Masagram line
Bankura Junction is an important railway station at Bankura–Masagram line
Overview
StatusOperational (Electrified )
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleWest Bengal
Termini
Stations22
Service
Operator(s)South Eastern Railway
History
Opened2005 (as broad-gauge railway)
Closed1965 (as Bakura-Damodar Railway)
Technical
Line lengthBroad gauge: 120.3 km (75 mi)
Track lengthBroad gauge: 120.3 km (75 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Old gauge2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Narrow gauge
Route map
km
0
 Bankura Junction
Kharagpur–Bankura–
Adra line
Gandheswari River
4
 Bikna
9
 Nobanda
11
 Belboni
20
 Beliatore
23
 Chhandar
26
 Brindabanpur
30
 Srirampur
35
 Hamirhati
41
 Sonamukhi
47
 Dhansimla
52
 Dhagaria
57
 Patrasayer
62
 Betur
64
 Kumrul
69
 Indas
71
 Shankrul
73
 Sahaspur Road
Up arrow
Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line
Arambagh-Bowaichandi
line (planned)
37
 Arambagh
Down arrow
Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line
 Chandur
 Bulchandrapur
 Uchalan
 Torkona
Arambagh-Bowaichandi
line (planned)
79
0
 Bowaichandi
Khana-Bowaichandi
line (under construction)
 Chagram
 Khorkol
 Masila
Damodar River
 Syamsundarpur
Up arrow
Bardhaman–Asansol section
35
 Khana
82
 Guir Saranga
84
 Kaiyar
87
 Seharabazar
92
 Gopinathpur
94
 Shyamsundar
97
 Rainagar
103
 Bokra
108
 Mathnashipur
110
 Berugram
Damodar River
112
 Gramdadpur
113
 Habaspur
115
 Mustaphachak
118
 Masagram
Howrah–Bardhaman
chord
km
Sources: [1] [2] [3]

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.

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

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