Bardhaman-Asansol section
Encyclopedia
The Bardhaman-Asansol section is a railway line connecting Bardhaman
and Asansol Junction. This 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) track is part of the Howrah-Delhi main line
and in under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway, but is connected to the South Eastern Railway through Adra .
, utilizing the level plains on the banks of the Ganges . During the middle of the nineteenth century coal mining had started in the Raniganj Coalfield
. The coal was being mined by M/s Carr, Tagore and Company owned primarily by Prince Dwarakanath Tagore, and was transported in boats and barges on the Damodar River
from Narayankuri ghat. The fluctuating levels of water in the Damodar was an impediment for the smooth transportation of coal.
Amongst the Indian merchants, in Mumbai and Kolkata, who took an active interest in the development of the railways, the most prominent name was that of Dwarakanath. M/s Carr, Tagore and Company is reported to have offered in 1844, to raise some capital for the construction of a railway line beyond Bardhaman to the Raniganj Coalfield. However, after Dwarakanath’s premature death the conception, promotion and launching of India’s railways were all British.
After the first run of a train in Eastern India from Howrah to Hooghly in 1854, East Indian Railway Company
extended the tracks to Raniganj, beyond the plans of the route to Delhi, and on 1 February 1855, the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj.The railways were extended to Asansol in July 1863.
Bengal Nagpur Railway extended its tracks to the Asansol coal belt in 1887, thus connecting Asansol with Adra, 37 kilometres (23 mi) away . What was then the BNR mainline from Nagpur to Asansol was opened for goods traffic in 1891.
and the first train on the route was run in 1864. A “shorter main line” connecting Raniganj and Kiul Junction
was in position in 1871 and the opening of the Grand Chord
in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.
The Andal-Sainthia Branch Line
was built in 1913.The 73 kilometres (45.4 mi) banch line linked the north-eastern part of Raniganj Coalfield and the western part of Birbhum district to the main railway tracks.
Bardhaman
'Bardhaman or Burdwan , is a city of West Bengal state in eastern India. It is the headquarters of Bardhaman District....
and Asansol Junction. This 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) track is part of the Howrah-Delhi main line
Howrah-Delhi main line
The Howrah-Delhi main line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Kolkata cutting across northern India. The railway line was opened to traffic in 1866 with the introduction of the 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail.The first Rajdhani Express, the most prestigious train of the country, had its maiden run on this...
and in under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway, but is connected to the South Eastern Railway through Adra .
The Beginning of Railways in Eastern India
The Howrah-Delhi railway line was planned via RajmahalRajmahal
Rajmahal is a city and a notified area in Sahibganj district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Rajmahal is the only sub-divisional town in Sahibganj district. It is one of the most historic place in Jharkhand...
, utilizing the level plains on the banks of the Ganges . During the middle of the nineteenth century coal mining had started in the Raniganj Coalfield
Raniganj Coalfield
Raniganj Coalfield is primarily located in the Asansol and Durgapur subdivisions of Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It spreads over to the neighbouring districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia and Dhanbad.-History:...
. The coal was being mined by M/s Carr, Tagore and Company owned primarily by Prince Dwarakanath Tagore, and was transported in boats and barges on the Damodar River
Damodar River
Damodar River originates near Chandwa village, Palamau district, on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Jharkhand state in eastern India, and flows eastward for about 592 km through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the estaury of the River Hooghly...
from Narayankuri ghat. The fluctuating levels of water in the Damodar was an impediment for the smooth transportation of coal.
Amongst the Indian merchants, in Mumbai and Kolkata, who took an active interest in the development of the railways, the most prominent name was that of Dwarakanath. M/s Carr, Tagore and Company is reported to have offered in 1844, to raise some capital for the construction of a railway line beyond Bardhaman to the Raniganj Coalfield. However, after Dwarakanath’s premature death the conception, promotion and launching of India’s railways were all British.
After the first run of a train in Eastern India from Howrah to Hooghly in 1854, East Indian Railway Company
East Indian Railway Company
The East Indian Railway Company, later known as the East Indian Railway , introduced railways to eastern and northern India, while the Companies such as the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, South Indian Railway, Central India Railway and the North-Western Railway operated in other parts of India...
extended the tracks to Raniganj, beyond the plans of the route to Delhi, and on 1 February 1855, the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj.The railways were extended to Asansol in July 1863.
Bengal Nagpur Railway extended its tracks to the Asansol coal belt in 1887, thus connecting Asansol with Adra, 37 kilometres (23 mi) away . What was then the BNR mainline from Nagpur to Asansol was opened for goods traffic in 1891.
The “main line”
The first rail track between Howrah and Delhi was via what was later named as Sahibganj LoopSahibganj Loop
The Sahibganj Loop is a railway line connecting Khana Junction and Kiul Junction. Originally a part of the Howrah-Delhi main line, it was opened to traffic in 1866...
and the first train on the route was run in 1864. A “shorter main line” connecting Raniganj and Kiul Junction
Kiul junction
Kiul Junction is one of the major railway junctions in Eastern Railway.-Overview:Kiul is located on the bank of Kiul river in Lakhisarai district of Bihar...
was in position in 1871 and the opening of the Grand Chord
Grand Chord
Grand Chord- also known as The Life line of India is a section of the Indian Railways and is one of the two parts of the main Delhi-Howrah route. It acts as a link between Sitarampur, and Mughal Sarai, Uttar Pradesh, and covers a stretch of 450 km...
in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.
The Andal-Sainthia Branch Line
Andal-Sainthia Branch Line
The Andal-Sainthia Branch Line is a railway line connecting Andal on the Bardhaman-Asansol section of the Howrah-Delhi main line and Sainthia on the Sahibganj Loop. This track is under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway...
was built in 1913.The 73 kilometres (45.4 mi) banch line linked the north-eastern part of Raniganj Coalfield and the western part of Birbhum district to the main railway tracks.