New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section

The New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section of the Barauni–Guwahati line connects New Jalpaiguri in the Indian state of West Bengal and New Bongaigaon in Assam.

New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon Section (including Fakiragram-Dhubri branch line)
New Bongaigaon Junction, an important railway station on New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleWest Bengal, Assam
Termini
Stations31
Service
Operator(s)Northeast Frontier Railway
History
Opened1963
Technical
Line length252 km (157 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
ElectrificationYes
Route map

km
Up arrow
136
Abhayapuri
124
Boitamari
111
Chapar
88
Bilasipara
76
Bagribari
66
Alamganj
Bamnai River
64
Dhubri Ghat
63
Dhubri
56
Gauripur
49
Balajan
Right arrow
Down arrow
47
Golokganj
43
Moterjhar
Bamnai River
35
Basbari
26
Monglajhora
16
Tipkai
Gangia River
9
Saptagram
Up arrow
256
New Bongaigaon
251
Dangtal
Kujia River
244
Basugaon
237
Salakati
Tarang River
228
Kokrajhar
Gourang River
223
Sesapani
218
0
Fakiragram Junction
Heli River
Loshka River
212
Pratap Khata
Gangia River
207
Chautara
Pagla River
Mara Jaima River
194
Guabari
189
Gossaigaon Hat
182
Srirampur Assam
172
Jorai
164
Kamakhyaguri
159
Chepani Halt
154
Samuktala Road
Down arrow
Gadadhar River
144
New Alipurduar
133
New Baneswar
Up arrow
Right arrow
125
New Cooch Behar
Left arrow
Right arrow
115
Pundibari
111
Sajerpar
103
Ghoksadanga
96
Gumanihat
87
Falakata
83
Khirerkote
78
Salbari
72
Kolaigram
65
Dhupguri
58
Altagram
49
Betgara
45
New Maynaguri
41
New Domohani
Left arrow
33
Jalpaiguri Road
Right arrow
26
Raninagar Jalpaiguri
18
Belakoba
9
Ambari Falakata
Left arrow
Left arrow
0
New Jalpaiguri
Down arrow

History

During British rule, all links from the northern part of Bengal and Assam to the rest of India were through the eastern part of Bengal. The most important connection was the 529 kilometres (329 mi) long CalcuttaParbatipurHaldibariSiliguri link first established in 1878 and then developed in stages[1] (for details see Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Line). During the nineteenth century, Lalmonirhat was linked to the Dooars.[2] In pre-independence days, a 581 kilometres (361 mi) long metre gauge line running via Radhikapur, Biral, Parbatipur, Tista, Gitaldaha and Golokganj connected Fakiragram in Assam with Katihar in Bihar.[3]

With the partition of India in 1947, all these links were lost. Indian Railways took up the Assam Link Project in 1948 to build a 301.8 kilometres (187.5 mi) long rail link between Fakiragram and Kishanganj. Fakiragram was connected to the Indian railway system in 1950 through the Indian portion of North Bengal with a metre gauge track.[4] The New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section was partly new construction, partly old line converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 1963.[5][6] The 312 km (194 mi) long 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) meter gauge Siliguri-Jogihopa line was constructed between 1963 and 1965 & was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 1998 .[7]

Branch lines

The 56.75 kilometres (35.26 mi) long Haldibari–New Jalpaiguri line has gone through two successive gauge changes. As most other railway tracks in the area were metre gauge, the line was converted from 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge to metre gauge in 1949. Then in 1960s when broad gauge was introduced in the area, the line was converted back to broad gauge and connected to the new station at New Jalpaiguri.[1]

The 62.7 kilometres (39.0 mi) long metre gauge branch line from Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district to Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district is now made into 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge section in 2016 & extended 64.1 kilometres (39.8 mi) further to New Coochbehar, with train service, as per the railway time table. In pre-independence days, the line was up to Mogalhat, now in Bangladesh. The present 88.3 kilometres (54.9 mi) long metre gauge line on the Bangladesh side from Burimari to Lalmonirhat is still functional.[8]

The Alipuduar–Bamanhat branch line ends near the India-Bangladesh border across the Dharla River. In pre-independence days, it used to connect to Mogalhat, now in Bangladesh, across the Dharla. The bridge is broken. The line from Golokganj meets the branch line. The 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) New Cooch Behar–Golokganj section is newly made into broad gauge via Boxirhat. The line passed through a different alignment.[3][9]

The 76.5 kilometres (47.5 mi) Fakiragram-Dhubri branch line was inaugurated after gauge conversion in September 2010.[10]

Electrification

Electrification of the entire 593 kilometres (368 mi) long Katihar–Guwahati route is in progress & expected to completed by 2024.[11]

References

  1. "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  2. "Bengal Dooars Railway". Fibis. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  3. "Geography - International". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  4. "Indian Railways History". Northeast Frontier Railway. IRSE. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  5. "Some Milestones of NF Railway". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  6. "Gauge conversion project in Assam". The Hindu Business Line. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  7. Moonis Raza & Yash Aggarwal (1986). Transport Geography of India: Commodity Flow and the Regional Structure of Indian Economy. ISBN 81-7022-089-0. Retrieved 2 May 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. Mohan Bhuyan. "International Links from India". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  9. "Official pledges rail project by March". The Telegraph. 12 December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  10. "Mamata flags off two trains- Dhubri-Kamakhya link after 22-year wait". The Telegraph. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  11. "Railway electrification project to touch North East soon". Business Standard. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
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