Bankura–Masagram line

Narrow gauge
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	100 Km/Hr
Route map Legend 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 Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line Arambagh-Bowaichandi line (planned) 37 Arambagh 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 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)

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)

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

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

• Bankura Damodar Railway

References

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