COMMUNICATIONS

RAILWAYS

Amravati district, like Nagpur, enjoys a very favourable position as regards railway communications. There are three railway routes traversing the fertile black alluvial soil and the flourishing agricultural land which immensely add to the importance of the district. The railway routes, supplemented by a network of highways and feeder roads, have been of very great benefit to the district for, besides the usual advantages of improved communications and the development of trade, they have helped in the proper exploitation and utilisation of the agricultural and forest resources of the district.

Of the three routes passing through this district, the Bombay-Bhusawal-Nagpur route is the most important, as it links Amravati with cities like Bombay, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras. Being a trunk line of railway communica- tion, it has facilitated easy transport to centres of trade and industry all over the country. The Murtizapur-Ellichpur narrow gauge line has added to the developmental propensities of the western sector of Amravati. It has opened for traffic the lands which are rich in agricultural and forest resources. The Khandwa-Akola-Purna metre gauge railway route, marks an important landmark in the history of communications in this region. This route has served as an important link between the metre gauge railway systems in North India and South India. This route, which passes through the remote parts of Melghat tahsil, has connected Indore and Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh with Secunderahad in the Deccan via Akola, Hingoli and Purna. In the broader context it serves not only local transport but also assumes national importance.

Bombay Bhusawal Nagpur Route.

This broad gauge line emanates from the Bombay-Itarsi-Delhi route at Bhusawal and takes a general alignment towards the east through Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Nagpur districts of the Vidarbha region. It enters the south-west boundary of Amravati district at 646.96 kilometre (mile 402) from Bombay and runs towards the east. It crosses the boundary of this district at 727.42 kilometre (mile 452) and enters Wardha after crossing the Wardha river. In its length of about 80.47 kilometres (50 miles) in this district, it has eight railway stations. They are (with their distance from Bombay): Takli, 655 kilometres (407 miles), Badnera 663 kilometres (412 miles), Timbala 627 kilometres (418 miles), Malkhed 679 kilometres (422 miles), Chandur 692 kilometres (430 miles), Dipore 698.46 kilometres (434 miles), Dhamangaon 709.67 kilometres (441 miles) and Talni 719.38 kilometres (447 miles). This line traverses Amravati and Chandur tahsils.

The Murtizapur-Badnera section of this route was opened for traffic in 1865 and the Badnera-Pulgaon section in 1866 [History of Indian Railways (1951): Ministry of Railways. ]. The double line over the two sections referred to was constructed in 1915 and 1917, respectively. The line is laid with a permanent way with 40.82 kilograms (90 lbs.) rails on pot and plate sleepers.

The topography of the countryside through which this railway line passes is plain, even, and more dry than green. Hills of rocks cannot be found easily. It traverses fertile and black alluvial cotton soils. The line is not crossed by any major river nor is there any tunnel or any major bridge.

There is very heavy passenger and goods traffic on this line The commercial importance of this line has increased to a considerable extent during the last 30 years or so. The passenger trains running daily on this line are: (1) Calcutta Mail via Nagpur, (2) Bombay-Howrah Express via Nagpur, (3) Bombay-Nagpur Express and (4) Two Bhusawal-Nagpur Passengers.

Badnera.

The location and commercial importance of Badnera and Dhamangaon railway stations are described below: —

Badnera is a junction on the Bombay-Bhusawal-Nagpur and Badnera-Amravati broad gauge railway lines. It is of consider- able commercial importance and is an exporting station for commodities, such as, cotton, cotton-seed, oil, grains and pulses, oilcake and oranges. A considerable number of bales of cotton are exported from Badnera to Bombay, Nagpur and Sholapur. Railway communications have lent added importance to this town.

The station is nicely built and provided with four spacious platforms which are equipped with electric fans, light, potable water, tea-stalls and benches. There are upper class as well as third class waiting rooms equipped with all the necessary amenities to the travelling public. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian refreshment facilities are also provided. There are book stalls and fruit stalls also. The railway authorities have maintained a dispensary for the benefit of the railway staff and persons injured in railway accidents.

Badnera is included in the Bhusawal Division of the Central Railway. Jurisdiction of the Nagpur Division starts from Badnera.

Dhamangaon.

Dhamangaon is an important station, both as regards passenger traffic and goods traffic. Being in the heart of a very rich cotton cultivating area, there is brisk business in cotton. There are a number of ginning and pressing factories. Thousands of bales of cotton are exported from this station annually. The other important items of export are cotton-seed, oilcake, grains, pulses and timber. An average of about 25,401 metric tons (25,000 tons) of these articles are booked from Dhamangaon per year.

The station has two platforms which are adequately provided with amenities like potable water, tea-stalls, benches and waiting sheds. There is a fruit stall and a book stall. The station is also equipped with an upper class waiting room and a waiting hall for third class passengers.

Dhamangaon is linked by road routes with Yeotmal and Amravati. State Transport buses run daily from Dhamangaon to Yeotmal and Amravati.

TABLE No. 1

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS BOOKED AND THE TONNAGE OF GOODS CLEARED FROM ALL THE STATIONS ON THIS LINE IN THE DISTRICT

*Goods traffic was not booked from these stations.

†These figures are in Quintals.

††These figures are in metric tons.

Source: Divisional Superintendent, Nagpur Division, Central Railway.

Badnera-Amravati Route.

This route of the Central Railway with a length of 9.6 kilometres (6 miles) emanates from the Bombay-Bhusawal-Nagpur main line from Badnera. It was opened for traffic in 1871 and was originally constructed to link the commercial, industrial and educational centre of Amravati with the main line at Badnera. It has opened for traffic the area which is extremely rich in agricultural resources. The line takes its course to the north from Badnera. There is no railway station between Badnera and Amravati. Quite a number of local trains run on this line.

Amravati.

Amravati is one of the important commercial centres of the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. There is a heavy passenger and goods traffic. The outgoing traffic consists of fully pressed cotton, cotton-seed, oilcake, oil-seeds, grains and pulses and kumkum (red powder); whereas the incoming traffic consists of hardware, lime, stationery, cutlery, cloth, sugar, foodgrains, etc. The following statement gives an idea of the goods traffic at Amravati station: —

GOODS TRAFFIC AT AMRAVATI, FROM 1959 TO 1962.

(Figures in metric tons)

Amravati railway station is provided with a spacious platform with amenities such as, electric lights, fans, potable water and benches. It is equipped with a waiting room for upper class passengers and a waiting hall for lower class passengers. There is a heavy passenger traffic to and from this station. The number of passengers booked from Amravati in the years 1959-60, 1960-61 and 1961-62 was 618,544, 650,694 and 688,449, respectively.

Murtizapur-Ellichpur Route.

The Murtizapur-Ellichpur railway route added to the prosperity and economic growth of the rich cotton tracts of the western zone of Amravati district. It has accelerated the growth of trade and commerce and facilitated passenger transport on a large scale.

This narrow gauge route emanates from the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta broad gauge line from Murtizapur junction in Akola and finds its course towards the north. It covers a distance of about 64.37 kilometres (40 miles) from Bhujwad to Ellichpur, in Amravati.

The line was constructed in December 1913 by the former  Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company for a Branch Line company called the Central Provinces Railway [History of Indian Railways, 1951, Ministry of Railways.]. On termination or the contracts with the former Great Indian Peninsula  Railway Company the line was brought under direct state management from July 1925, the Secretary of State for India having the authority to maintain and work the line. Though, known as the C. P. Railway, it was grouped in 1952 under the Central Railway.

The permanent way consists of 15.88 kilograms (35 lbs.) flat-footed steel rails laid on pressed steel peapod sleepers. The line is chiefly ballasted with broken stone and sand. Murum is also used as ballast for the sides. The sharpest curve is of 1.49 metres (4.78 feet) radius, the ruling gradient being 1 in 100. [History of Indian Railways, 1951, Ministry of Railways.]

The topography of the countryside through which the line passes is plain with a few hills and may be described to be more dry than green. It finds its course to the north through the black and fertile tracts famous for cotton cultivation.

Before entering Amravati district the line crosses the Puma river. During its course in this district it crosses the Chandrabhaga river near Banosa (Daryapur) and again between Khusta Buzurg and Chamak railway stations. There is a well-built bridge on the line across the Sapan river at 74.03 km. (mile 46).

This line touches eleven railway stations in this district (distance from Murtizapur being given against each), viz., Bhujwad 14.484 km. (9 miles), Banosa (Daryapur) 22.53 km. (14 miles), Lehagaon 28.9 km. (18 miles), Kokalda 35.4 km. (22 miles), Kapustalni 41.84 km. (26 miles). Anjangaon 49.89 km. (31 miles), Pathrot 59.55 km. (37 miles), Khusta Buzrug 65.98 km. (41 miles), Chamak 67.59 km. (42 miles), Nowbagh 72.42 km. (45 miles) and Ellichpur 75.64 km. (47 miles). Of these Banosa, Anjangaon and Ellichpur are of consequence.

Banosa.

A centre of trade and commerce, Banosa is an exporting  station for cotton, cotton-seed and foodgrains. About two wagons per day are exported in the season to Bombay, Madura, Madras, Jalgaon and New Delhi. Oilcake is exported to Akola, Shegaon and Khamgaon. On an average 3.000 hales of fully pressed cotton are exported annually from this station. An average of 1,000 passengers are booked daily from Banosa. The station is equipped with an upper class waiting room, third class waiting hall, tea-stall and drinking water facilities.

Anjangaon.

Anjangaon. at a distance of 265.54 kilometres (165 miles) from Nagpur, exports cotton, cotton-seed and grains to Bombay, Madura, Madras and oilcake to Akola, Shegaon and Chalisgaon. The daily quantum of exports amount to one wagon. Fully pressed cotton bales to the tune of 13,000 are exported every year. The daily passenger traffic from Anjangaon comes to about 900 persons. The station provides amenities such as, a waiting hall, tea-stall and potable water.

Ellichpur.

The historic town of Ellichpur is 291.29 kilometres (181 miles) away from Nagpur. The commercial importance of this station can be judged from the fact that an average of five wagons are booked from this station daily. The outward goods traffic consists of cotton which is exported to Bombay, Kanpur and Shalimar; cotton-seed to New Delhi and Bombay; dry chillis to Shalimar, Gaya, Allahabad and Bombay. There is also brisk export of timber, rafters and bailies. Sizeable parcels of handloom cloth, rosha oil, coffee-seeds, mangoes, guavas and oranges are exported from Ellichpur. The rosha oil which is used as an ingredient in perfumes and a few medicines is in great demand in foreign countries, especially in France.

The Ellichpur station is equipped with amenities such as, a waiting hall for third class passengers, an upper class waiting room, tea-stall, potable water and cloak room. Ellichpur is served by road routes, viz., Burhanpur-Amravati-Chanda load, Ellichpur-Morshi road and Ellichpur-Anjangaon road. The Chikhaldara hill station is linked by a motorable road with Ellichpur. The hill station is only 51.50 kilometres (32 miles) from Ellichpur. This proximity has added to its importance as a station of tourist traffic.

The following table gives the number of passengers booked and tonnage of goods exported from each station on this line for the years 1959-60, 1960-61 and 1961-62: —

TABLE No. 2

STATISTICS OF PASSENGERS AND GOODS TRAFFIC DURING THE PERIOD, 1959—62.

*Goods were not booked from these stations.

†Figures given in brackets are in tons.

Khandwa akola-Purna Route.

This route of the Central Railway which was proposed about 55 years[A similar line from Khandwa to Akola and Basim, shortly to be constructed, will also be of use to the remoter parts of the Melghat—Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Amravati District, 1911.] ago connects the metre-gauge railway systems in North India and South India. This railway line was opened tor goods traffic in November 1960 and for passenger trains in January 1961. It passes through the remote and hilly parts of Melghat tahsil. There are two railway stations, viz., Wan Road and Dhulghat, falling in the civic limits of Amravati. The line covers a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 miles) in the district.

The number of passengers booked and volume of goods cleared from the two stations are given below: —

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