COMMUNICATIONS

RAILWAYS

Bhandara district like Nagpur enjoys a very favourable position as regards railway communications. There are five 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 some 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.

Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta Route.— The portion of the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta route falling within Bhandara district traverses from west to east for a total length of about 132 kilometres (82 miles). " The line was originally constructed as a metre gauge route up to Raj-Nandgaon and opened for traffic in 1882. It was reconstructed as a broad gauge route and was extended up to Asansol in 1888 [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Bhandara District, Vol. A 1908, p. 126.]." The double line was constructed between 1918 and 1922. It now falls under the South-Eastern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. The route traverses the Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Nagpur districts before entering Bhandara district after leaving Khat railway station in Nagpur district. It crosses the Jabalpur-Chanda Fort narrow gauge line at Gondia, while the Tumsar-Tirodi broad gauge line emanates from it at Tumsar Road. The newly constructed broad gauge line to Jawaharnagar Ordnance Factory emanates from it at Bhandara Road.

The topography of the countryside through which this railway line passes is plain and even. Hills and rocks are rarely to be found. 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. In Bhandara district, it has the following railway stations, viz., Bhandara Road, Koka, Tumsar Road, Mundikota, Tirora, Kachekhani, Ganga-jhari, Gondia, Gudma, Amgaon, Dhanoli, Salekasa and Darekasa. Of these Tumsar Road and Gondia are important, a description of which is given below: —

Tumsar Road: Tumsar Road is a junction on the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta broad gauge railway route. It is of considerable commercial importance and is an exporting station for commodities, such as, cotton, cotton seed, grain, pulses and bidi. The station is well laid out and provided with two spacious platforms which are equipped with electric fans, light, potable water, tea stalls and benches. There are upper as well as lower 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.

Gondia: Gondia is another important junction and has heavy passenger and goods traffic. The station has three platforms out of which two are for broad gauge and the third for narrow gauge railway line. All the platforms are adequately provided with amenities such as potable water, tea stalls, benches and waiting sheds. There is a fruit stall and a book stall too. The station is also equipped with an upper class waiting room and waiting hall for lower class passengers.

Jabalpur-Chanda Fort Route.— The Jabalpur-Chanda Fort narrow gauge railway line passes through Bhandara district from north to south and has a length of about 117 km. (73 miles) in the district. The Gondia-Jabalpur line was first opened for traffic in 1903, whereas its extension from Gondia to Nagbhir (Chandrapur district) was opened for traffic subsequently in 1908. It is a single track line. This line crosses the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta broad gauge line at Gondia and traverses through the Gondia and Sakoli tahsils. It crosses the Chulband and the Wainganga rivers over which there are well built bridges. Formerly this railway line was grouped under the Satpuda Railway. After the regrouping of the Indian Railways in 1952 it was placed under the jurisdiction of the South-Eastern Railway. It enters Bhan-dara district after crossing the boundary of Madhya Pradesh near Birsola station in Bhandara district. The topography through which this railway line passes is plain and even. There are fifteen railway stations on this route in the district: —

(1) Birsola, (2) Garra, (3) Pratapbagh, (4) Gondia, (5) Gankhera, (6) Hirdamali, (7) Pindakepar, (8) Gongale, (9) Khodshioni, (10) Sondad, (11) Gond-umri, (12) Dewalgaon, (13) Barabhati, (14) Arjuni, and (15) Wadegaon.

The description of Soundad railway station on this line is given below: —

Soundad: Soundad railway station, has only one platform. The station is equipped with amenities such as a waiting hall for lower class passengers, a separate waiting room for ladies, an upper class waiting room, tea stall, potable water and cloak room. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian refreshment facilities are also provided. There are book stalls and fruit stalls also. Saundad is also served by the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta National highway.

Tumsar Road—Tirodi Route.— A branch line covering a distance of 18 miles (29 km) in the district starts from Tumsar Road and terminates at Tirodi in Madhya Pradesh. It is a broad gauge railway line falling under the control of South-Eastern Railway. This line traverses through the manganese producing area of the district and facilitates the transportation of manganese ore to Tumsar. This line was opened for traffic on 1st April 1916 as a narrow gauge track. It was purchased by the Government from the Central India Mining Company and subsequently made over to Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company for maintenance and working as a part of their undertaking [History of Indian Railways, Ministiy of Railways, 195 1, p. 30.]. The line was subsequently converted into a broad gauge route in September 1929. After the regrouping of the Indian Railways in 1952 it was regrouped under the South-Eastern Railway.

The topography through which this railway line passes is plain and rich in manganese ore. The line has permanent way with 85 lbs. Flat-footed steel rails. It is unfenced. The sharpest curve has a radius of 1,146 feet. The ruling gradient is 1 in 100. It has the following stations on its route viz., Tumsar Road Junction, Tumsar Town, Chicholi, Gobarwahi and Dongri Buzurg.

Nagpur-Nagbhir Route.— The Nagpur-Nagbhir section of the Satpuda Railway runs a distance of about 9.6 km. (6 miles) in Bhandara district. This narrow gauge route passes through the south-western corner of the district. Pauni Road and Bhuyar are the only two stations on this line in Bhandara district. It was opened for traffic on 10th November 1908. The railway line is constructed of permanent way and consists of 40, 41, 50, 75 and 85 lbs., rails on sal sleepers. The line is laid mostly with stone and murum. The sharpest curve is of 409 feet radius. Formerly this line formed part of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. After the regrouping of the Indian Railways in 1952 it was regrouped under the South-Eastern Railway. Following is a brief description of Pauni Road station.

Pauni Road.—It serves as an exporting centre for rice and cotton. The station is equipped with amenities, such as, a waiting hall for lower class passengers, and a separate waiting room for ladies, an upper class waiting room, tea stall, potable water and cloak room. The station is provided with a shed.

Bhandara Road—Jawaharnagar Route.—This route is a broad gauge track and was opened for traffic in 1965. It is a single track line. No passenger trains run on this route. It covers a length of about 19 km. (12 miles) up to Jawaharnagar where there is an ordnance factory. There is no station in between Bhandara Road and Jawaharnagar Ordnance Factory.

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