TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

RAILWAYS

Jalgaon district takes a place of pride as being served by railways from 1861—65. [Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. XII, 1880.]The portion of the line, about 142 miles, within limits of this district was begun in 1852, and opened for traffic between 1861 and 1865. The present route mileage of railways in the district is about 232, of which 186 miles are under the Central Railway and about 46 under the Western Railway. As a result of the re-grouping of the Indian railways, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway was grouped in 1952 under the Central Railway and the Tapi Valley Railway under the Western Railway.

Routes Central Railway.

The routes under the Central Railway are: (1) Bombay-Bbusawal-Itarsi, (2) Bhusawal-Nagpur, (3) Chalisgaon-Dhulia and (4) Pachora-Jamner.

Bombay Bhusawal Itarsi Railway.

The Bombay-Bhusawal-Itarsi is the main line of the Central Railway which emanates from Bombay, runs north-east through the Thana and Nasik districts and enters this district at its south-west corner near the Rohini railway station, 193 miles away from Bombay. It then runs through the heart of the district, a distance of about 111 miles upto Waghod station, 304 miles from Bombay. This line traverses the Chalisgaon, Bhadgaon, Pachora, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Yawal and Raver talukas and keeps near the course of the Girna as far as Jalgaon. The topography of the countryside through which this line passes is plain with a few hills and is more dry than green. There is a T. B. Sanatorium by the line near Jalgaon. The line crosses the Vaghur between Bhadli and Bhusawal. Soon after leaving the junction station at Bhusawal, the line crosses the Tapi. The river. [Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. XII, 1880.] is nearly 590 yards wide and subject to sudden and severe floods rising at times to a height of seventy-eight feet. It was at first spanned by a bridge, 875 yards long, consisting of five openings of 138 feet and fourteen of 60 feet covered iron girders, and twenty arches of 40 feet each. The beds of the Tapi and the Vaghur as well as the small rivers are of solid rock, and for the bridges good foundations were obtained with ease. But the masonry was in some cases unsatisfactory and it was found necessary to build them on a new design with piers of iron cylinders filled with concrete. The Tapi bridge was in 1872 replaced by a new one on this principle, about 852 yards long and consisting of twenty-eight spans of 66 feet and five of 150 feet girders. [Ibid]. The bridge at present has become loose in its design.

From Bhusawal onwards the line passes through a countryside rich with mango groves and banana plantation. The ancient and famous Ajanta Caves are only 33 miles away from Jalgaon and this has added to its importance as a station of tourist traffic from all over India and abroad. Tourists from India and abroad daily visit the caves. After crossing Jalgaon district, it enters Madhya Pradesh and touches the famous paper mill at Nepa Nagar 327 miles away from Bombay.

Bombay Bhusawal Itarsi Railway.

The stations on this route (with their distance from Bombay) are: Rohini 193, Hirapur 199, Chalisgaon 204, Vaghli 210, Kajgaon 216. Nagardevla 220, Galan 225, Pachora 232, Pardhade 237, Maheji 241, Mhasawad 248, Shirsoli 254, Jalgaon 261, Bhadli 269,Bhusa- wal 276, Duskheda 281, Savda 286, Nimbhora 292, Raver 298 and Waghod 304.

This is a broad gauge (5'—6") line. [History of Indian Railways: Ministry of Railways.] The Chalisgaon to Jalgaon portion of it was opened for traffic in 1862, Jalgaon to Bhusawal in 1863, and from Bhusawal to Burhanpur in 1865. The double line in this district was constructed and opened for traffic between 1869 and 1889.

All the stations on this line in the district are provided with buildings, booking offices and quarters for the staff. Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Pachora and Chalisgaon are junction stations and provided with spacious modern buildings, waiting rooms for I, II and III classes, refreshment rooms, tea stalls, etc. There are vegetarian, non-vegetarian and light refreshment rooms at Bhusawal. Savda and Raver stations also have light refreshment rooms.

Bhusawal is the headquarters of the Bhusawal Division and from here emanates the Bhusawal-Nagpur route. There are five spacious platforms and modern quarters for staff. The workshop at Bhusawal is very big. From Jalgaon emanates the Bhusawal-Surat route of the Western Railway. Tourist traffic to Ajanta caves has added to the importance of Jalgaon. It is a centre of education and headquarters of the district. From Chalisgaon emanates the Chalisgaon-Dhulia line. It had assumed an added importance, when an aerodrome was established here during World War II.

The passenger trains running daily on this line are: (1) Punjab Mail, (2) Calcutta Mail via Allahabad, (3) Calcutta Mail via Nagpur, (4) Pathankot Express, (5) Kashi Express, (6) Bombay-Howrah Express, (7) Bombay-Bhusawal Passenger-351, (8) Bombay-Bhusawal Passenger-353, (9) Bombay-Nagpur Express, and (10) Bombay-Howrah Janata Express via Allahabad.

The following is the statement showing the number of passengers booked at the stations within limits of Jalgaon district during the year ending 31st March 1957: —

TABLE No. 2

 NUMBER OF PASSENGERS BOOKED AT VARIOUS STATIONS IN JALGAON DISTRICT.

TABLE No. 2—contd.

The following is the statement showing the quantity of chief items of exports from the various stations within the limits of Jalgaon district during the year ending 31st March 1957: —

TABLE No. 3

COMMODITY-WISE EXPORTS FROM VARIOUS STATIONS ON THE BOMBAY-BHUSAWAL-ITARSI ROUTE IN JALGAON DISTRICT.

TABLE No. 3—contd.

COMMODITY-WISE EXPORTS FROM VARIOUS STATIONS ON THE BOMBAY-BHUSAWAL-ITARSI ROUTE IN JALGAON DISTRICT—could.

TABLE No. 3—contd.

COMMODITY-WISE EXPORTS FROM VARIOUS STATIONS ON THE BOMBAY-BHUSAWAL-ITARSI ROUTE IN JALGAON DISTRICT—contd.

Bhusawal-Nagpur Railway.

The Bhusawal-Nagpur route emanates from the Bombay-Bhusawal-Itarsi route at Bhusawal, and runs in the eastern direction to enter, near Kahmkhed station, Buldhana district of Vidarbha region. The prima facie importance of this route lies in that it connects Bhusawal with the very rich Berar region, Nagpur and Calcutta cities and eastern India.

Portion of the route falling in this district was opened for traffic in 1863 and the double line was laid in 1889.[Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. XII, 1880]. This is a broad gauge (5'—6") line about 24 miles long with good foundation. The countryside through which it passes is even and plain and consists of black alluvial soil suitable for cotton cultivation There is no major bridge on this route.

The stations on this route (with their distance from Bombay) are: Varangaon 284 and Bodwad 295. These are small stations provided with common facilities like buildings, waiting-rooms, staff quarters, etc.

During the year ending 31st March 1957, 202,059 passengers were booked at Varangaon and 2,06.005 passengers at Bodwad. The following table shows the quantity of chief items of exports at Varangaon and Bodwad, during the year ending 31st March 1957:—

TABLE No. 4

Chalisgaon-Dhulia Railway Route.

The Chalisgaon-Dhulia branch line emanates from the Bombay-Bhusawal route at Chalisgaon, and runs in the northern direction to enter Dhulia district wherein it terminates at Dhulia.

This line was opened for traffic in 1900. It is a broad gauge (5'—6") single line and has about 17 miles length in the district. Jamda and Rajmane, respectively 9 and 15 miles away from Chalisgaon are the only two stations in the district on this route. During the year ending 31st March 1957, the number of passengers booked from Jamda was 95,175 and from Rajmane 71,292. Three Up and Down passenger trains run on this line daily.

Pachora Jamner Railway.

The Pachora-Jamner railway line was constructed by Messrs Shapoorji Godbole and Co. of Bombay. The Pachora-Pahur section was opened up in 1918 and the rest of the sections in 1919.[History of Indian Railways: Ministry of Railways.] On termination of the contracts with the former Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company, the line was brought under direct State management with effect from 1st July 1925.

This is a narrow gauge (2'—6") line with a length of. 34.62 miles. It passes through more or less plain countryside with banana orchards at many a place.

The stations on this line (with their distance from Pachora) are: Varkhedi 7, Pimpaleaon 13. Shendurni 18. Pahur 25. Bhagdara 30 and Jamner 35. The number of passengers booked at the stations in the vear ending 31st March 1957 was as follows: Varkhcdi 1.00.946: Pimpalgaon 56.445: Shendurni 1,36,055; Pahur 99,750; Bhagdara 31249 and Jamner 76,618. The following table gives the quantity of chief commodities exported from various stations during the vear ending 31st March 1957: —

TABLE No. 5

COMMODITY-WISE EXPORTS AT VARIOUS STATIONS ON THE PACHORA-JAMNER ROUTE IN JALGAON DISTRICT

There is a large quantum of banana trade carried through Shendurni, Jamner and Pahur which is not enumerated in the above account.

Western Railway, Surat-Bhusawal Railway.

[As per information received from General Manager, Western Railway.] The Tapi Valley Railway was originally constructed by Killick Nixon Co. and taken over by 'the former B.B. and C.I. Railway, on 31st April 1942. Section from Udha to Vyara was constructed in 1898, from Vyara to Nandurbar in 1899 and from Nandurbar to Jalgaon in 1900. Track is laid with 75 lbs. R. rail on CST 9 sleepers with the density of N. plus 2. The entire line is ballasted with stone ballast. Maximum ruling; gradient on this section is 1 in 200 and the sharpest curve is of 1,910 feet radius. The terrain from where the line is passing is a flat one, it being taken generally parallel to the Tapi river. The entire line is broad gauge with single line up to Jalgaon. There are two important bridges on this line in the district, one near mile 157 on the Bori river and another near mile 186 on the Girna river. Length of the former is about 60' and that of the latter about 170'.

It enters Jalgaon district from Dhulia district just after Betawad station at mile 147. The total route mileage under this section is about 46. Jalgaon station is not under Western Railway whose limit terminates at mile 189. From Jalgaon to Bhusawal it runs common with the Bombay-Bhusawal Railway line.

There is no important station on this section except Amalner. The stations on this route (with their distance from Surat) are: Padse 150, Bhortek 155, Amalner 160, Tarkhede 167, Dharan-gaon 176, Chavalkhede 180, Paldhi 187 and Jalgaon 194.

All the stations are provided with waiting-halls, benches, booking offices and other common amenities to the public. Three passenger trains run on this line daily.

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