COMMUNICATIONS

RAILWAYS

Due to the poor development of railways in the district the advantages resulting from good communications and the development of trade thereby did not accrue to the district which remained backward both industrially and agriculturally. The resources of the district also remained unexploited. There are two railway routes which now pass through this district viz., (i) Majari Rajur broad guage line, and (ii) Ellichpur-Yeotmal narrow gauge line [Delhi-Madras Grand Trunk route is proposed to be diverted through this district. The Survey work is in progress.].

Majari-Rajur Route.

This line emanates from the Delhi-Madras Grand Trunk route at Majari. It was opened for traffic on 4th May 1925. It is a broad gauge (5'-6") railway route with a length of 21 km from Majari to Rajur, the starting point viz., Majari being in Chandrapur district. The line was constructed by the former Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company for a branch line company called the Central Provinces Railway [History of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, 1957.]. On the termination of the contract with the former Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company, the line was brought under State management horn July 1925, the Secretary of State for India having authority to maintain and work the line. Though formerly known as the C. P. Railway, it was grouped in 1952 under Central Railway.

The permanent way consists of 90 R. lbs. on troughs and C.S.T. 9 plate sleepers. The line is chiefly ballasted with broken stones and sand gravel and laterite. Murum is also used as ballast for the sides. This branch line is particularly fenced, the riding gradient being 1 in 100 [History of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, 1957.].

The topography of the countryside through which the line passes is plain, having no hills and rivers. It finds its course to the west of the district, through black and fertile tracks, which are famous for cotton and jowar.

This line starts from Majari junction which is in Chandrapur district and touches only two stations in this district, viz., Wani 14 km from Majari and Rajura 2l km from Majari. The length of this railway route in the district is 17.71 km.

Wani.

Wani is an important centre of trade and commerce in the Yeotmal district. The station is equipped with an upper class waiting room, a third class waiting hall, a tea stall, a book stall and drinking water facilities.

Rajur.

This station is equipped with an upper class waiting room, and a third class waiting hall. It has also a book stall and tea stall and other amenities like drinking water facilities are also provided to the travelling passengers,

Murtazapur-Yeotmal Route.

The Murtazapur-Yeotmal narrow gauge route emanates from the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta railway line from Murtazapur junction in Akola district and finds its course towards Karanja in the same district. The Karanja to Yeotmal section was constructed by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company for a branch line company called the Central Provinces Railway Company on 30th September 1915. The length of the route from Murtazapur to Yeotmal is 113 km. On the termination of the contract with the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company the line was brought under direct State management with effect from the 1st July 1925, the Secretary of State having the authority to maintain and work the line. The route is grouped under the Central Railway at present.

This line enters the district from the Sangwi station 48 km from Murtazapur and crosses the Arna river twice, firstly immediately after the Sangwi station and then after Darwha Moti Bagh railway station. Both the bridges on the Arna river are well built. The length of this route in the district is 64.40 km.

The permanent way consists of 35 lbs. flat footed steel rails on pressed steel pea-pod sleepers. The line is chiefly ballasted with broken stones and sand, while banks are ballasted with murum. Only the station yard is fenced.

This route touches nine railway stations viz., Sangwi 48 km, Warudkhed 55 km, Bhandegaon 63 km, Darwha Moti Bagh 72 km, Tapona 83 km, Ladkhed 89 km, Ling 94 km, Lasina 101 km and Yeotmal 113 km from Murtazapur. Of these Yeotmal and Darwha Moti Bagh stations are of some importance.

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