Paralakhemundi railway station

Last updated

Paralakhemundi
Indian Railways Station
General information
Location Paralakhemundi, Odisha
India
Coordinates 18°47′09″N84°04′46″E / 18.7857°N 84.07933°E / 18.7857; 84.07933
Elevation60 m (197 ft)
Owned byIndian Railways
Operated byEast Coast Railway
Line(s) Naupada-Gunupur Section
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
ParkingAvailable
Other information
StatusFunctioning
Station codePLH
Zone(s) East Coast Railway
Division(s) Waltair
History
Opened1899-1900
ElectrifiedYes
Location
India Odisha location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Paralakhemundi
Location in Odisha
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Paralakhemundi
Location in India

Paralakhemundi Railway Station belongs to East Coast Railway of Waltair Division. It is located in Gajapati district of Odisha.This is the FIRST ODISHA DEDICATED RAILWAY LINE as well as the FIRST ROYAL RAILWAY STATION of ODISHA, established in 1899. The total section was established by Gajapati Maharaja of Paralakhemundi and it is first odisha Origin Railway station of Odisha state . This line was the FIRST LITE RAIL LINE OF EASTERN INDIA otherwise known as Parlakimedi Light Railway PLR, one of the oldest station in odisha. This is the first Lite Railway station of odisha. After five years, Mayurbhanj State Railway came in to existence. Hence, it was the first Narrow gauge railway station of Odisha. [1]

Contents

History

Paralakhemundi Light Railway was a two-foot six-inch gauge railway. The Maharaja of Paralakhemundi decided to connect his capital with Naupada which was only 40 km (25 mi) away. With the government giving its sanction in 1898, work began in fully. The line was opened to traffic in 1900. This railway line was built at a cost of Rs 700,000. In the starting years, the Parlakhimidi Railway had incurred losses but after 1910, it started making marginal profits and after 1924–1925, the profits increased. This motivated the Maharaja's son Krushna Chandra Gajapati to extend the line to Gunupur in two phases in 1929 and 1931. It was later merged with Bengal Nagpur Railway. [2]

Railway reorganization

After Indian Independence it was merged with North Eastern Railway. surveys were undertaken for broad-gauge conversion in 1950 and again in 1964 and 1967. The foundation stone was finally laid for the Naupada–Gunupur gauge conversion work at Naupada on 27 September 2002. With effect from 1 April 2003, it became a part of the newly formed East Coast Railway. The line was finally closed for gauge conversion on 9 June 2004. [3] Services were restarted on 22 August 2011 with the introduction of Puri–Gunupur Passenger. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Coast Railway zone</span> Railway zone in India

The East Coast Railway is one of the 19 railway zones of Indian Railways. It came into existence on 1 April 2003. The headquarters of the zone are at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayagada district</span> District of Odisha in India

Rayagada district is a district in southern Odisha, a state in India, which became a separate district in October 1992. Its population consists mainly of tribes, primarily the Khonds and the Soras. In addition to Odia, Kui and Sora are spoken by the district's indigenous population. It was founded by Maharajah Biswanatha Deba Gajapati of the Surjyabansha dynasty of Jeypore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gajapati district</span> District of Odisha in India

Gajapati district is a district of Odisha State in India. It was created from Ganjam District on 2 October, 1992. As of 2011 it is the third least populous district of Odisha, after Debagarh and Boudh. Gajapati district was named after Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, the King of the Paralakhemundi estate and the first Prime Minister of Orissa, who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate state, and inclusion of his estate in Odisha. The district headquarters at Paralakhemundi, formerly a Zamindari, has been clustered within a radius of approximately 5 kilometers around the geometric centre of Paralakhemundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paralakhemundi</span> Place in Odisha, India

Paralakhemundi shortly known as Parala is district Headquarter of Gajapati district and one of the oldest Municipality established in 1885, in the Indian state of Odisha. Majority of the people in the town speak Odia. The city and the District share its boundaries with Andhra Pradesh. The adjacent town of Pathpatnam is separated by the River Mahendra Tanaya.In later medieval period it became capital of Paralakhemundi Estate of Eastern Ganga dynasty kings of Khemundi Branch. The town is well known for being an ancient cultural center of Odisha and birthplace of noted personalities including poet Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka, statesman Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, lexicographer Gopinatha Nanda Sharma and historian Satyanarayana Rajguru. This town is also known for its century old temples, monasteries, palaces and heritage buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunupur</span> Town in Odisha, India

Gunupur is a Municipality and one of the sub-divisional headquarters of Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the second biggest town in Rayagada district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashinagara</span> Town in Odisha, India

Kashinagar is a town and headquarters of a community development block of the same name in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pathapatnam</span> Place in Andhra Pradesh, India

Pathapatnam is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Pathapatnam mandal of Tekkali revenue division. Telugu is the major spoken language in the town and in entire mandal. Pathapatnam is located on the border of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati district of Odisha. Parlakhemundi, the headquarters of Gajapati District, can be considered as twin town of Pathapatnam because of its close proximity. It is located around 65 km from srikakulam. It was the old capital of Paralakhemundi Gajapati Maharajah of his erstwhile kingdom.

Lihuri station is located in Naupada–Gunupur branch line on the Odisha–Andhra border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Ganga dynasty</span> Medieval era Indian royal Hindu dynasty

The Eastern Ganga dynasty were a large medieval era Indian royal Hindu dynasty that reigned from Kalinga from as early as the 5th century to the mid 20th century. Eastern Gangas ruled much of the modern region of Odisha in three different phases by the passage of time, known as Early Eastern Gangas (493–1077), Imperial Eastern Gangas (1077–1436) and Khemundi Gangas (1436–1947). They are known as "Eastern Gangas" to distinguish them from the Western Gangas who ruled over Karnataka. The territory ruled by the dynasty consisted of the whole of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha, as well as major parts of north Andhra Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh and some southern districts of West Bengal. Odia language got official status in their regime following the evolution of the language from Odra Prakrit. The early rulers of the dynasty ruled from Dantapuram; the capital was later moved to Kalinganagara, and ultimately to Kataka and then to Paralakhemundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krushna Chandra Gajapati</span> Key figure in the formation of Odisha state in India

Krushna Chandra Gajapati KCIE, also known as Captain Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deva KCIE, was a key personality and regarded as the architect, founding father of an Independent Odia Language speaking state Odisha. He was a scion of Paralakhemundi Estate and the owner of Delanga estate of Puri district of Odisha. His family belonged to the great Eastern Ganga Dynasty. He was the first Prime Minister of Odisha. The present-day Gajapati District of Odisha was named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kharagpur–Puri line</span> Railway route of India

The Kharagpur–Puri Line is a railway line connecting Kharagpur in the Indian state of West Bengal and Puri in Odisha. The total line can be divided into sections. The Kharagpur–Khurda Road portion of this line, which is a part of the Howrah–Chennai main line and Khurda Road - Puri portion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section</span> Railway section in India

The Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section is a railway line connecting Khurda Road in the Indian state of Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The main line is part of the Howrah–Chennai main line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naupada Junction railway station</span> Railway station in Andhra Pradesh

Naupada Junction railway station, located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, serves Naupada in Srikakulam district. It is a junction station with a branch line to Gunupur in Rayagada district of Odisha which was built by Maharaja of Paralakhemundi.Former it was known as Parlakimedi Light Railway.

Badagam is a small village in the Rayagada Block and Parlakhemundi municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Odisha. The major languages spoken in this place are Kui and Oriya.

Naupada–Gunupur railway line belongs to East Coast Railway of Waltair division.

Gunupur railway station belongs to East Coast Railway of Waltair division.Maharaja of Paralakhemundi extended Naupada-Paralakhemundi line to Gunupur in 1931 AD. It is located at Gunupur in Rayagada district of Indian state of Odisha. Established by His highness Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati of Paralakhemundi estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durgi, Odisha</span> Panchayat in Odisha, India

Durgi is a census village & Panchayat Headquarter of Bissam Cuttack Block in Rayagada district of Odisha, India. There are total 439 families residing in this village. The wards/ villages comes under Durgi Panchayat are:- Durgi, Bhaleri, Kundanpadar, Rengabai, Barangpadar, Thambalpadhu, Budhanagar, Kachapai, Kalipadar, Kurankul, Tentili Kalipadar, Mulipada, Dharamguda, Balipadar, Haduguda, Huruguda, Khariguda and IAY Colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gajapati Palace</span> Historic Monument in Paralakhemundi

Gajapati Palace located at Paralakhemundi, of Gajapati district, Odisha, is the fort of Gajapati rulers where they used to stay. Nowadays the property is under the protection of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The palace is one of the rich architectural and cultural heritage of India. This palace was built for a purpose of permanent residential abode for the Gajapati Rulers of Paralakhemundi Estate belonging to the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Parlakhemundi Light Railway (PLR) was the first narrow gauge railway line between Naupada to Paralakhemundi end extended to Gunupur in states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Established by Maharajah of Paralakhemundi in 1899. The line was initially owned by Gajapati Maharaja of Paralakhemundi Estate. This is the first narrow gauge section railway station of Odisha.Founded by Rajah Saheb GCIE Gourachandra Gajapati Narayan Dev ,father of Maharajah Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paralakhemundi Estate</span>

Parlakhemundi Estate was a Zamindari estate in the Orissa Province, India during the British era. Before the creation of the Orissa province, it was under the Madras Presidency.The state was ruled as an independent kingdom till 1769.The royal family belong to the Krishnatreya gotra Odia Kshatriya and traced their lineage to Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It was a zamindari estate lying in the southwestern portion of Ganjam district, covering an area of 615 square miles. It was bounded in the south by the district of Vizagpatnam and on the west by the Jeypore Estate and the tribal agencies of the Eastern Ghats.

References

  1. Samantray, Dilip Kumar (2022). "No 4 - The Royal Railways Of Odisha". Odisha The Railway Story. Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Teerataranaga Printers and Publication. pp. 106–112.
  2. "Parlakhimidi railway history".
  3. "Gauge conversion". The Hindu .
  4. "Gunupur–Puri train service starts, Rayagada elated". The Times of India .