 | |
| Industry | Railways |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1880 |
| Defunct | 1948 |
Area served | Bhavnagar State |
Bhavnagar State Railway (BSR) was a metre gauge railway line in Bhavnagar State, now part of Gujarat in India.
| | |
| Industry | Railways |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1880 |
| Defunct | 1948 |
Area served | Bhavnagar State |
Bhavnagar State Railway (BSR) was a metre gauge railway line in Bhavnagar State, now part of Gujarat in India.
In November 1878, on the instance of Maharaja Takthasinhji of Bhavnagar State, the Governor of Bombay Sir Richard Temple sanctioned the extension of a meter gauge railway line from Wadhwan to Bhavnagar, which was opened on 18 December 1880. Maharaja Takhtasinhji accorded sanction for construction of a railway from Bhavnagar to Wadhwan in the north and Dhoraji in the west with the line from Dhasa to Dhoraji funded by Gondal State. During 1863, Maharaja Jaswantsinhji received a proposal to start a Narrow Gauge line like in parts of Gaekwad Railway in Baroda. Maharaja was not inclined, as by that time another company called Ghogha Kathiawad Light Railway Company had been formed and it could be easily joined at Vartej, a mere 10 km away. But nothing materialized.
The Bhavnagar-Gondal Railway was a joint venture with funds from both states 1839. Bhavnagar contributed Rs. 86 lakhs and Rs.29 lakhs was Gondal's contribution. The Bhavnagar-Wadhwan line had a length of a 166 km; the Dhola-Dhasa-Dhoraji line had a length of 144 km. The work was carried out between 1878 and 1880. In March 1879, Mr. Alexander Izat was appointed as the Engineer-in-Chief. He was earlier the Chief Engineer of Daund-Manmad line (which had opened in 1878). Mr. R. Proctor Sims who was Bhavnagar's state Engineer had carried out the survey from Bhavnagar to Botad. The survey from Dhasa to Dhoraji was carried out under Mr. Ford who held analogous post in Gondal. An engineer from BB & CI, Mr. Hargreaves did the survey from Botad to Wadhwan. The earth-work was commenced as a famine work with all possible haste and finished within an astonishingly short time by May 1880. His Highness requested the Governor of Bombay Sir James Ferguson (who had succeeded Sir Richard Temple in March 1879) to inaugurate the line in December and declare it open for traffic.
On 17 December 1880 the Governor and his entourage arrived at Bhavnagar by a special steamer from Bombay named May Frere. Many guests, both European and native, were invited. On approach of the May Frere at port of Bhavnagar, Colonel Barton (the political Agent), Major Woodhouse (the Assistant Political Agent) and Diwan Sahib Samaldas went in a steam launch and brought the Governor and his party ashore. Takhtsinhji received the Governor at the landing steps and welcomed him. The Governor was then taken to the town and the evening spent in sight seeing and visiting the Gaurishankar Lake. Early next morning on 18 December 1880, the governor drove the last spike of the permanent way at the city station (now Bhavnagar Terminus) in the presence of a large gathering and declared the railway line from Bhavnagar to Wadhwan open, then went to a welcome at Limdi station.
The Bhavnagar State Railway along with other state railways of Kathiawar and Saurashtra were merged in April 1948 into Saurashtra Railway by the Government of India. Saurashtra Railway was merged with BB&CI to form Western Railways.
In 1936, the company owned 35 locomotives, 1 railcar, 187 coaches and 1059 goods wagons. [1]
It was labeled as a Class II railway according to Indian Railway Classification System of 1926. [2] [3]
The BSR was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge in 2003.
Kathiawar is a peninsula, near the far north of India's west coast, of about 61,000 km2 (23,500 sq mi) bordering the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest and by the Gulf of Khambhat in the east. In the northeast, it is connected to the rest of Gujarat and borders on the low, fertile hinterland of Ahmedabad. It is crossed by two belts of hill country and is drained radially by nine rivers which have little natural flow aside from in monsoon months, thus dams have been built on some of these. Kathiawar ports have been flourishing centres of trade and commerce since at least the 16th century.
Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, is a peninsular region of Gujarat, India, located on the Arabian Sea coast. It covers about a third of Gujarat state, notably 11 districts of Gujarat, including Rajkot District. It was formerly a state of India before it merged with Bombay state. In 1961 it separated from Bombay and joined Gujarat.
The Western Railway is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways and is among the busiest railway networks in India, headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railways are: Mumbai Central–Ratlam, Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad and Palanpur–Ahmedabad. The railway system is divided into six operating divisions: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Ratlam, and Mumbai WR. Vadodara railway station, being the junction point for the Ahmedabad–Mumbai route and the Mumbai–Ratlam route towards New Delhi, is the busiest junction station in Western Railways and one of the busiest junctions of Indian Railways too, while Ahmedabad Division earns highest revenue followed by Mumbai Division and Vadodara Division. Surat railway station is one of the busiest railway station in Western Railway in non-junction category where more than 180 trains pass per day.
Gondal is a city of about 115,000 residents and a municipality of about 175,000 in the Rajkot district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Gondal Village was one of the eight first-class princely states of Kathiawar Agency, Bombay Presidency in British India. Ruled by a Hindu Rajput dynasty of the Jadeja.
Botad is a city and district headquarters of Botad district, Gujarat, India. It is about 92 km from Bhavnagar and 133 km From Ahmedabad by road distance.
Bhavnagar State was a princely state with 13 Gun Salutes during the British Raj. It was part of Kathiawar Agency in Saurashtra. The hereditary Kotwals of the royal palace of Bhavnagar were Talpada Kolis of Radhavanaj village of Kheda district.
Saurashtra Railway came into being in April, 1948 with the amalgamation of state railways like Bhavnagar State Railway, Gondal Railway, Porbandar Railway, Jamnagar & Dwarka Railway, Morvi Railway, Dhrangadhra Railway, Okhamandal State Railway, Junagadh State Railway, Baria State Railway, Rajpipla Railway etc.
Dhasa is a small city and railway junction in Botad District of Gujarat. Dhasa with Major Population Of Koli And Nadoda Rajput. Dhasa Known As Home Of BJP Party Almost 30 Years BJP Ruled Dhasa With Village Chief Kalubhai Dayabhai Pavra And Also Taluka Panchayat Belongs To BJP. Geographycally there are two small towns, which are Dhasagam and Dhasa junction.
Gondal State is one of the eight first class princely states of Kathiawar Agency, Bombay Presidency in India. the capital of the state is Gondal town.
Saurashtra State, formally known as United States of Kathiawar and later United States of Saurashtra, was a State of India that existed between 1948 and 1956, on Saurashtra alias Kathiawar peninsula, with Rajkot as its capital,
Viramgam Junction railway station is located in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state of India. It serves Viramgam town. Its code is VG. It comes under Ahmedabad division of Western Railway Zone. Passenger, Express and Superfast trains halt here.
The Viramgam–Okha line is a railway passing through Gujarat State, in western India. Which is branch of Gandhidham–Ahmedabad main line that connects Ahmedabad with major cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Dwarka and also produces branch line for Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Morbi, Veraval and Porbander. Recently it has been fully electrified and there is double line section up to Rajkot.
Jamnagar & Dwaraka Railway was a 1,000 mm metre gauge in the Nawanagar State in Gujarat during 19th century.
Porbandar State Railway was a 1,000 mm metre gauge in the Porbandar State in Gujarat during the 19th century.
Chuda is a town and Taluka headquarter of Chuda Taluka in Surendranagar district, Gujarat, India. It was formerly a Jhala Rajput princely state.
The Gondal State Railway (GSR) was a metre gauge railway owned by the Gondal State.
Kathiawar is a peninsula which today forms part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The peninsula covers an area of 23,345 sq. miles and in 1901 had a population of 2,645,805.
Kathiawar State Railway was a metre gauge railway built by the Kathiawar State. The railway opened in December 1880. The railway ran from Wadhwan on the south side of the Bhogavo River to the docks at Bhavnagar. It was also known as the Surendranagar–Bhavnagar Railway. This railway later merged with Bhavnagar State Railway.
The Jetalsar–Rajkot Railway was a metre gauge line in Gujarat. The line of 46 miles (72 km) connected Jetalsar to Rajkot and opened in 1893. The line was worked by the Bhavnagar–Gondal–Junagadh–Porbandar Railway (BGJPR) until 1911; and later by the Gondal–Porbandar Railway (GPSR)
Dhasa Junction railway station is a major railway station serving in Botad district of Gujarat State of India. It is under Bhavnagar railway division of Western Railway Zone of Indian Railways. Dhasa Junction railway station is 69 km far away from Botad Junction. Passenger and Superfast trains halt here.
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