New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section

The New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section of the Barauni–Guwahati line connects New Jalpaiguri in the Indian state of West Bengal and New Bongaigaon in Assam.

New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon Section (including Fakiragram-Dhubri branch line)
New Bongaigaon Junction, an important railway station on New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal, Assam
Termini	New Jalpaiguri New Bongaigaon
Stations	31
Service
Operator(s)	Northeast Frontier Railway
History
Opened	1963
Technical
Line length	252 km (157 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Yes
Route map Legend km New Bongaigaon–Guwahati section 136 Abhayapuri 124 Boitamari 111 Chapar 88 Bilasipara 76 Bagribari 66 Alamganj Bamnai River 64 Dhubri Ghat 63 Dhubri 56 Gauripur 49 Balajan ex MG connection to Bamanhat New Cooch Behar–Golokganj line to New Cooch Behar 47 Golokganj 43 Moterjhar Bamnai River 35 Basbari 26 Monglajhora 16 Tipkai Gangia River 9 Saptagram New Bongaigaon–Guwahati section 256 New Bongaigaon IOCL Bongaigaon railway siding 251 Dangtal Kujia River 244 Basugaon Champabati River 237 Salakati Tarang River 228 Kokrajhar Gourang River 223 Sesapani 218 0 Fakiragram Junction Heli River Loshka River 212 Pratap Khata Gangia River 207 Chautara Pagla River Mara Jaima River 194 Guabari 189 Gossaigaon Hat 182 Srirampur Assam Hawraphuta River Assam West Bengal border Sankosh River 172 Jorai Sankosh River Raidāk River 164 Kamakhyaguri Raidāk River 159 Chepani Halt 154 Samuktala Road New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar– Samuktala line Gadadhar River Bala River Nonai River 144 New Alipurduar Kaljani River 133 New Baneswar New Cooch Behar–Golokganj line to Golokganj Alipurduar–Bamanhat branch line to Bamanhat 125 New Cooch Behar Alipurduar–Bamanhat branch line to Alipurduar Junction New Mal–Changrabandha– New Cooch Behar line 115 Pundibari 111 Sajerpar Torsa River 103 Ghoksadanga 96 Gumanihat 87 Falakata Mujnai River 83 Khirerkote Duduya River 78 Salbari 72 Kolaigram 65 Dhupguri 58 Altagram Jaldhaka River 49 Betgara 45 New Maynaguri planned Y connection (under construction) 41 New Domohani New Mal–Changrabandha line Teesta River 33 Jalpaiguri Road New Jalpaiguri-Haldibari line 26 Raninagar Jalpaiguri 18 Belakoba 9 Ambari Falakata New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar– Samuktala Road line Darjeeling Himalayan Railway narrow gauge line 0 New Jalpaiguri Katihar–New Jalpaiguri line This diagram: view talk edit

History

During British rule, all links from the northern part of Bengal and Assam to the rest of India were through the eastern part of Bengal. The most important connection was the 529 kilometres (329 mi) long Calcutta–Parbatipur–Haldibari–Siliguri link first established in 1878 and then developed in stages^[1] (for details see Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Line). During the nineteenth century, Lalmonirhat was linked to the Dooars.^[2] In pre-independence days, a 581 kilometres (361 mi) long metre gauge line running via Radhikapur, Biral, Parbatipur, Tista, Gitaldaha and Golokganj connected Fakiragram in Assam with Katihar in Bihar.^[3]

With the partition of India in 1947, all these links were lost. Indian Railways took up the Assam Link Project in 1948 to build a 301.8 kilometres (187.5 mi) long rail link between Fakiragram and Kishanganj. Fakiragram was connected to the Indian railway system in 1950 through the Indian portion of North Bengal with a metre gauge track.^[4] The New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section was partly new construction, partly old line converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 1963.^[5][6] The 312 km (194 mi) long 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) meter gauge Siliguri-Jogihopa line was constructed between 1963 and 1965 & was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 1998 .^[7]

Branch lines

The 56.75 kilometres (35.26 mi) long Haldibari–New Jalpaiguri line has gone through two successive gauge changes. As most other railway tracks in the area were metre gauge, the line was converted from 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge to metre gauge in 1949. Then in 1960s when broad gauge was introduced in the area, the line was converted back to broad gauge and connected to the new station at New Jalpaiguri.^[1]

The 62.7 kilometres (39.0 mi) long metre gauge branch line from Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district to Changrabandha in Cooch Behar district is now made into 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge section in 2016 & extended 64.1 kilometres (39.8 mi) further to New Coochbehar, with train service, as per the railway time table. In pre-independence days, the line was up to Mogalhat, now in Bangladesh. The present 88.3 kilometres (54.9 mi) long metre gauge line on the Bangladesh side from Burimari to Lalmonirhat is still functional.^[8]

The Alipuduar–Bamanhat branch line ends near the India-Bangladesh border across the Dharla River. In pre-independence days, it used to connect to Mogalhat, now in Bangladesh, across the Dharla. The bridge is broken. The line from Golokganj meets the branch line. The 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) New Cooch Behar–Golokganj section is newly made into broad gauge via Boxirhat. The line passed through a different alignment.^[3][9]

The 76.5 kilometres (47.5 mi) Fakiragram-Dhubri branch line was inaugurated after gauge conversion in September 2010.^[10]

Electrification

Electrification of the entire 593 kilometres (368 mi) long Katihar–Guwahati route is in progress & expected to completed by 2024.^[11]

References

1. "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
2. "Bengal Dooars Railway". Fibis. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
3. "Geography - International". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
4. "Indian Railways History". Northeast Frontier Railway. IRSE. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
5. "Some Milestones of NF Railway". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
6. "Gauge conversion project in Assam". The Hindu Business Line. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
7. Moonis Raza & Yash Aggarwal (1986). Transport Geography of India: Commodity Flow and the Regional Structure of Indian Economy. Concept Publishing Company, A-15/16 Commercial Block, Mohan Garden, New Delhi - 110059. ISBN 81-7022-089-0. Retrieved 2 May 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
8. Mohan Bhuyan. "International Links from India". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
9. "Official pledges rail project by March". The Telegraph. 12 December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
10. "Mamata flags off two trains- Dhubri-Kamakhya link after 22-year wait". The Telegraph. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
11. "Railway electrification project to touch North East soon". Business Standard. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.