Delhi–Fazilka line
| Delhi–Fazilka line with a link to Ferozepur | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Indian Railway |
| Locale | Haryana, Punjab |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Operator(s) | Northern Railway |
| History | |
| Opened | 1897 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 421 km (262 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge |
| Highest elevation | Delhi 239 m (784 ft), Fazilka 181 m (594 ft) |
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The Delhi–Fazilka line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Fazilka the latter in the Indian state of the Punjab. There is a link to Firozpur Cantonment. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway. This line was a part of the historic Delhi-Karachi line.
History
The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the Delhi-Bathinda-Samasatta line in 1897.[1] The line passed through Muktasar and Fazilka tehsils and provided direct connection through Samma Satta (now in Pakistan) to Karachi.[2]
Border crossings
Fazilka and Husseiniwala on this line are two defunct border crossing points on the India-Pakistan border.
After partition of India, a line linked Amrooka on the Pakistan side of the India-Pakistan border, opposite Fazilka, to Samma Satta. The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn in 2011.[3]
The Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala railway crossing, near Firozpur, became defunct with the partition of India. The broad gauge spur from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed.[4] A strategically important bridge that was blown up during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 at Hussainiwala, has been rebuilt and opened in 2013.[5]
Electrification
The Okhla-New Delhi-Shakurbasti line was electrified in 1982-83.[6] As of 2010-11, only 3 km of the 60 km Shakurbasti-Rohtak was remaining.[7] The EMU services of Delhi suburban railway was extended up to Rohtak in 2013.[8]
The electrification of the Rohtak-Bathinda-Lehra Muhabat sector is expected to be completed in 2017-18.[9]
Tracks
Rohtak-Mansa is a double line and doubling of the Mansa-Bathinda sector is in progress.[9]
Sheds
Shakurbasti has a diesel loco shed. It houses WDS-4A, WDS-4B, WDS-4D, WDM-2 and DEMUs. It also has a broad gauge trip shed for WDM-2 and WDG-3A locos. WDS-4 shunting locos based all over Northern Railway are sent here for periodical maintenance.[10]
Developments
The 42 km (26 mi) new 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge line between Fazilka and Abohar was opened in 2012.[11]
The Rewari-Rohtak line was commissioned in 2013.[12]
Work for a new line from Rohtak to Hansi via Meham was inaugurated in 2013.[13]
Railway reorganisation
Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with North Western Railway in 1930.[14]
With the partition of India in 1947, North Western Railway was split. While the western portion became Pakistan West Railway, and later Pakistan Railways, the eastern part became Eastern Punjab Railway.[15]
In 1952, Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company, west of Mughalsarai, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.[16]
References
- ^ "IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899)". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Chapter VII Communications". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Bahawalnagar rail junction a relic from 1901". The Nation 14 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ Bhuyan, Mohan. "International Links from India". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ Sharma, Dinesh K. "40 years after war, bridge opens near Hussainiwla borer". The Times of India, 5 December 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Railway Electrification". Ministry of Railways. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Delhi-Rohtak EMU to be inaugurated on March 3". The Times of India, 27 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Electrification of Rohtak-Batinda-Lehra Muhabat section of Northern Railway". Ministry of Railways, 21 January 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Rail link between Abohar, Fazilka opens today". Hindustan Times, 15 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Haryana gets first functional railway line after 33 years". Business Standard, 7 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "The Minister for Railways lays the foundation stones of Rohtak-Meham-Hansi new line". Northern Railway 19 July 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Southern Punjab Railway". fibis. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ SM Imamul Haque. "Management of Indian Railways, 1989". Readings in Indian Railway Finance by KB Verma, P 136. Mittal Publications,A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059. ISBN 81-7099-183-8. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.