Bankura–Masagram line


The Bankura–Masagram line is a broad-gauge rail line connecting Bankura and Masagram. The railway line operates in Bankura and Purba Bardhaman districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. It falls under Adra railway division.

History

The old narrow gauge route of Bankura Damodar Railway was planned to be revived by South Eastern Railway of Indian Railways in 1998 as a broad gauge line. The plans were to convert the old track with some minor diversions to a broad gauge one and connect it with the Howrah-Bardhaman Chord near Masagram. The work has been scheduled to be completed in three phases: Bankura - Sonamukhi, Sonamukhi-Rainagar, and Rainagar-Masagram.
The Bankura-Sonamukhi broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005. The Sonamukhi-Rainagar broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008 and one stop extension to Mathnasipur was completed in 2011. According to Indian Railways, the missing link between Mathnasipur and Masagram was planned to open in the financial year 2012-2013. On completion of the Rainagar-Masagram new broad gauge section, the distance between Howrah and Bankura was to be reduced from to. The last section involved the construction of a bridge across the Damodar River. The bridge over the Damodar was constructed and work on the Mathnasipur-Masagram new project was completed with the addition of four new halts – Gram Masagram, Habaspur, Dadpur and Berugram.
Construction on the new broad gauge railway line between Bankura-Chhatna-Mukutmanipur has also been inaugurated.

Route description

The previous NG line near Bankura was a bit different. The former NG station was physically isolated from the BG station. It was after the adjacent road, so if anyone wanted to change from BG to NG, he/she should cross the road to entrain the NG train. To continuing journey from Adra to Rainagar, the new BG line is branching just before Bankura Jn., then it turns as a semicircle, and then meets on the old Narrow gauge line alignment. On the rest portion it completely follows the old line’s alignment. The line is entirely single. There are crossings at Sonamukhi, Patrasayer, Bowaichandi, Seharabazar and Rainagar. It passes through land of red soil and part of a partly cut jungle.

Train service

As of January 2019, DEMU services are available between Bankura Junction railway station and Masagram railway station.