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Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway: Difference between revisions
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== History == | == History == | ||
In 1852 [[John Pitt Kennedy]] was introduced in London to Lieutenant-Colonel French, who had been Acting Resident at the Court of the Guicowar of Baroda. Colonel French wanted to get up a company to construct a line of railway from [[Baroda]] to [[Tankaria Bunda]], in the gulf of Cambay, a distance of about 45 miles. Colonel Kennedy joined him, but instead of the original line proposed, they projected what became the '''Bombay, Baroda, and Central India railway''' <ref name=grace>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/John_Pitt_Kennedy_(1796-1879) Grace's Guide "John Pitt Kennedy"]Retrieved on 21 Apr 2016</ref>. | |||
Their object was to open the most effectual line from Bombay, through the central and north-western districts, to meet the railway in progress of construction from [[Calcutta]] to [[Delhi]], together with all the branches that such a line could require. Upon the formation of the company, Colonel Kennedy was appointed consulting engineer and managing director. A staff of engineers was sent to Bombay, and during the cold season of 1853, comparative surveys, sufficient to lay a well-digested scheme before the Government, were made <ref name=grace/>. | |||
On the 3rd of November, 1854, the Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, sanctioned [[Broach]], and [[Baroda]], to [[Ahmedabad]], leaving the remainder of the scheme for future decision, and the work to be commenced at [[Bombay]]. The Home Government, however, decided that the work should be commenced at [[Surat]] <ref name=grace/>. | |||
Construction commenced in 1855 and began work on track from [[Baroda]] to [[Surat]]. By 1865, the [[Bombay]]-[[Surat]]-[[Baroda]]-[[Ahmedabad]] route was complete; in 1867, the Virar -Bombay Backbay suburban service commenced with one train in each direction each day. In 1871, trackage was 300 miles (480km). | |||
On 31 December 1905, ownership of the BB&CIR passed to the Government of India [[Government of India |GoI]] and a new company formed to manage the BB&CIR under a contract agreed in 1907 and revised in 1913. | On 31 December 1905, ownership of the BB&CIR passed to the Government of India [[Government of India |GoI]] and a new company formed to manage the BB&CIR under a contract agreed in 1907 and revised in 1913. | ||