Godavari River Monsoon Navigation Tramways
The Godavari River Monsoon Navigation Tramways was a proposal sanctioned in 1861 by the Madras Presidency Marine Department to enable the Godavari River (see spelling note) to be used as an all season route for transportation of cotton to the sea [1].
The plan was for three tramways of unknown gauge to be used between July and November each year to avoid the shoals in the river. The three sections were Bhadrachalam to Dummagudem, 19 miles(30km); Devadula to Pamimela, 20 miles(32km) and Maogaveelli to Salgaon,34 miles(54km) [1].
The building of the three sections of tramway was started in 1862 but only the first was finished. The construction and administration was taken over by Central Provinces Government in 1863 who abandoned the second and trhird tramways. The shoals at these sections had been cleared or canals built around them. The trammay materials were lifted and used in two quaries that were opened to supply stone for the river improvements and canal works [1].
Spelling Note
- 'Godaveri River' is the spelling used in the Imperial Gazetteer of India that we take as the definitive spelling.
- 'Godavery River' was the spelling used in thereports at the time of construction
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 “Industrial Railways and Locomotives of India and South Asia” compliled by Simon Darvill. Published by ‘The Industrial Railway Society’ 2013. ISBN 978 1 901556 82-7. Available at http://irsshop.co.uk/India. Reference: Entry AP23 pages 66-67
