Changes

is mentioned in the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) stated in 'Records' below . The proposal, dated 1920, was disallowed by the Government of India([[Government of India |GoI]]) at this time. The explanation for this decision is given in ‘Records’ below.

The railway connection between [[Hindubagh]] and [[Fort Sandeman ]] (the capital of [[Zhob]]) was not completed until 1929 when it was named the [[Zhob Valley Railway]]

An on-line search of the The [[India Office Records]] (IOR) records record held at the [[British Library]] relating to this railway project <ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 7 Apr 2016</ref>

*L/PS/11/168, P 994/1920; “P 994/1920 Baluchistan“Baluchistan: communications in the Zhob valley; proposal for a broad-gauge railway from Hindubagh to Fort Sandeman, disallowed by Government of India”; 1 Sep 1919-23 Mar 1920 ''This record has not gives the following explanation for the decision:- <blockquote>On the 1st September 1919, the outgoing Agent in Baluchistan Mr Dobs, submitted to the Government of India a case for converting the narrow-gauge railway [[Khanai-Hindubagh Railway]] to broad gauge. During the war in Afghanistan during the Great War the railway had been examined of little use due to the nearly all the rolling stock being moved to the Pezu-Tank Railway. His main premise was, although the war was over, that unrest would continue and may provide another war was probably inevitable. One of the problems was supplying the troops during the last campaign, and that a railway would improve this. Chromite had been found in quantities along the Zhob valley and this along with the wool produced would add to the profitability of the railway. The railway would also open up the cultivation of the Musafirpur tract giving it access to markets further informationafield.''</blockquote> <blockquote>However the response from Government was to disallow the railway on the grounds that “Changes had happened in warfare over the last few years and cavalry were becoming obsolete. Mechanised transport was now more reliable and flexible so a road system thorough out Waziristan was proposed to be built. While marauding tribesmen would have to deal with aerial warfare, instead of the ground based assault, if the incursions continued.” </blockquote>