Mirzapore and Delhi Railway Company

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The Mirzapore and Delhi Railway Company was floated in 1845 with a proposal to construct a railway from Mirzapore(Mirzapur) to Allahabad and onward to Delhi

The Company was “provisionally registered” but there is nothing to suggest that any share options were taken up or that any surveys were undertaken.

This route was the subject of intense debate and exchange of Reports as detailed in ‘Great Trunk Railway from Calcutta’ – see separate page

The East Indian Railway (EIR) was given the authority to construct this line and the route of this proposed railway was followed. This section of the ‘EIR Mainline’ was opened in stages between 1859 and 1865 [1]

History

The ‘Mirzapore and Delhi Railway Company’ was floated in November 1845 with “Capital £4,000,000 in 80,000 shares of £50 each, with 30,000 reserved for India. The grand trunk line proposed to he constructed by this Company, will start from the great emporium of Mirzapore and running thence to Allahabad, will enter the level and fertile districts of the Dooab, and proceed in a direct line by Mynpoore, Cool, Alloeghur through the most populous districts between the Ganges and the Jumna, to Delhi, throwing off branches to the great military posts and seats of commerce by the way. Among the recommendations of this line is the fact that it will approximate the seat of Government to the Punjaub, the probable scene for many years to come of important political events” [2]

“The object of the Company is to construct a great trunk line from the emporium of Mizapore, the contemplated terminus of the line to be constructed by the East Indian Railway Company and running thence up the Mesopotamia, as it may be called, of the Ganges and Jumna, to the important city of Delhi” [3]

The Company was registered at 12 Crosby Hall Chambers, Bishopsgate Street, London, this being a firm of Solicitors and are listed as a ‘projected colonial railway’ in 1846 [4] .

The ‘Committee of Privy Council for Trade’ and the ‘Registrar of Joint-Stock Companies’ record that the Company was “Provisionally, but not completely registered during the year on 17 Oct 1845” [5] .

References