Rewari-Kuchaman Chord Railway
Rewari-Kuchaman Chord Railway
The ‘Rewari-Kuchaman Chord’ was a railway linking the systems at Phalera Junction to Rewari to form a direct link between Karachi and Delhi, fully opened in May 1905 [1]. The line was 134.25 miles(215km) long and was to form part of the Rajputana-Malwa Railway, being worked by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CIR). The railway passed through British Territory for 16 miles, Alwar 1.1 miles, Nabha territory 10.05 miles, Patiala 14.25 Miles, and Jodhpur 3.25 miles and finally Jaipur 90.10 miles total 134.25 Miles [2]
History
The route was first surveyed in 1897 when a party under Mr J Burn started work. His instructions were to survey a link between Kuchaman and Rewari passing through Madhapur. The Resident requested the help of the Nazims in supplying goods and especially when passing through Jodhpur Territory. [3] being is the majority of the route. Unfortunately, the Hakim of Madhapur was not so inclined and caused trouble for the survey pulling out survey posts and putting claims for damaged crops and causing an affray. [4] The survey was finally completed. The line had the approval of the Indian Government but before It was built a famine struck in 1899 and the groundwork for the line was requested as a famine relief project. [5] The work started from Rewari Junction through the Khawati Country towards Kuchaman Road. Three possible routes had been surveyed, two routes were possible between Phalera and Sri Madhopur. The third line was the straightest and lay completely in Jaipur Territory, but it left on the side the trading town Kishengash and also Bhaislana. Line B would serve both these places and is thought to be the best route although it passes through a 3 mile part of Durbar of Marwar Territory. [6]
In 1899 the line became known as the Rewari- Phalera Chord when Jaipur and Jodhpur agreed to build the line. The Marwar Durbar in Jaipur agreed the session of the 3-4-mile section to the railway company and to pay of the cost of building the railway in their territory [7] A proposal was made by Jaipur to link the Jodhpur-Bikaner Railway (JBR) system in Jaipur to the Rewari- Phalera Chord This caused a disagreement until a full proposal was put forward. (See below) “I enclose a tracing which will clearly show the idea the Durbar has in view. The proposed link from Barawar would probably run on shown on one or other of the dotted lines or somewhere between the two. It is hoped the Jaipur Durbar will now be able to say in equally distinct terms if they at acquiesce the proposal”[8] Unfortunately at the time the Jaipur Durbar replied “Under the above circumstances the Jaipur Durbar are not disposed to agree with the proposal above.”[9]
When the construction of the ‘Rewari-Phalera Chord’ started in 1900 a survey of the earthworks was made and a payment of the cost of Rs 6898 was paid for the famine work. [10] A total of 9,820 cu feet of earthwork had been done under the scheme. [11]. Through the foreign territories the construction crew, in the light of previous experiences, were protected buy Treasure Guards supplied by the local Darbars. [12] Jodhpur was the last territory to cede jurisdiction over the land occupied by the railway in 1905. This allowed the railway to open, but owning land in a Foreign country left the Indian Government with a problem, it solved this by making the railway an administrative District in its own right with all that entailed. [13]
References
- ↑ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 22 (pdf30 ; Retrieved 9 Dec 2017
- ↑ British Library ‘India Office Records’ IOR/R/2187/387 “File 31/1897 Rewari-Kuchaman Chord Railway Survey via Phulera and Kishengarh”; 1897, Page 91
- ↑ Ibid Page 1
- ↑ Ibid Page 25
- ↑ Ibid page 38
- ↑ Ibid Page 43
- ↑ Ibid Page 60
- ↑ Ibid Page 76
- ↑ Ibid Page 84
- ↑ Ibid Page 67
- ↑ Ibid Page 143
- ↑ Ibid Page 157
- ↑ Ibid Page 163