Patna Railway
The Patna Railway, as a name, occurs in several records.
Contents
Patna Railway Suggestions 1846-49
References to a railway in the vicinity of Patna are made in the years 1846-49 concerning different suggestions of a route between Calcutta and Delhi. [1]. The East Indian Railway(EIR) during 1846-49 were surveying the route for the onward extension from Howrah (Calcutta) westward, the acquisition of land became a serious issue.
Patna EIR Railway, 1855
Construction of railway line through Patna by the East Indian Railway Company (EIR) was started in 1855 [2].
Patna Incident, 1856
“The Early History of the East Indian Railway” by Hene Mukergee states
The operations in connection with the acquisition of land for the EIR were extensive and the interests involved in such land were complex. The persons handling these affairs on the spot were often people completely ignorant of the social and religious prejudices of the people with whom they had to deal. Under such circumstances certain cases of injustice and maltreatment did occur, and this caused widespread discontent in certain areas along the route of the line. The ‘Patna Incident’ may be cited as an instance. In 1856, wide commotion was created amongst people of Patna by the activities of the Railway engineers in connection with the cutting down of the centre line of the railway through the city. Houses were destroyed and even sacred places violated by them without the authority of the Railway Commissioner. However the Goverment of India promptly intervened and the Railway Company was warned against any such future occurrence. [3]
Patna EIR Railway, 1862
Patna was on the Luckeesarai - Dinapore section of the EIR mainline, 82 miles(132km) that opened in Nov 1862 [4]. The railway formed a vital link in the EIR mainline between Calcutta and Delhi that were connected in 1866 [5]. Prior to the opening the transport of raw materials and finished goods was done through the river transport on River Ganges [2]
The railway station, now called Patna Junction was originally called Banikpore Junction. [2] [6].
Patna-Patna Ghat Branch Line
A short branch of 0.87 miles(1.4km) to Patna Ghat from the EIR mainline opened at the same time in Nov 1862 [6].
Digha Ghat Branch Railway, 1885
This branch from Patna Junction, then called Banikpore Junction to Digha Ghat, 5.53 miles(8.8km) opened Apr 1885 The railway line was constructed to ease the transportation of leather items and footwear products to and from the leather works at Digha on the bank of the River Ganges [6] The Wikipedia statement ‘ The Patna Junction-Digha Ghat rail track was laid in 1862 during the British Raj’ is not correct , this must refer to the shorter line to Patna Ghat mentioned above [7].
Further Information
References
- ↑ British Library IOR/E/4/794, pp50, 56 “Branch railway lines to Patna & Rajmahal on River Ganges, suggestions respecting”
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wikipedia “Patna Junction Railway Station”; Retrieved 10 Nov 2018 2016
- ↑ “The Early History of the East Indian Railway”, Firma Press, Calcutta, 1994 by Hene Mukergee page 98
- ↑ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 53 (pdf61) ; Retrieved 10 Nov 2018
- ↑ ”Symphony of Progress – The Saga of the Eastern Railways” Eastern Railways, Kolkata 2003; page 14
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 54 (pdf62) ; Retrieved 10 Nov 2018
- ↑ Wikipedia “Dinga Ghat Line”; Retrieved 10 Nov 2018
