Aman064 at 18:03, 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T18:03:47Z

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{{Short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Bilaspur–Nagpur section
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Durg junction railway station.jpg
| image_width = 300
| caption = [[Durg Junction railway station]] is an important Railway Station On Bilaspur–Nagpur section
| type =
| system = Electrified
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| start = [[Bilaspur railway station|Bilaspur]]
| end = [[Nagpur railway station|Nagpur]]
| stations =
| routes = [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]]
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1891
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength =
| tracklength = Main line: {{convert|414|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Branch lines: Abhanpur–Rajim : {{convert|17|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Kendri–Dhamtari : {{convert|68|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Durg–Dalli Rajhara: {{convert|87|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Gondia–Balaghat–Katangi: {{convert|88|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Tumsar Road–Tirodi: {{convert|48|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} '''Gondia–Nagbhir–Balharshah''': {{convert|252|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Nagpur–Nagbhir : {{convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Kanhan–Ramtek: {{convert|23|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Nagpur–Chhindwara : {{convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Chhindwara–Amla: {{convert|115|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks = Main line: 3 tracks between Bilaspur to Rajnandgaon and 2 tracks between Rajnandgaon to Nagpur
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Yes
| speed = Main line: up to 130 km/h
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Bilaspur–Nagpur section}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Bilaspur–Nagpur section''' is part of the [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]] and connects [[Bilaspur railway station|Bilaspur]] in the Indian state of [[Chhattisgarh]] and [[Nagpur railway station|Nagpur]] in [[Maharashtra]]. Part of one of the major trunk lines in the country, it passes through a forested plateau region interspersed with fertile valleys.

==History==
The first train in India travelled from Mumbai to [[Thane]] on 16 April 1853. By May 1854, [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]]'s Bombay–Thane line was extended to [[Kalyan, India|Kalyan]]. [[Bhusawal]] station was set up in 1860 and in 1867 the GIPR branch line was extended to Nagpur.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-hist.html | title = IR History: Early Days – I : Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1832–1865)| publisher = IRFCA | access-date = 2012-11-20 }}</ref> The [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway]] started construction of the {{convert|240|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} [[metre gauge]] (soon converted to broad gauge) Nagpur–Rajnandgaon section in 1878, after surveys were started in 1871. The Nagpur–Tumsar Road section was opened in April 1880 and the Tumsar Road–Rajnandgaon section in December 1880.<ref name=nagpur>{{cite web | url = http://www.secr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1312278598168-Tourist%20Places.pdf | title = Nagpur Division| access-date = 2012-11-20 }}</ref>

The [[Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line]], a joint effort of [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]] and [[East Indian Railway Company]] came up in 1870.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html | title = IR History: Early Days – II : Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899)| publisher = IRFCA | access-date = 2012-11-10 }}</ref> The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was formed in 1887 for the purpose of upgrading the [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway]] and then extending it via [[Bilaspur railway station|Bilaspur]] to [[Asansol Junction railway station|Asansol]], in order to develop a shorter Howrah–Mumbai route than the one via Allahabad.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://railwaysofraj.blogspot.in/2011/08/number-1-down-mail.html |title = Number 1 Down Mail| publisher= Railways of the Raj| access-date = 2012-11-10 }}</ref> The Bengal Nagpur Railway main line from Nagpur to Asansol, on the [[Howrah–Delhi main line]], was opened for goods traffic on 1 February 1891.<ref name=ser>{{cite web|url=http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1 |title=Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway |publisher=South Eastern Railway |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401151628/http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C1 |archive-date= 1 April 2013 }}</ref>

A narrow-gauge branch line was constructed from [[Raipur]] to [[Dhamtari]], and from [[Abhanpur]] another branch line goes to [[Rajim]]. It was opened in 1900.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/history/raipur-district.html |title = Raipur District| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-12-25 }}</ref> The Gondia–Nagbhir–Nagpur line was opened for traffic in 1908. The Nagbhir–Rajoli line was opened in 1913 and extended up to Chanda. The Bhilai–Dalli Rajhara line mainly for iron ore transportation was opened in 1958. [[Bhilai Steel Plant]] was opened in 1959.<ref name=ser/>

The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was nationalized in 1944.<ref name=ser/>[[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] was formed on 14 April 1952 with the portion of [[East Indian Railway Company]] east of [[Mughalsarai]] and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.<ref name=zones>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-11-21 }}</ref> In 1955, [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] was carved out of Eastern Railway. It comprised lines mostly operated by BNR earlier.<ref name=zones/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history4.html |title = IR History: Part - IV (1947–1970)| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-11-21 }}</ref> Amongst the new zones started in April 2003 were [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]] and [[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]]. Both these railways were carved out of South Eastern Railway.<ref name=zones/>

==Gauge conversion==
Work for conversion to {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] of the {{convert|240|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} [[narrow-gauge]] Gondia–Chanda Fort line started in December 1992, Gondia–Wadsa section was inaugurated on 25 September 1994. Wadsa–Nagbhir section was opened on 20 February 1997, Nagbhir–Chanda Fort section was opened on 13 January 1999 and the Chanda Fort–Ballarshah section was operated from 2 July 1999.<ref name=division >{{cite web| url = http://www.secr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1312278598168-Tourist%20Places.pdf |title =Nagpur Division | publisher=South East Central Railway| access-date = 2012-11-10 }}</ref>

The Gondia–Balaghat broad-gauge section was opened for traffic on 6 September 2005.<ref name=division/> The Balaghat–Katangi section was converted to broad gauge in 2010.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Balaghat-Jabalpur-protest-march-to-demand-rly-line/articleshow/7300383.cms| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130126034231/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-17/nagpur/28379163_1_broad-gauge-gauge-conversion-jabalpur| url-status = live| archive-date = 26 January 2013|title = Balaghat–Jabalpur protest march to demand rly line|date=17 January 2011| work = [[The Times of India]]| access-date = 2012-11-10 }}</ref><ref name=division/>

The gauge conversions are under process for {{convert|147|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Nagpur–Chhindwara section, the {{convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Jabalpur–Nainpur section, the {{convert|180|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Chhindwara–Nainpur–Mandla section, the Nainpur–Balaghat section and {{convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Nagpur–Nagbhir section.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-27/nagpur/31421245_1_gauge-conversion-narrow-gauge-broad-gauge | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130212053227/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-27/nagpur/31421245_1_gauge-conversion-narrow-gauge-broad-gauge | url-status = dead | archive-date = 12 February 2013 |title = Funds crunch hits gauge conversion work |date=27 April 2012| work = [[The Times of India]] | access-date = 2012-12-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/budget-2012/rail-budget/What-is-new-in-Railway-Budget-2012-13/articleshow/12267354.cms |title = What is new in the Railway Budget 2012-13|work=The Times of India|date=14 March 2012| access-date = 2012-11-10 }}</ref>

==Electrification==
The entire main line is [[Central Organisation for Railway Electrification|electrified]]. The Bilaspur–Bhilai and Bhilai–Durg sections were electrified in 1970–71, Durg–Paniajob section in 1989–90. The Paniajob–Gondia and Gondia–Bhandara Road sections in 1990–91, Bhandara Road–Tharsa and Tharsa–Nagpur sections in 1991–92.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html|title = History of Electrification| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-11-10}}</ref> The Amla–Chhindwara section was electrified in 2017<ref>{{cite tweet|number=937269672046575616|user=Central_Railway|title=Amla-Chhindwara section of #Nagpur Division electrified from today. First train on #Electric traction Pench Valley…|date=3 December 2017}}</ref> and Balharshah–Chanda Fort–Gondia section was electrified in 2018. Other lines will be electrified once converted to broad gauge.

==Speed limits==
The entire Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line is planned to be upgraded into a "Group A" line which would let it take speeds up to 160 km/h.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRPWM/PermanentWayManualCh2_data.htm |title=Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030524/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRPWM/PermanentWayManualCh2_data.htm |archive-date=3 December 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Passenger movement==
[[Bilaspur railway station|Bilaspur]], [[Raipur railway station|Raipur]], [[Durg railway station|Durg]] and [[Nagpur railway station|Nagpur]] on this line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway. About 1 to 1.2 million passengers travel from here.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |title=Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry |work=Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=2012-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510115649/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |archive-date=10 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Narrow-gauge rail museum==
A Narrow-Gauge Rail Museum was inaugurated at Nagpur on 14 December 2002. It was accorded the status at par with National Rail Museum, New Delhi.<ref name=division/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{external media
| float=right
| video1= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8vgk0vqntU Gondia-Balaghat-Katangi DEMU]
|video2= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqjAa-OY4Y Gondia-Balaghat-Katangi Passenger Train]
}}

{{Railways in Central India}}
{{Godavari basin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bilaspur - Nagpur section}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Bilaspur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Nagpur SEC railway division|*]]
[[Category:Raipur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1891]]
[[Category:Transport in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Transport in Nagpur]]

Bilaspur–Nagpur section - Revision history

Aman064 at 18:03, 19 April 2026