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The Satpura Railway was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in central India.

History

After the Great Famine of 1876–78 in central India, the Bengal Nagpur Railway began planning to open a low-cost railway track that would unite the region, allowing both access to the agricultural and mineral resources of the region, further safeguarding the inhabitants should another famine arise. Nainpur was the focal point of the network and was even bestowed with the prestige of being a divisional headquarters for some time. The lines came up in the early years of the 20th century.

The first portion of the Gondia–Nainpur line was opened on 13 April 1903, Nainpur and Chhindwara were connected in 1904 and Jabalpur in 1905. The Chhindwara –Pench Coalfield line came up in 1906 to 07 and the Nainpur–Mandla Fort line in 1909. The extensive network of 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge tracks measured just over 1,000 km.

Conversion to broad gauge

v t e Jabalpur–Balaghat–Gondia line Satpura Railway
Legend
to Amla Chhindwara 0 to Allahabad–Jabalpur section on Bhopal–Nagpur section 0 Jabalpur NH 547 2 Jabalpur Howbagh Ghatparasia 11 5 Madan Mahal Umaria Isra 14 6 Kachhpura NH 347 to Jabalpur–Bhusaval section Jhilimili 20 NH 30 Pench River 12 Garha Goods Shed Markahandi Udadon 24 21 Gwarighat Chourai Karaboh 33 25 Jamtara Paraswara Kapurdha Halt 38 Narmada River Samaswara 41 28 Charghat Piparia (Mohas) Pipardahi 49 33 Charghat Piparia (Ghutiya) Matradham Halt 54 NH 34 NH 44 40 Bargi SH 26 NH 34 SH 26 51 Sukrimangela Seoni 65 54 Kaladehi SH 26 Temur River Bhoma 84 58 Devri PH Kanhiwada 91 Temur River Jurtara Halt 96 65 Shikara Palari 104 APIL Power Limited (Jhabua) Khairee Halt 109 76 Binaiki Keolari 117 SH 40 Wainganga River 85 Ghunsore Bothiya 122 93 Nidhani SH 12 100 Putarra SH 12 Thanwar River Gangatola 127 108 Pindrai Khairanji 133 114 Jeonara Thanwar River Chakor River SH 11 120/140 Nainpur SH 11 Chakor River Padriganj 134 147 Dhatura Alipur Gudru Halt 139 150 Jamgaon Changotola 144 SH 11 Nagarwara 146 156 Rampuri SH 11 SH 11 SH 11 SH 11 Lamta 154 SH 11 SH 11 SH 11B Charegaon 165 159 Chiraidongri Nahara River 164 Simariya Kajarwada Titwa 171 SH 11 Magardarra 175 170 Bahmani Banjar Samnapur 179 SH 11 SH 11 176 Limarua SH 11 SH 11 Sonbiri River 183 Mandla Fort Dhapewara 188 Bharveli Manganese Mines (Balaghat) to Balaghat–Tumsar Road line SH 26 Balaghat 195 SH 11 Kanhad Gaon 203 Hatta Road 207 Khara 212 Bagh River Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Birsola 219 Gatra Halt 224 Pratap Bagh 228 Nagradham 231 NH 753 Gondia 236 on Bilaspur–Nagpur section towards Balharshah
Sources:Google Maps Gaya Chennai Central Weekly Express Nainpur Chiraidongri Passenger Chhindwara Nainpur Passenger

The Satpura Railway is fully made into 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge. The alignment follows the old 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge line in most of the route excepting the hilly regions. Amla - Chhindwara - Nainpur - Mandla Fort section fully follows the old 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge alignment. But Jabalpur - Nainpur - Balaghat - Gondia section has different alignment in some parts. The section between Gondia and Balaghat was converted to broad gauge in 2005 and 2006 connecting Balaghat to India's national network for the first time. Work was completed on converting the Balaghat – Nainpur - Jabalpur section to broad gauge in 2021. The narrow-gauge trains running between Jabalpur and Balaghat were stopped in October 2015 and the track was closed for gauge conversion. The 85.1 kilometres (52.9 mi) broad-gauge track from Jabalpur to Ghunsore railway station was opened in September 2017 and the 35.1 kilometres (21.8 mi) track from Ghunsore to Nainpur opened in 2018.

The last work of 75.5 kilometres (46.9 mi) between Nainpur to Balaghat was expected to be operational in mid-2020, but due to COVID-19 pandemic it was delayed, while also converted into an electrified line for increased average speed. After that, it was started on 8 March 2021. The 183 kilometres (114 mi) long Chhindwara - Nainpur - Mandla Fort section is nearing completion with crs inspection happened on 24th of february 2023. Nainpur - Mandla Fort section being operational since 15 March 2021.

References

1. R.R.Bhandari. "Railways of the Raj". Retrieved 10 December 2012.
2. ^ Vohra, Bharat. "Satpura NG Explorer". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
3. "Nagpur Division" (PDF). South East Central Railway. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
4. "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
5. "India's Satpura Narrow Gauge Lines, 1981". The International Steam Pages. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
6. "Funds crunch hits gauge conversion work". The Times of India. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
7. The End Of A Much Loved Indian Railway Line
8. "Piyush Goyal will flag off 12 coach train on Jabalpur-Balaghat line during virtual program". Dainik Bhaskar. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.

• 2 ft 6 in gauge railways in India
• Defunct railway companies of India
• Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh
• Transport in Jabalpur