Delhi–Fazilka line

The Delhi–Fazilka line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Fazilka the latter in the Indian state of Punjab. There is a link to Firozpur Cantonment. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway. This line was a part of the historic Delhi–Karachi line.

Delhi–Fazilka line with a link to Ferozepur
Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant situates near of Delhi–Fazilka line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Haryana, Punjab
Termini	Old Delhi Fazilka
Service
Operator(s)	Northern Railway
History
Opened	1897
Technical
Track length	416 km (258 mi)
Number of tracks	Double line from Delhi to Bathinda. Rest: Single line
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Fully Electrified
Highest elevation	Delhi 239 m (784 ft), Fazilka 182 m (597 ft)
Route map Legend km km to Karachi via Samma Satta Pakistan   border line closed Fazilka–Abohar line Fazilka 420 SH 20 Chak Banwala 405 Ludhiana–Fazilka line Chak Pakhewala 404 Roranwala 397 Gang Canal 388 Firozpur City Lakhewali 389 385 Firozpur Cantt Bhagsar 384 Jalandhar–Firozpur line Badhai Balamgarh Halt 380 Ludhiana–Fazilka line Muktsar 372 SH 20 NH 754 NH 5 NH 354 374 Kasubegu Charewan 366 366 Golehwala Jhabelwali 363 358 Pili Palkhi Kalan Indira Gandhi Canal 353 Faridkot Bariwala 358 Indira Gandhi Canal Wander Jatana 349 344 Giani Zail Singh Sandhwan 340 Kotkapura 331 Romana Albel Singh 328 Ajit Gill Matta 323 Gangsar Jatio 316 Chand Bhan 309 Goneana Bhai Jagta National Fertilizers plant NH 7 Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Suratgarh–Bathinda line 297 Bathinda Jodhpur–Bathinda line Bathinda–Rewari line Bathinda–Rajpura line NH 54 NH 148B 288 Katar Singhwala Bathinda–Rajpura line 279 Kot Fateh NH 148B 271 Maisar Khana NH 254 263 Maur 256 Koti Kalan 253 Sadda Singhwala NH 703 244 Mansa 236 Narinderpura SH 21 228 Budhlada 221 Datewas 213 Bareta 207 Kahangarh Ludhiana–Jakhal line Punjab Haryana 199 Jakhal Jakhal–Hisar branch line 191 Himmatpura 187 Tohana NH 148B 180 Kalwan 176 Dhamtan Sahib 169 Dharodi Kurukshetra–Narwana branch line 161 Narwana NH 152 154 Ghaso 146 Uchana 141 Gaon Baroda 135 Barsola 127 81 Jind SH 12 Satluj Yamuna Canal SH 10 NH 352 SH 14 77 Jind City Bishnapura Haryana 120 72 Pandu Pindara Kinana 115 Panipat–Jind branch line 60 Lalitkhera Jai Jai Wanti 107 52 Bhambheva Julana 102 47 Ishapur Kheri 44 Butana Kila Zafargarh 096 38 Khandrai SH 16 Sonipat–Panipat branch line Lakhan Majra 090 SH 11 32 Gohana Karainthi 087 SH 16A Samar Gopalpur 080 Sonipat–Panipat branch line 26 Bhainsawan NH 709 22 Rukhi Rohtak–Bhiwani line 18 Jasia NH 709 NH 709 13 Makrauli Rohtak 0 70 0 NH 352 64 Asthal Bohar Junction Rewari–Rohtak line NH 9 / NH 352 58 Kharawar 51 Ismaila Haryana NH 9 NH 334B 48 Sampla SH 20 43 Rohad Nagar Halt Western Periphera Expressway 38 Asaudah HPCL Bottling Plant 30 Bahadurgarh Haryana Delhi 23 Ghewra 20 Mundka 17 Nangloi 14 Mangolpuri NH 9 10 Shakurbasti Pink Line (Delhi Metro) Delhi–Kalka line Green Line (Delhi Metro) 6 Dayabasti 5 Vivekanand Puri Halt 4 Delhi Sarai Rohilla 11 3 Kishanganj Delhi–Kalka line Sadar Bazar 09 0 Old Delhi Sadar Bazar coaching yard New Delhi coaching yard New Delhi 07 Airport Express (Delhi Metro) Yellow Line (Delhi Metro) Shivaji Bridge 06 Tilak Bridge 05 Blue Line (Delhi Metro) Pragati Maidan 03 Hazrat Nizamuddin 00 Delhi–Moradabad line Delhi–Jaipur line Agra Chord km km Sources: Google Maps Delhi–Firozpur Cantt Passenger Kotkapura–Fazilka DEMU New Delhi–Rohtak MEMU Rohtak–Jind passenger via Panipat Sonipat–Jind DEMU This diagram: view talk edit

History

The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the 711 km (442 mi) long Delhi–Jind-Bhatinda–Fazilka-Bahawalnagar-Samma Satta line in 1897.^[1] The line passed through Rohtak-Jind-Bhatinda-Muktasar-Fazilka-Bahawalnagar and provided direct connection through Samma Satta (now in Pakistan) to Karachi. The extension from the Macleodganj (later renamed Mandi Sadiqganj and now in Pakistan) railway line to Ambala via Qasamwala-Hindumalkote-Abohar-Bhatinda-Patiala was opened by the same company in 1902.^[2] In 1901–02, the Jodhpur–Bathinda line of Rajputana–Malwa Railway was extended from Bikaner to Bathinda via Hanumangarh, to connect it with the metre-gauge section of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway to the south and the metre-gauge of North Western Railway's Delhi–Fazilka line (Delhi–Hisar–Bhatinda–Karachi line) to the north.^[3] In 2000s, Jodhpur-Bikaner-Bathinda line was converted to broad gauge.^[4] In 2009, the metre gauge Hisar-Sadulpur section was converted to broad gauge.^[5][6]

Border crossings

Fazilka and Hussainiwala on this line are two defunct railway border crossing points on the India–Pakistan border. Before partition of India in 1947, there were the 711-kilometer (442-mile) long Delhi-Samma Satta and the 445-kilometer (277-mile) long Delhi-Raiwind railway lines, which were operational. After partition of India, a 20-kilometer (12-mile) line linked Amruka on the Pakistan side of the India–Pakistan border, opposite Fazilka, towards Samma Satta. The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn after 1965 war. The 275-kilometer (171-mile) long Amruka-Samma Satta line and the 28-kilometre (17-mile) long Kasur-Raiwind lines are operational in Pakistan now. The Hussainiwala–Ganda Singh Wala railway crossing, near Firozpur, became defunct with the partition of India. The 16-kilometer (9.9-mile) broad gauge line from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed. The strategically important 1,681-metre (5,515-foot) Kaiser-E-Hind Rail cum Road Bridge was blown up during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 at Hussainiwala, and was never rebuilt. In 2013, Sutlej Barrage Bridge on Hussainiwala was opened after restructuring.

Electrification

The Okhla–New Delhi–Shakurbasti line was electrified in 1982–83.^[7] As of 2011^[update], only 3 km of the 60 km Shakurbasti–Rohtak was remaining.^[8] The EMU services of Delhi Suburban Railway was extended up to Rohtak in 2013.^[9]

After electrification up to Rohtak, further electrification begun in February 2015. Electrification up to Jind Junction was completed in 2017. Operations of electric locos up to Jind begin in January 2018. After this, electrification up to Bathinda Junction got completed in March 2018.

Electrification of Kurukshetra–Narwana and Jind–Panipat branch lines was started in 2018 and has been completed in 2019.

Electrification of Jind–Sonipat branch line is also under planning.

Electrification of Bathinda-Firozpur branch line is in progress.

Tracks

Delhi–Bathinda is a double electric line.^[10]

The construction of Bathinda-Firozpur single line electrification is in under progress.

Sheds

Shakurbasti has a diesel loco shed. It houses WDS-4A, WDS-4B, WDS-4D, WDM-2 WDM3A, WDS6 and DEMUs. It also has a broad-gauge trip shed for WDM-2 and WDG-3A locos. WDS-4 shunting locos based all over Northern Railway are sent here for periodical maintenance.^[11]

Developments

The 42 km (26 mi) new 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gaugeline between Fazilka and Abohar was opened in 2012.^[12]

The Rewari–Rohtak line was commissioned in 2013.^[13]

Work for a new line from Rohtak to Hansi via Meham was inaugurated in 2013.^[14]

A new line from Jind to Sonipat was completed in 2015 and is operational now.

Central Government approved a new rail line from Jind to Hansi via Narnaund.

Railway reorganisation

Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with North Western Railway in 1930.^[15]

With the partition of India in 1947, North Western Railway was split. While the western portion became Pakistan West Railway, and later Pakistan Railways, the eastern part became Eastern Punjab Railway.^[16]

In 1952, Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company, west of Mughalsarai, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.^[17]

Stations

• Julana railway station (29°07′36″N 76°22′47″E / 29.1268°N 76.3798°E / 29.1268; 76.3798) is in the Julana tehsil of Jind District 91 kilometres (57 mi) from Delhi on the Delhi–Fazilka line.^[18]

References

1. "IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899)". Retrieved 20 February 2014.
2. . Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
3. . fibis. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
4. "Railway line along Indian border". Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India, 21 April 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
5. (PDF). Indian Railways. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
6. "Bathinda–Rewari line route map". India Rail Info.
7. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
8. "Railway Electrification". Ministry of Railways. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
9. "Delhi–Rohtak EMU to be inaugurated on March 3". The Times of India. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
10. "Electrification of Rohtak–Batinda–Lehra Muhabat section of Northern Railway". Press Information Bureau – India. Ministry of Railways. 21 January 2010. from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
11. "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
12. . Hindustan Times. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
13. "Haryana gets first functional railway line after 33 years". Business Standard. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
14. "The Minister for Railways lays the foundation stones of Rohtak–Meham–Hansi new line". Northern Railway. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
15. "Southern Punjab Railway". fibis. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
16. SM Imamul Haque (1989). Management of Indian Railways, 1989. Readings in Indian Railway Finance by KB Verma, P 136. Mittal Publications,A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059. ISBN 81-7099-183-8. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
17. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
18. "Julana Railway Station Map/Atlas NR/Northern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

External links

• Trains at Old Delhi
• Trains at Sarai Rohilla
• Trains at Bhathinda
• Trains at Firozpur Cantonment
• Trains at Fazilka