Kalukhali–Gobra line

Kalukhali–Gobra line^[1] is a 137km-long broad gauge railway. It was constructed under the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh. The line connects Rajbari District to Gopalganj District. It is operated by West Zone and according to the engineering department of Bangladesh Railway, it has been identified as a high-grade railway line.^[2]

Kalukhali–Gobra line
Overview
Native name	কালুখালী–গোবরা রেলপথ
Status	Operational
Owner	Ministry of Railways
Locale	Bangladesh
Termini	Kalukhali Junction railway station Gobra railway station
Stations	18
Service
Type	Railway line in Bangladesh
System	Bangladesh Railway
History
Opened	1932 (Kalukhali–Bhatiapara Ghat) 2018 (Kashiani–Gobra)
Technical
Line length	137 km
Track gauge	Broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	80 km/h
Route map Kalukhali–Gobra line Legend Poradah– Goalundo Ghat line Kalukhali Junction Poradah– Goalundo Ghat line Ramdia Bohorpur Arrkandi Naliagram Madhukhali Junction Kamarkhali Ghat Madhumati River Magura Ghorakhali Satair Boalmari Sahashrail Byaspur Dhaka–Jessore line Kashiani Junction Dhaka–Jessore line Bhatiapara Ghat Chapta Choto Bahirbag Chandradighlia Gopalganj Borashi Gobra This diagram: view talk edit

History

The railway line was constructed from Kushtia to Goalundo Ghat on 1 January, 1871 during British rule. As a branch of this line, the railway line from Kalukhali in Rajbari District to Bhatiapara Ghat in Gopalganj District was started in 1932. Later it was closed in 1997 due to losses. On 2 November, 2013, Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of the country, inaugurated the Kalukhali–Bhatiapara section renovated at a cost of ৳320.85 crore and launched the Bhatiapara Express.^[3] In November 2015, the construction of the Kashiani–Gobra section started. The construction of this 44 km long railway section at a cost of ৳258 crore was completed in October 2018. The new railway line was launched on 1 November 2018 with the launch of the Tungipara Express train.^[4]

Branch lines

Bhatiapara Ghat

The railway section from Kalukhali to Bhatiapara ghat was constructed in 1932 as a branch of the Poradah–Goalundo Ghat line built in 1871.^[5][6]

Kamarkhali Ghat

This railway section was established from Kalukhali Ghat in Rajbari District to Bhatiapara Ghat. Another Madhukhali–Kamarkhali Ghat branch was constructed at the same time. But this branch line was later discontinued due to damage during 1971 liberation war. In 2018, the government announced the construction of a broad gauge railway branch line from Madhukhali to Magura via Kamarkhali Ghat.^[7]

References

1. Biswas, PR (15 November 2017). "Kalukhali Gopalganj new rail line about to end". The Asian Age. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
2. Khan, Kamal Joha (17 October 2018). "মানে বেলাইনে রেললাইন". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
3. "সাত রেলস্টেশন চালুর খবর নেই". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 7 December 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
4. "চালু হতে যাচ্ছে গোপালগঞ্জ-রাজশাহী রুটে ট্রেন চলাচল". Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 1 November 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
5. "ট্রেন যাবে গোপালগঞ্জ, উদ্বোধন কাল". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 31 October 2018. from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
6. . Bhorer Kagoj (in Bengali). 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
7. "মধুখালী-মাগুরায় নির্মিত হচ্ছে ব্রডগেজ রেলপথ". Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 28 May 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2020.