Ajai Banerjee and the Assam Rail Link construction

• Ajai introduces the topic
• First slide lays out the route before 1947
• Complicated route to Guwahati! BG, MG and then a ferry!
• A few excerpts from the 1943 Bradshaw.
• In 1943 there were no direct trains from North India. Only indirect passengers and then some ferries.
• Ajai explaining the missing links after 1947
• More on the construction phases around Siliguri and Sivok
• A new zone for Assam was created. And a new alignment for the MG to be made.
• Siliguri-Haldibari section – First MG, then BG and then MG and finally BG. Phew!

• Subsequent developments include a massive flood destroying the NG line in the Teesta valley.
• Mokemeh bridge and Farakka Barrage inauguarations.
• BG lines began moving into Assam in the 60’s but reached Guwahati only in the late 80’s.
• In 1975, the important trains were the Assam Mail and the Avadh Tirhut mail
• Now questions are being taken.
• Raghuram from Ahmedabad expanding on a few points including the weird nature of uni-directional couplings of MG stock.
• Unique alignment around Barsoi Jn. and New Mal Jn. being explained by Raghuram.