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Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line

(Redirected from Sealdah–Lalgola line)

The Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line is a 155 km (96 mi) long broad gauge railway line which connects Ranaghat Junction in the Nadia district with Lalgola in the Murshidabad district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The line runs up to the Bangladesh border near the Ganga river and is a part of the Sealdah railway division of the Eastern Railway zone.[1]

Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line
(including Shantipur loop line)
Krishnanagar City Junction railway station
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railway
LocaleWest Bengal
Termini
Stations35
Service
SystemElectrified
Operator(s)Eastern Railway
Depot(s)Ranaghat EMU Carshed
History
Opened1899; 125 years ago (1899) (Aistala Ghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City NG line)
1905; 119 years ago (1905) (Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Krishnapur BG line)
Technical
Line length155 km (96 mi) - Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola
36 km (22 mi) - Ranaghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City
Number of tracks2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Old gauge2 ft 6 in (762 mm) - Aistala Ghat–Nabadwip Ghat section
ElectrificationYes
Operating speedup to 110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map

Legend
km
km
Up arrow
Godagari Ghat–Amnura line
(abandoned)
178
 Godagari Ghat
Ganges River
Bangladesh
India
old ferry connection
to Godagari Ghat
160
 Lalgola Ghat
line dismantled
155
 Lalgola
line dismantled
153
 Krishnapur
147
 Pirtala
144
 Bhagwangola
B.B. loop line
Up arrow
137
 Subarnamrigi
Azimganj Junction
108
132
 Jiaganj
destroyed bridge
over Bhagirathi River
129
 Nashipur Road
station dismantled
Bhagirathi River
Nashipur Rail Bridge
B.B. loop line
Down arrow
124
 Murshidabad
116
 Cossimbazar
113
 Berhampore Court
New Balarampur Halt
108
Sargachhi
104
planned line
Bhabta
101
Beldanga
95
Domkal
Rejinagar
86
Karimpur
Sirajnagar
82
Betai
Plassey
77
Tehatta
Paglachandi
71
Charatala
Paglachandi River
Chapra
B.B. loop line
Up arrow
66
 Debagram
Nabadwip Dham
49
58
 Sonadanga
B.B. loop line
Left arrow
54
 Bethuadahari
bridge
over Bhagirathi River
44
 Muragchha
Nabadwip Ghat
49
39
 Dhubulia
Maheshganj
47
33
 Bahadurpur
construction and electrification done upto here
Amghata
44
Jalangi River
station dismantled
Krishnanagar Road
39
planned line
under gauge conversion
Kolkata Suburban Railway
ends here
26
36
 Krishnanagar City Junction
Bhatjangla
33
Dignagar
27
Bagdi
23
Shantipur Junction
21
21
 Jalal Khali Halt
Bathna Krittibas
16
16
 Badkulla
Phulia
12
11
 Taherpur
Habibpur
08
8
 Birnagar
old NG line dismantled
4
 Kalinarayanpur Junction
Baicha
13
Churni River
Raghabpur
08
Right arrow Ranaghat–Gede line
Aistala Ghat
05
3
 Churni Ghat
old ferry connection
to Aistala Ghat
0
 Ranaghat Junction
Right arrow Ranaghat–Bangaon line
Down arrow Sealdah–Ranaghat line
km
km
Key
 Indian Railways broad gauge (1676 mm)
narrow gauge (762 mm)
metre gauge (1000 mm)
in use
  
out of use, planned, or
under construction (u/c)
 		 tunnel

Services

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There are three express services, which connect Lalgola with Kolkata (Hazarduari Express and Dhano Dhanye Express) and Sealdah (Bhagirathi Express), that traverse the entire length of the line connecting major towns like Krishnanagar and Berhampore in between.[2] These services are further augmented by locomotive hauled passenger trains that stop at every station on the line.[3] In 2012, daily MEMU services were started between Sealdah and Lalgola.[4]

The Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City section along with the Kalinarayanpur–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City loop line is a part of the suburban section of the Kolkata Suburban Railway linking with the system at Ranaghat Junction.[1][5] The Sealdah–Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City section is served with total pairs of 231 Daily and 187 Sunday EMU services.[5] There are also 3 pairs of EMU services between Ranaghat and Krishnanagar via the Shantipur Loop line. Shantipur is further connected to Bangaon via the Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line with 2 pairs of daily EMU services.[5]

A majority of the Sealdah–Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City section is served by 9-car EMU rakes from the Narkeldanga EMU Carshed.[4] The Ranaghat EMU Carshed, commissioned in 2007, mainly serves the Bangaon–Ranaghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City section and the Ranaghat–Lalgola section, where EMU services were introduced from 2017, with 12-car EMU and MEMU rakes.[4][5]

History

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Pre–Partition

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Ranaghat–Krishnanagar Light Railway

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While the main line of the eastern section of the Eastern Bengal Railway (reporting mark :EBR) was opened from Calcutta to Kushtia via Ranaghat in 1862, it bypassed Krishnanagar and Shantipur, two very prominent heritage centers of art, culture and learning of the 18th and 19th century Bengal.[6][7] To resolve this issue, Martin's Light Railways (reporting mark :MLR) constructed a 20.25 mi (32.59 km) long, 2 ft 6 in narrow gauge line from Aistala Ghat, on the west bank of the Churni river, near Ranaghat to Krishnanagar via Shantipur in 1899 which was known as the Ranaghat–Krishnanagar Light Railway.[8] EBR further constructed a 1.6 mi (2.6 km) long broad gauge line from Ranaghat station to Churni Ghat, known as the Churni Extension railway, from where a direct ferry connection to Aistala Ghat was established.[9] The administration of the Ranaghat–Krishnanagar Light Railway passed onto EBR in 1904.[8][10]

Murshidabad Branch Railway

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EBR opened the Ranaghat–Murshidabad–Bhagwangola–Krishnapur branch line in 1905. This was known as the Murshidabad Branch Railway.[8] This was further extended to Lalgola Ghat on the south bank of the Ganges in 1907 and the line came to be known as the Lalgola Ghat Branch Railway.[8][11] In 1909, a metre gauge line from Katihar to Godagari Ghat (on the north bank of the Ganges), known as the Godagari Ghat Branch Railway was built, from where a ferry connection was established to Lalgola Ghat, thus providing a direct link from Katihar to Calcutta.[12][13]

Further extensions

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in 1925. a broad gauge extension was built from Churni Bridge (present day Kalinarayanpur Junction railway station) to Shantipur thus establishing direct connectivity from Sealdah to Shantipur.[14] This made the Aistala Ghat–Shantipur section and the Churni Extension Railway redundant following which they were dismantled and the line was known as Shantipur–Krishnanagar Light Railway.[7][14]

The Shantipur–Krishnanagar Light Railway was extended up to Nabadwip Ghat on the east bank of the Bhagirathi river, in 1926 and a direct ferry connection was established to Nabadwip Dham, an important pilgrimage centre of Bengal.[15]

In 1928, a 2.01 mi (3.23 km) long branch line was constructed from Azimganj on the B.B. loop line to the Nashipur Road station on the Ranaghat–Lalgola line via a bridge across the Bhagirathi river for carrying stone freight traffic.[16] This bridge was destroyed in the Second World War, leading to connectivity problems between the twin cities of Azimganj and Jiaganj located on the opposite sides of the Bhagirathi river.[17]

Post-partition

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Following the partition of India in 1947, the link between Sealdah and Katihar via this line was snapped[13] affecting the connection of South Bengal with North Bengal, North Bihar and Assam due to which the ferry connection was moved to between Sakrigali Ghat railway station in the Sahibganj Loop to Manihari Ghat railway station in the Katihar–Teznarayanpur branch line.[18] The Katihar–Singhabad section was converted to broad gauge in 1962 with the construction of the new Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line.[19][20]

The line along with other EBR lines came under the jurisdiction of the Sealdah railway division of the Eastern Railway post zonal re-organisation in 1952.[1][21]

Gauge conversion & Nabadwip Dham Connection

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The Shantipur–Krishnanagar City narrow gauge line was sanctioned for gauge conversion to broad gauge in 2001.[22] The line closed for gauge conversion in 2010 which was completed and the new line was commissioned on 7 February 2012.[23][24][25]

The Krishnanagar–Nabadwip Ghat section was sanctioned for gauge conversion in 2007 along with a planned extension of the line to Nabadwip Dham on the B.B. loop line with a bridge over the Bhagirathi.[22] While the gauge conversion of the section has been completed from Krishnanagar City to Amghata railway station it has not been commissioned because of unauthorized crossings and the stretch between Amghata and Nabadwip Ghat has been blocked due to a temple and a mosque being on the alignment.[24] Similarly, while the superstructure of the bridge between the Nabadwip Ghat and Nabadwip Dham railway stations over the Bhagirathi is ready, tracks leading to the bridge haven't been built because of land acquisition problems and protests by the locals.[26][27]

On 15 October 2023, a trial run of a goods train was conducted between the Krishnanagar City Junction and Amghata railway stations in order to check the heath of the unutilized section of the new gauge converted line. It is planned to short terminate trains at Amghata till the land acquisition problems between the Amghata–Nabadwip Ghat section are sorted out.[28][29][30]

Nashipur rail bridge

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Main article: Nashipur Rail Bridge

A new railway bridge between Azimganj and Murshidabad, across the Bhagirathi river was sanctioned in 2001 owing to the long time demand of the people of the area.[31] While the superstructure of the bridge was completed by 2013, since the approach roads couldn't be built due to land acquisition problems and local protests related to employment, the tracks leading to the bridge couldn't be constructed.[31][32][17][33]

The hurdles related to land acquisition & employment were finally cleared & work for laying the tracks was started in December 2022.[34][35][36] Track renewal work by replacing the old railway panels was underway as of September 2023 and the entire work is expected to be completed by March 2024.[37] Meanwhile the area near the bridge has become a popular picnic spot.[38]

Once commissioned, the Indian Railways plans to use the bridge for North Bengal bound trains from Sealdah like Darjeeling Mail as it provides a shorter route between Sealdah and New Jalpaiguri leading to significant savings in cost and time.[39][40]

Track

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The Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola section along with the Ranaghat–Shantipur section is a double line section while the Shantipur–Krishnanagar City section is a single line section.[1]

Electrification

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The Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City and the Ranaghat–Shantipur section were electrified in 1963–64.[41] The 128 km (80 mi) long Krishnanagar City–Lalgola stretch was electrified in 2007.[42] The single electrified line of the Shantipur–Krishnanagar City section was commissioned after gauge conversion in 2012.[23][24][25]

EMU Carsheds

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The Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City section of the line is primarily served by 9-car EMU rakes from the Narkeldanga EMU Carshed with a few 12-car EMU rakes from Ranaghat EMU Carshed as well. Further to this most 12-car EMU rakes from Ranaghat EMU Carshed serve in the Ranaghat–Lalgola section and the Krishnanagar City–Shantipur–Ranaghat–Bangaon section.[4] The Ranaghat EMU Carshed also maintains 12-car MEMU rakes which started serving from Sealdah to Lalgola in 2012.[4]

While the section was initially served by the Narkeldanga EMU carshed which opened on 1963, due to the increasing traffic requirements in the Ranaghat–Gede, Ranaghat–Bangaon, Ranaghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City and Ranaghat–Lalgola sections owing to the electrification and gauge conversions of various lines, the Ranaghat EMU carshed was commissioned in 2007.[4] EMU services were introduced between Ranaghat and Lalgola in 2017.[4]

As of January 2024, the Narkeldanga carshed had 28 9-car EMU rakes, a few of which served the Sealdah South section mostly via the Circular line, while rest served the Sealdah North section lines. The Ranaghat EMU carshed contains 1 9-car EMU rake, 16 12-car EMU rakes (of which 1 is a 3 phase EMU) and 8 12-car MEMU rakes. 4 of the 12-car MEMU rakes are three phase MEMU.[4]

Routes and stations

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Stations

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Names in bold indicate that the station is a major stop or an important interchange/terminal station.
Names in italics indicate that the station is now defunct

Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola main line

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Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola main line
# Distance from Ranaghat Junction (km) Station Name Station Code Existing Connections Station Category[43]
1 0 Ranaghat Junction RHA Ranaghat–Bangaon line / Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line SG-2
2 4 Kalinarayanpur Junction KLNP Shantipur loop line SG-3
3 8 Birnagar BIJ – SG-3
4 11 Taherpur THP – SG-3
5 16 Badkulla BDZ – SG-3
6 21 Jalal Khali Halt JKL – HG-3
7 26 Krishnanagar City Junction † KNJ Shantipur loop line SG-2
8 33 Bahadurpur BPD – NSG-6
9 39 Dhubulia DHU – NSG-6
10 44 Muragachha MGM – NSG-6
11 54 Bethuadahari BTY – NSG-5
12 58 Sonadanga SVH – NSG-6
13 66 Debagram DEB – NSG-5
14 71 Paglachandi PCX – NSG-6
15 77 Plassey PLY – NSG-5
16 82 Sirajnagar SRJN – HG-3
17 86 Rejinagar REJ – NSG-6
18 95 Beldanga BEB – NSG-5
19 101 Bhabta BFT – NSG-6
20 104 Sargachhi SGV – NSG-6
21 108 New Balarampur Halt NBPH – HG-3
22 113 Berhampore Court BPC – NSG-4
23 116 Cossimbazar CSZ – NSG-5
24 124 Murshidabad Junction MBB Azimganj Jn. Link Line NSG-5
25 129 Nashipur Road NSO – –
26 132 Jiaganj JJG – NSG-5
27 137 Subarnamrigi SBNM – HG-3
28 144 Bhagwangola BQG – NSG-5
29 147 Pirtala PRTL – HG-3
30 153 Krishnapur KRP – NSG-5
31 155 Lalgola LGL – NSG-5
32 160 Lalgola Ghat LGG – –
† End of suburban section of Kolkata Suburban Railway

Shantipur loop line

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Shantipur loop line
# Distance from Ranaghat Junction (km) Station Name Station Code Existing Connections Station Category[43]
1 0 Ranaghat Junction RHA Ranaghat–Bangaon line / Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line SG-2
2 4 Kalinarayanpur Junction KLNP Ranaghat–Lalgola line SG-3
3 8 Habibpur HBE – SG-3
4 12 Phulia FLU – SG-3
5 16 Bathna Krittibas BTKB – HG-3
6 21 Shantipur Junction STB – SG-3
8 27 Dignagar DTG – HG-3
7 33 Krishnanagar City Junction † KNJ Ranaghat–Lalgola line SG-2
† End of suburban section of Kolkata Suburban Railway

Planned extensions

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Krishnanagar–Karimpur–Berhampore line

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There have been multiple demands for a new railway line from Krishnanagar to Berhampore via Karimpur and Domkal, two major towns in the Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal.[44][45][46] While multiple surveys have been conducted for the proposed railway line since 1905, it was not sanctioned for construction.[47] In January 2023, the Indian Ministry of Railways has given an approval to start survey work on the Krishnanagar–Karimpur railway line again, at a cost of Rs.2 crore.[48] As per the plans, the survey work started in August 2023.[49]

Two new railway line projects, Dhubulia–Charatala and Krishnanagar City–Chapra have been sanctioned in the railway budget in 2001 and 2002 respectively.[22] While the final line survey for both the newly planned lines have been completed, there has been no further progress made in the project.[46][47]

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  •  
    Plassey railway station
  •  
    Berhampore Court railway station
  •  
    Rail Bridge over Jalangi river at Krishnanagar

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sealdah Division System Map" (PDF). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Arrivals at LGL/Lalgola - Express trains". India Railinfo. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Arrivals at LGL/Lalgola - Passenger Trains". India RailInfo. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Highlights of TRS Organisation, Sealdah division, Eastern Railway". Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Details of Operating Department: Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway". Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Administration Report on Railways 1918". Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "The Santipur Local – Part 2". GetBengal. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page48-49, pdf page 56; Retrieved 22 Nov 2016
  9. ^ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 42 (pdf51) ; Retrieved 31 Dec 2017
  10. ^ J. H. E. Garrett. "Nadia, Bengal District Gazetteers (1910)". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Bengal District Gazetteer" / Mukshidabad by L S S O’Malley, Indian Civil Service, Calcutta; Pages 150-151"; Retrieved 1 Jan 2016
  12. ^ “Administration Report on Railways 1918” page 47 (pdf56); Retrieved 1 Feb 2022
  13. ^ a b Assam Information. Directorate of Information & Public Relations. 1971.
  14. ^ a b “Administration Report on Railways 1937” page 71 (pdf98) ;Retrieved 1 Feb 2022
  15. ^ “Administration Report on Railways 1937” page 78 (pdf105) Retrieved 1 Feb 2022
  16. ^ “Administration Report on Railways 1937” page 70 (pdf95) Retrieved 1 Feb 2022
  17. ^ a b "Passengers association call for hunger strike for railway bridge". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Katihar Division – North East Frontier Railway". North East Frontier Railway. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Speech of Shri Jagjivan Ram introducing the Railway Budget for 1961-62 on, 15th February, 1961" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Speech of Sardar Swaran Singh: Introducing the Railway Budget for 1963-64, on 19t h February, 1963" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  21. ^ Brief Detail of Sealdah Division Archived 2018-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, Eastern Railway
  22. ^ a b c "Ongoing projects Eastern Railway" (PDF). Eastern Railway. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b "List of sanctioned projects commissioned – Eastern Railway" (PDF). Eastern Railway. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "Brief status of sanctioned projects – Eastern Railway" (PDF). Eastern Railway. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Mamata rolls out rly sops for Nadia". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Nabadwip Dham-Sealdah Rail Link Work Suspended Over Land Dispute". News from Nadia. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Trinamul accused of double standards as party leaders press Nadia villagers to give up land". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  28. ^ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "আমঘাটা অবধি লাইন চালু হবে, ছুটল ওয়াগন". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  29. ^ "১৩ বছর পর কৃষ্ণনগর–নবদ্বীপ লাইনে ছুটল রেল ইঞ্জিন, দ্রুতই চালু হবে জানালেন সাংসদ". Hindustantimes Bangla (in Bengali). 22 October 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  30. ^ "১৩ বছর পর চালু নবদ্বীপ-কৃষ্ণনগর ট্রেন লাইন, বন্ধ রেললাইনে ছুটল ট্রেন". Eisamay (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b "The Nashipur syndrome". The Week. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Left landowners play spoilsport in railway project". The Statesman, 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  33. ^ ananda, abp (30 January 2022). "৮ বছরেও তৈরি হয়নি মুর্শিদাবাদ-আজিমগঞ্জ রেলপথ, 'চাকরির দাবিতে আন্দোলনে সমস্যা', দাবি রেলের". bengali.abplive.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  34. ^ "দীর্ঘ প্রতিক্ষার পর অবশেষে কাজ শুরু হল নশিপুর রেলব্রিজের". News18 বাংলা (in Bengali). 1 December 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Work on Nashipur railway bridge resumes". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  36. ^ "জমি জট কেটে যাওয়ায় আড়াই দশক পার, নশিপুর রেলব্রিজ দিয়ে ছুটবে ট্রেন". Eisamay (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  37. ^ "উত্তরবঙ্গ আরও কাছে এসে যাবে, সফল ট্রায়াল রান নশিপুর রেল ব্রিজে". News18 বাংলা (in Bengali). 5 September 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  38. ^ সংবাদদাতা, আনন্দবাজার অনলাইন. "নশিপুর রেলসেতু এখন পর্যটন কেন্দ্র! ভিড় উপচে পড়ছে রোজ". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Darjeeling Mail gears up for short route, cheaper fare". Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  40. ^ "Darj Mail set to run on new route from March, save travel time by 90 mins". The Times of India. 8 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  41. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  42. ^ "Important Landmarks of Indian Railways Electrification". Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE). Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Category of stations - Eastern Railway" (PDF). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  44. ^ "Regarding demand for Behrampore-Karimpur via Domkal Islampur new railway line in Murshidabad district in West Bengal". India Kanoon. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  45. ^ "Regarding demand for Behrampore-Karimpur via Domkal Islampur new railway line in Murshidabad district in West Bengal" (PDF). Parliament of India, Lok Sabha, Digital Library. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Demand For Rail Link Revived In Karimpur". News from Nadia. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  47. ^ a b "Bengal Polls 2021: Rail link remains elusive to Karimpur". The Telegraph Online. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  48. ^ Biswas, Amitabh (4 January 2023). "করিমপুরে রেল চলার সমীক্ষা, পোস্ট মহুয়ার". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Karimpur: Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  49. ^ "দু'মাসে দু'বার সমীক্ষা, দিনের আলো দেখবে কি কৃষ্ণনগর-করিমপুর রেল প্রকল্প? প্রশ্ন দুই জনপদে". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Krisnanagar: Anandabazar Patrika. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
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External videos
  Shantipur-Krishnanagar-Nabadwip Ghat Toy Train – Now closed
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