Thread by @VAdkri

PIONEER OF FIRST PRIVATE ROYAL MANAGED LITE RAIL LINE IN ODISHA AND ANDHRAPRADESH
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*His Highness KCIE Mahrajah Shri Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deb (ll)of Paralakhemundi laid the narrow gauge railway line from Naupada Jn to Paralakhemundi in 1898-99

The Raja decided to connect his capital with nearest junction of Bengal Nagpur newly constructed line, which was only 40 km away.
*He built the line at a cost of 7lakh Indian rupees.
* The traffic opened in April month of 1900 and it was known as Parlakimedi Lite Railway.
2/n

At that time of establishment Naupada and Paralakhemundi both stations were under Ganjam district of Madras presidency.
*at Present naupadaJn is under Srikakulam dist of North Andhrapradesh and Parlakgemundi is under Gajapati district of sothern Odisha.
3/n

*There after his illustrious son Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati remembered as the creator of modern Orissa province and the first Premier of Odisha extended this narrow gauge railway line from Paralakhemundi to Gunupur of koraput dist in 1930.
4/n

The total distance of the line id 90-km stretch.
*Out of this 36-km was lying in Andhra pradesh and the remaining 56-km in the state of Odisha.
*This narrow gauge line of 90-km stretches was completed at an outlay of total expenditure of Rs 90 lakhs during the 1930.
5/n

The line was worked on the terms mentioned in the modern Govt. Public Works Department order of 10May1899
*Originally there were eight engines of British make.
The engine takes about 6to7 hours to haul the distance of 90km with 3bogies
*The max speed was about 30km per hr
6/n

The locomotive was built by Brush electrical eng. company (Loughborough).
*It was very popular by its own name "PL".
*During South Eastern Railway (SER)Centenary celebration in 1987,they set four stamps @IndiaPostOffice. One of the stamps featured the Parala locomotive "PL-691"

After 5 years, in Bengal presidency the the great philanthropic odia King Ramachandra Bhanjadeo (mayurbhanj princely state) started 52 kilometer Rupsa-Baripada Line on 20th January 1905.
*Which was the second oldest lite rail line of eastern India.
6/n

*The whole journey of PL Sahi Saloon pictures are placed in Nagpur Rail museum.
Because it was part of Bengal Nagpur railways initially.
*The Special locomotive of Maharaja gave seat to numerous freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi to Madhusudan Dash and GV Ramamurthy

It was perhaps the only train in the whole world.
The diesel loco of the narrow gauge Naupada- Paralakhemundi-Gunupur train stopped at every level crossing.The signal man used to get down from the train before it crosses the gate
.C: Sanjib Mohan Palo

PLH-GNPR section was opened in two proportions in 1929.
*The management of BNR was taken over by the Government of India on1-10-1944.
Since then Central Government Agency managed the PLR
*But the two corresponding trains of the PLR were completely withdrawn since Nov27/2002

Gopinath Gajapati the Royal scion of Parala twice as the Member of Parliament from Berhampur during the 9-10th LokSabha had represented the burning issue on the floor of the LokSabha,the highest forum of our country's legislature & pressed for its speedy broad guage conversion
8n

The foundation of broad gauge rail for the section was laid in 2002. With effect from first April 2003 it came under newly formed @EastCoastRail
But sad part is @RailwaySeva There is no change in comfort to the passengers.
The platforms& station structures are remain unchanged.

In addition to that a humble request to @EastCoastRail @PiyushGoyal @DRMWaltairECoR to encourage heritage preservation @RailMinIndia should install atleast one loco ingine in front of PLH station and a statue of great king Goura gajapati for remembrance.
Pc:@theUnfading @VAdkri