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Railways came to Belgaum in 1887

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The Londa-Belgaum (now Belagavi) Railway line was opened on 21st March 1887, Belgaum to Miraj line covering 138.21 km (85.88 miles) was opened in December 1887.

The first train in India was flagged off on April 16, 1853, a Saturday, at 3:35 pm between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane, a distance of 34 km.

It was then under the Sangli Section run by the Southern Maratha Railway which began the work in 1886 on the Poona to Londa via Miraj.

The Sangli to Belgaum-Sangli section was completed by Vishram Karman of Chandiya, Manji Hira of Kumbharia, and Jeram Jagmal of Kumbharia.

belgaum station old
Old Postcard – Railway Station & Steam Locomotive, Belgaum

The section was called Miraj-Sangli to Belgaum-Sangli because the Princely State of Sangli also had an enclave near Belgaum. The section covered the stations of Vijaynagar, Ugar Khurd, Chinchli, Raybag, Chikodi Road, Bagewadi, Ghatprabha, Parkanhatti, Pachhapur, Sulebhavi and the total length of this line was 90 miles.

Source: Sangli District Gazette

belgaum station old 1910
Postcard of the Belgavi Railway Station from around 1910 -11

9 thoughts on “Railways came to Belgaum in 1887”

  1. At that time,even after late 1970’s, there was no station by name Parakanhatti.After Pachapur Gokak station was there.Parakanhatti station came into existence only after Hidkal Dam was constructed i.e in late 70’s.

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  2. Hey guys I am an architecture student and needed some history and old photos about it ….if some can help me out????

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  3. I remember reading somewhere a long time ago, that the real reason for starting the Londa- Mumbai train route was to transport timber from the Dandeli jungle to Bombay docks for onward journey to England

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  4. Nice info Editor. Keep updating about the city’s culture, history, its transformation from Venugram_Belgaum_Belagavi.
    Hope it doesn’t develop like a present time Bangalore. So crowded .. So mechanised.. So hopeless traffic.. Unlike 30 years back when i was there for two years. The food & cloth culture and historical monuments have already been ran over. A recent visit to Bangalore forced me to rethink visiting it again. May God Save Belgaum from killer urbanisation.

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