Vadodara historian Chandrashekhar Patil says the tram service was introduced by Maharaja Sayajirao III Gaekwad as he felt that many people visiting the markets and court would benefit from it.
Explained: Why Gujarat is seeing protests to save a 107-year-old railway line
The narrow gauge train connecting Billimora in Navsari district with Waghai in Dang district was started by rulers of the Gaekwad dynasty of the princely state of Baroda in 1913. Written by Kamal Saiyed , Edited by Explained Desk | Surat | Updated: December 17, 2020 12:44:12 pm
The train was mostly used by tribal vegetable sellers. (File)
The Western Railways has decided to scrap 11 narrow gauge routes and branch lines in Gujarat, calling them unviable. One of these is the
107-year-old Billimora-Waghai line, once run by the Gaekwad Baroda State Railway (GBSR), against the closure of which political leaders have started a campaign pitching.
Updated Dec 13, 2020 | 10:52 IST
Billimora-Waghai train was a blessing for the tribal people in Dang and students who travelled from Waghai to Billimora on a daily basis. The students from Dang travelled further to Surat, Vapi, Navsari. End of an era: This 107-year-old heritage train service in Gujarat came to an end | Photo Credit: YouTube
New Delhi: An era came to an end when a narrow-gauge train service of Indian Railways that ran in Gujarat for 107 years has already completed its final journey. The Railway Board recently approved Western Railway’s (WR) proposal to permanently close down its narrow gauge sections and uneconomic branch rail lines over its system. 107-year-old Billimora-Waghai heritage train route was among 11 branch lines and narrow gauge sections of the Western Railways that were deemed to be “uneconomic” by the Railway Ministry, which ordered their permanent closure.