West of India Portuguese Railway

West of India Portuguese Railway (WIPR) was a metre gauge railway from the port of Mormugao (in the Portuguese enclave of Goa, now India) via Castle Rock to Londa junction with the Southern Mahratta Railway (SMR).

History

In the year 1878 agreement was signed between the West of India Portuguese Guaranteed Railway Company (WIPR) and Portuguese Government of Portuguese India for construction of Harbour and connected Railway but the railway work started only in 1882.[1] In December 1887, The total length of existing meter gauge railway track in the Goan Territory of 43 km between Mormugao-Sanvordem via Vasco da Gama was inaugurated. In 1888, Mormugao was connected with Southern Maharatta Railway at Caranzol-Castle Rock junction[1] In 1902, with the metre gauge line on the verge of bankruptcy, the company leased the railway to the Southern Mahratta Railway, which continued to manage railway till 1955.[2][1] With independence, the WIPR's operation passed to Indian Railways and, in 1951, to the Southern Railway. From 1955 to 1961, the lines within the Portuguese enclave of Goa reverted to Portuguese control. An autonomous body named 'Junta Autonoma dos Portos caminhos de Ferro Do Estado Da India' constituted by the Portuguese Government took over the administration of the Port and Railway on 1 April 1961 from Western India Portuguese Railway on the termination of the contract. However, in 1962 upon the liberation of Goa on 19 December 1961, administration of the Port and its connected railway was taken over by the Government of India on 8 January 1962.[1] In 1963, the line was again taken over by Indian Railways and came under Southern Railway. The main Railway section from Vasco da Gama to the border of Goa was transferred to Southern Railway on 1 May 1963, thus delinking the port from the Railway management.[1]

Conversion to broad gauge

The railway was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge in 1998.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "LANDMARK EVENTS OF THE PAST SEVENTY YEARS". Mormugao Port Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "A Portuguese-British deal," New York Times, 16 October 1902, p1
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