Bhavnagar Division Western Railway

Bhavnagar Division occupies an important position in the history of the Indian Railways. Bhavnagar was the third princely State in the country after Baroda and Hyderabad to begin construction of Railway line with its own funds. In Saurashtra, Bhavnagar was the first and Gondal the second state to build a Railway network.

Railways in this region began in December 1880 with inauguration of the line from Bhavnagar Terminus to Wadhwan City. Sir James Fergusson, Governor of Bombay inaugurated the line in the presence of Sir Takhtasinhji, the ruler of Bhavnagar. The first train was run from Bhavnagar to Limbdi carrying the Governor’s entourage and guests. It returned the same evening well in time for a State Bouquet in the King’s palace at Neelambaug.

Construction of Railway line from Bhavnagar to Wadhwan, which was initially opposed by the British, was taken up primarily as a relief measure due to extreme famine in the year 1877. Railway lines in other States were built to connect their important cities. These States were Junagadh, Porbandar, Morbi and Jamnagar.

Independence saw integration of the princely states in the Indian Union. Bhavnagar was the first princely state in the entire country to accede to India. After integration, all these State Railways became the property of the then State Government of Saurashtra operating as “Saurashtra Railways”. They were later taken over by the Government of India and merged with Western Railway at the time of regrouping of Railways in early 1952. Bhavnagar Division was formally inaugurated on 15.08.1956.

Postal Address of Bhavnagar Division:

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