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Western Railway Celebrates 74th Foundation Day With A Souvenir Coin Marking 125 Years Of WR Headquarters

Western Railway's headquarters is featured on a souvenir coin commemorating the 74th anniversary of the railway's founding.

by Vrinda Arora
Western Railway Celebrates 74th Foundation Day With A Souvenir Coin Marking 125 Years Of WR Headquarters

In honour of its more than 70 years of service to the country, Western Railway is celebrating its 74th Foundation Day on November 5, 2024. Western Railway (WR) was established on November 5, 1951. It was established by merging Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI), Saurashtra, Rajputana, and Jaipur State Railways (as other state railways).

Western Railway’s 74th Foundation Day: Ceremony & Commemorative Coin

WR General Manager Shri Ashok Kumar Misra released a commemorative coin on the 74th Foundation Day. This marked the 125-year completion of the company’s headquarters building. The Western Railway Headquarters in Churchgate, Mumbai, is depicted in all its golden splendour on this souvenir coin. The coin is composed of cupronickel and has been plated in gold. The coin is engraved with 125 serrations around its circle, marking 125 years.

The WR Headquarters Building in Churchgate celebrated its quasquicentennial in January 2024 with a series of festivities. The purpose of the souvenir coin is to record this moment in history. It also adds to the records of Indian and Western Railways.

For their commitment and accomplishments throughout the years, the officers and staff in the Western Railway’s six divisions received congratulations from Shri Ashok Kumar Misra.

Also Read: Western Railway Imposes Penalty On Exceeding Luggage Limit, Issues Guidelines After Bandra Terminus Stampede

History Of Western Railway

The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI) was founded in 1855 with Surat as its headquarters after a 29-mile wide gauge track was built, according to Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, as reported by the Free Press Journal. An agreement to build a railway line from Surat to Baroda and Ahmedabad was signed on November 21, 1855, by the Company and the East India Company.

An agreement was made to build a line from Utran to Bombay to guarantee a steady supply of Gujarati cotton. The current Western Railway started when construction got underway in 1864, and the route was formally opened on November 28, 1864.

The six divisions that currently make up Western Railway’s jurisdiction are Mumbai Central, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Ratlam.

Also Read: Western Railway To Run Unreserved Festival Special Trains On THESE Routes To Manage Overcrowding Amid Festive Season

The Western Railway has proven its strength since its founding in the British era in the 1850s. It has a vast network that spans more than 6284 route km throughout Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan and includes broad, meter, and narrow gauge sections.

Cover Image Credit: X/@WesternRly & Wikimedia Commons

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First Published: November 05, 2024 4:48 PM