Akola–Ratlam line
The Akola–Ratlam rail line is a railway line in India linking Akola in Maharashtra with Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. As of January 2023, Ratlam to Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Sanawad to Khandwa and Akot to Akola Has been Completed.
History
Construction of meter gauge line
The Akola–Ratlam metre-gauge line was opened in 1963. Dhulghat Spiral is a unique spiral located on this metre-gauge section at around 2 kilometres from Dhulghat station towards Akola. It is also called 'Char Cha Akda' in Marathi and 'Char Ka Aankda' in Hindi, which in English means 'the figure 4' – railway tracks are arranged like 4.Conversion to broad gauge
In 2008, the Union Cabinet approved the gauge conversion for the Ratlam–Mhow–Khandwa–Akola railway line of 472.64 km. The gauge conversion is in process. It entails following 3 sections:- Ratlam-Akot section in north - gauge conversion completed: After the Mathela–Nimarkhedi–NTPC Khargone section was converted to broad gauge on 12 August 2019 and electrificated on 15 March 2020, Ratlam-Akot section in the north
- Akot-Amlakhurd section in the middle - under conversion: Since Akot-Amlakhurd section of the line passes through Melghat Tiger Reserve which has 50 to 55 tigers, the conversion of this line was held up for several years due to pending clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Finally, forests and wildlife approval was granted in August 2024 when conversion of existing Akot-Amalkhurd meter gauge line via Patalpani-Kalakund-Balwada-Chaural was abandoned and instead a new alignment between Akot-Amalkhurd was finalised which bypasses the Melghat Tiger Reserve. This new 77-78 km lone alignment which is 30-32 km longer than the original alignment and entails a 7 km long 30 meter deep tunnel. Once converted this line will provide shortest route from Northwest India & North India to South India and Southeast India. New alignment passes through Hiwarkhed, Sonala, Jalgaon Jamod, and Usami.
- Akola Junction–Akot section in south - gauge conversion completed: Akola Junction–Akot section line gauge conversion project of this mainline was completed on 28 July 2020.
Facilities
Loco Shed
Mhow Diesel Loco Shed and Ratlam Diesel Loco Shed are loco sheds on this line. These were earlier metre-gauge sheds but are now converted to broad-gauge sheds.Trains
- Ajmer–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express
- Mhow–Indore Passenger
- Indore–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar DEMU
- Ratlam–Laxmibai Nagar DEMU
- Indore–Ratlam DEMU
- Jodhpur–Indore Express
- Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–Sanawad Passenger
- Rewa–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar Express