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Azimganj Junction railway station

Azimganj Junction is a railway station serving the town of Azimganj in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India. It functions as a junction on the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways and is an important node for rail traffic in the lower Ganga basin region of Bengal.

Station name Azimganj Junction
Location Azimganj, Murshidabad district, West Bengal
Country India
Operated by Indian Railways
Zone Eastern Railway
Type Junction station

Overview

The station lies on the western bank of the Bhagirathi river, opposite Jiaganj, and serves as a junction point where lines connecting Nalhati, Katwa, and Barharwa diverge. Azimganj town historically developed as a trading and banking centre, and the railway station has long supported its connectivity with Kolkata, Howrah, and the Sahibganj loop.

Lines and connectivity

  • The Nalhati–Azimganj line, originally built in the 19th century as the Nalhati State Railway, connects Azimganj westward to Nalhati Junction on the Howrah–Delhi main line.
  • The Azimganj–Katwa line runs southward, providing access toward Katwa and onward to the Bardhaman region.
  • A line links Azimganj eastward across the Bhagirathi to Murshidabad and onward to the Sealdah–Lalgola section, while another connects toward Barharwa Junction on the Sahibganj loop.

History

Rail access to Azimganj dates to the colonial period. The Nalhati–Azimganj branch was among the earliest railway projects in the Bengal Presidency, originally constructed on a non-standard gauge and later converted to broad gauge to integrate with the wider Indian Railways network. Subsequent additions of the Katwa and Barharwa connections established Azimganj as a junction. Following Independence, the station was placed under the Eastern Railway zone, formed in 1952.

Significance

Azimganj Junction provides regional connectivity to the historic centres of Murshidabad, Jiaganj, and Baranagar, areas associated with the late Mughal and Nawabi history of Bengal as well as the Sheherwali Jain merchant community of Azimganj. The station handles passenger services including local and express trains and supports goods traffic relevant to the agricultural economy of the district.

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