Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated the redeveloped Barmer Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, marking a new chapter for one of western Rajasthan’s oldest railway stations.
Barmer-Jaisalmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal, Barmer MLA Priyanka Chaudhary, Baytu MLA Aaduram Meghwal, and former Union Minister Kailash Choudhary attended the inauguration programme.
With a history spanning nearly 125 years, Barmer Railway Station has witnessed colonial-era rail expansion, the India-Pakistan wars, cross-border train services with Pakistan, and the transition from metre gauge to broad gauge.
During the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the station came under aerial attack by Pakistani forces but continued to remain operational.
Railway experts say the Barmer Railway Station was established around 1899, when the town was largely confined to the Dhani Bazaar area.
The railway line connecting Luni, Balotra and Barmer was completed in 1899, while the railway line extending from Barmer to Hyderabad (Sindh), now in Pakistan, became operational in 1900, making Barmer an important rail link in western India.
Until the 1965 India-Pakistan war, trains from Barmer connected with Karachi through the cross-border route.
Barmer Railway Station came under heavy aerial bombardment by Pakistan on December 8 and 9, 1971, during the India-Pakistan war.
At the time, diesel drums were stored in a warehouse near the station.
Officials managed to move the fuel to safety before it could be hit, preventing what could have been extensive damage to the station and nearby residential areas. Despite the attacks, railway operations continued.
The original railway station featured a simple tin-roofed structure before being rebuilt during the British era with a distinctive rounded roof, an architectural style commonly used for railway buildings at the time.
The curved roof helped prevent water accumulation and provided better durability in extreme weather conditions.
The heritage-style structure served passengers for decades before being replaced during later redevelopment works.
A major transformation came in 2005–2006, when the Jodhpur–Munabao metre-gauge line was converted to broad gauge.
The project was strongly backed by the then Union Defence Minister Jaswant Singh.
Following the conversion, the Malani Express was flagged off, significantly improving rail connectivity in the region.
In 2006, the launch of the Thar Express between Jodhpur and Khokhrapar restored rail connectivity between India and Pakistan after several decades.
The development also led to the establishment of the international railway station at Munabao, enhancing Barmer’s strategic importance.
The cross-border train service remained operational until 2019, when it was suspended following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Barmer Railway Station was first modernised in 2006 with a new station building, upgraded platforms, passenger amenities and a washing line.
Its latest redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has further upgraded passenger facilities while enhancing the station’s appearance.
Located opposite the city’s main market and Ahimsa Circle, the redeveloped station now serves as a modern gateway to Barmer while preserving the legacy of one of Rajasthan’s oldest railway hubs.
(IANS)
