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Sometime in the latter
part of the19th century Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia 1 of Gwalior
state was journeying in his Royal Saloon to the British Province in
Bombay. At a junction his saloon was waylaid for a passing VIP train
on the broad gauge line. The Maharaja, then and there, thought of
laying his own railway system in his State. He set up the Gwalior
Light Railway in the State of Gwalior later christened Scindia State
Railway till the counry’s railway system was nationalized.
The late Maharaja Madhav
Rao 1 was a dynamic ruler with progressive ideas for development of
his State. He set up a water management system introduced land
reforms set standards for land measurement and established an
engineering college. He even introduced a new branch in classical
vocal music called Gwalior Gharana by mixing classical with modern
vocal musical trends of that time.
The Maharaja, for the
convenience of the people, introduced circular railways for Gwalior
city. The ring railway system started from Jai Vilas Palace to the
represent Gwalior railway station. While setting up the Gwalior Light
Railway the Maharaja also had other considerations in mind, one being
to attend the horse races neighbouring present day Gola-ka-Mandir
metre gauge railway station. For this the line moved on to
Gola-ka-Mandir, Morar, Thatipur and back to Jai Vilas Palace. For
administrative considerations like inspections to outlying areas of
his State, the railways were further extended to Sawalgarh and Bhind
and to his summer capital, Shivpuri, where he indulged in Shikar.
The Gwalior Light
Railways had 2 feet gauge lines consisting of two separate systems
centred in Gwalior and Ujjain. The three lines radiating from Gwalior
date from 1989-1901. the Ujjain section in the south was not opened
till March 1932 the total route mileage was almost 300.
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