'Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by the Government of India with the Approval of the Right Hon'ble The Secretary of State for India, to Enquire into Questions Connected with the Organisation and Administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia' [‎55v] (110/114)

100
APPENDIX K.
Port and Railway Department, Basra and Magil.
The Railway accommodation required initially at Magil was very limited, neither was it
then anticipated that the tonnage to be handled would reach the present figure, still loss the
tonnage which must now be considered.
Additional accommodation to meet the noeds of the moment was aided as could most easily
and quickly be introduced. Thus the present lay-out has grown. It would not have baen so
designed for present traffic. It is difhouit to work and it is incapable of extension to any apore-
ciable extent. It is necessary therefore to reconsider the whole question and devise a compre
hensive lay-out, that will not only meet present needs but admit of future extensions.
The lay-out shown in red on the map of Basra and Magil indicates how the port can be
approached so as to give access to the wharves as they exist at present, and how these can be
added to so as to provide 10 wharves each capable of receiving ocean-going steamers in a less
length than that occupied by the port at present. A further two wharves can be constructed
within this area.
By closing the existing Inland Water Transport channel behind Coal Island, the Port is
capable of a further development to an extent which would almost double its capacity.
Investigations have been made which show that a permanent bridge over the Euphrates by
way of Coal Island thus cutting out the present pontooa bridge at Gurmat Ah is'a feasible
project.
Other extensions have been shewn connecting the developed Port to the present Railway
system both to Amara and to Nasinyeh. Whether the connection to Amara is via the existing
pontoon bridge or is replaced by the suggested permanent bridge on the proposed new aliw.^
ment, or whether the main line eventually goes to Baghdad via Amara or via Nasirieyh makes
practically no difference to the project in Basra itself, as now outlined.
The extensions shewn are a natural corollary of the development of the Port in order to
deal with the increased traffic which will accrae therefrom, as well as to provide increased facilities
for its distribution throughout the Base itself.
In the project connections have been provided to the various hospitals which with one or
two exceptions are at present served only by road or river, while at the same time facilities of
access have been provided to the various offices at Ashar, and for the despatching up-country
of personnel from the different camps and depots.
The alignment of the different extensions has been selected so as to avoid, except within
the Port area itself, interfering with permanent buildings or structures. Within that area the
interference has been kept to the minimum necessary for the proper working and development
of the Port. 0
As will be seen the project involves the removal of the existing Makina Railway Station or
at any rate the traffic part of it. This removal is not so great as at first sight appears as no
permanent structures have been put down in the traffic yard, and the removal therefore only
entails the ripping up of tracks, all of which can be reused. Arrangements have been made to
retain the permanent locomotive yard and the permanent engineering shops, now under con
struction as part of the new project.
Experience moreover has shown that the present Makina Yard is unsuitable in design for the
present tiaflic, involving as iu does shiiTit. ng across the mam lines to get to and from the engine
fehed, and the dumps and depots which nave sprung up round it, while its location precludes
any extensions to rectify matters. -
These proposed extensions in the Base itself as well as the alterations in the Port can be
carried out without interfering with present facilities as all new work can be constructed while
traffic is still b<jing carried on over existing wharves and lines, and when the new work is
completed the change over to it can easily be made. It is not of course intended to lay-out
the Port as shown to its full extent at once, but the intention is to develop it along the lines
indicated as traffic requires.
G. M. Press, Simla,—No. S, 129 (W) A.D.—25-3-8—20C~E.A.