Question

Give an account of the distributional pattern of railways in India.

Answer 1

1. Northern Indian Plains: This region has a very dense railway network extending from Amritsar in the west to Haora (near Kolkata) in the east. The flat terrain, high population density, intensive agriculture, and industrial development make it suitable for extensive railway lines. Major railway hubs like Delhi serve as focal points from which railway lines radiate in all directions, connecting to important port cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. East-west connectivity is more developed than north-south connectivity here.
2. Peninsular Plateau: The network is relatively open and less dense due to hilly terrain and moderate population density. Key trunk routes connect cities such as Mumbai-Chennai, Chennai-Kochi, Chennai-Delhi, and Chennai-Hyderabad. Regions like Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu have better railway coverage compared to other plateau areas.
3. Himalayan Region: Railways are sparse because of difficult mountainous terrain, sparse population, and backward economy. Only a few narrow-gauge lines exist, like Kalka-Shimla and Siliguri-Darjeeling. Most north-eastern states lack railway lines due to dense forests and rough terrain.
4. Coastal Plains: The eastern coastal plains have a long and continuous railway trunk route, whereas the western coastal plains have fewer railways because the Western Ghats lie close to the coast, restricting the plains and railway development. The Konkan Railway is a significant project on the west coast overcoming this barrier.