Question

Answer the following question in about 150 words.

Give a detailed account of the development of railways in India and highlight their importance.

Answer 1

The Indian Railways network is one of the longest in the world. It facilitates the movement of both freight and passengers and contributes to economic growth. The Indian Railway was introduced in 1853, when a line was constructed from Bombay to Thane, covering a distance of 34 km.

It is the largest government undertaking in the country. Its network length is 63,221 km. Its very large size puts lots of pressure on a centralised railway management system. Thus, in India, the railway system is divided into 16 zones. Indian Railways has launched an extensive programme to convert the metre and narrow gauges to broad gauge. Moreover, steam engines have been replaced by diesel and electric engines. This step has increased both speed and haulage capacity.

The replacement of steam engines run by coal has also improved the environment of the stations. Metro rail has revolutionised the urban transport system in Kolkata and Delhi. The replacement of diesel buses with CNG-run vehicles, along with the introduction of the metro, is a welcome step towards controlling air pollution in urban centres.

Areas around towns, raw-material-producing areas, plantations and other commercial crops, hill stations, and cantonment towns were well connected by railways during the British colonial era. These were mostly developed to exploit resources. After the country’s independence, railway routes have been extended to other areas as well. The most significant development has been the development of the Konkan Railway along the western coast, providing a direct link between Mumbai and Mangalore.

The railway remains the main means of transport for the masses. The Railway network is relatively less dense in the hill states, the northeastern states, the central parts of India and Rajasthan.