Transport and Communication
Railways
Explain the importance of the Konkan Railway.
Railways began in India in 1853, between Bombay and Thane, a distance of 34 km.
Today the network is 67,956 km long (2019-20), divided into 17 zones. Indian Railways is the largest government undertaking in the country.
Railway lines come in three gauges (the width between the rails):
- Broad gauge: 1.676 m; about 63,950 km, most of the network.
- Metre gauge: 1 m.
- Narrow gauge: 0.762 m or 0.610 m, mainly in hilly areas.
Gauge conversion (to broad gauge), and electric and diesel engines, have raised speed and carrying capacity.
The Konkan Railway (1998), 760 km from Roha to Mangaluru, crosses 146 rivers with about 2,000 bridges, and runs through 91 tunnels: an engineering marvel. In cities, metro rail is transforming daily travel.
Practise this lesson
Questions that get harder as you improve, a Tutor that helps without giving the answer away, and progress you can see. Free for every learner.
No account, no email address. Opens the real product.