India 2018

Transport 501
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Transport
A well-knit and coordinated system of transport plays an important role in the
sustained economic growth of country. The present transport system of the
country comprises several modes of transport including rail, road, coastal
shipping, air transport etc. Transport has recorded a substantial growth over
the years both in spread of network and in output of the system. The Ministry
of Shipping and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are responsible
for the formation and implementation of policies and programmes for the
development of various modes of transport save the railways and the civil
aviation.
Railways
The Railways in India provide the principal mode of transportation for freight
and passengers. It brings together people from the farthest corners of the country
and makes possible the conduct of business, sightseeing, pilgrimage and
education. The Indian Railways have been a great integrating force during the
last more than 164 years. It has bound the economic life of the country and
helped in accelerating the development of industry and agriculture. From a
very modest beginning in 1853, when the first train steamed off from Mumbai
to Thane, a distance of 34 Kms, Indian Railways have grown into a vast network
of 7,216 stations spread over a route length of 66,687 km with a fleet of 11,122
locomotives, 53,101 passenger service vehicles, 6,899 other coaching vehicles
and 2,51,256 wagons. The growth of Indian Railways in the 164 years of its
existence is thus phenomenal. It has played a vital role in the economic industrial
and social development of the country. The network runs multi-gauge
operations extending over 66,687 route kilometers.
About 35.32 per cent of the route kilometre and 47.09 percent of running
track kilometre and 48.26 per cent of total track kilometre is electrified. The
network is divided into 17 Zones. Divisions are the basic operating units. The
17 zones and their respective headquarters are given below:
Zonal Railways
Central
Headquarters
Mumbai
Eastern
East Coast
East Central
Northern
North Central
Kolkata
Bhubaneshwar
Hajipur
New Delhi
Allahabad