“Railways are the principal mode of transportation in India.” Explain.
The railways are the main artery of inland transport in India. It is the lifeline of the country as mentioned below : Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers. The Indian Railways have a network of 7,031 stations, 7,817 locomotives, 5,321 passenger service vehicles, 4,904 other coach vehicles and 228,170 wagons as on 31st March, 2004. The total length of railways is 63,221 km. Railways are useful in conducting business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over longer distances. It is the largest public undertaking in the country. Thus, it is clear that the railways are playing an important role in our economy. It has played an important role in the integration of the country as people can go from one region to another easily.