Question

Rail Transport
The Indian Railways network is one of the longest in the world. It facilitates the movement of both freight and passengers and contributes to the growth of the economy. Mahatma Gandhi said, the Indian railways "...brought people of diverse cultures together to contribute to India's freedom struggle". The Indian Railway was introduced in 1853, when a line was constructed from Bombay to Thane, covering a distance of 34 km. The length of the Indian Railways network was 67,956 km (Railway yearbook 2019-20). Its very large size puts a lot of pressure on a centralised railway management system. Thus, in India, the railway system has been divided into 17 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 Moreover, steam engines have been replaced by diesel and electric engines.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 the speed, as well as the haulage capacity. The replacement of steam engines run by coal has also improved the environment of the stations. Metro rail has revolutionlised the urban transport system in India. Replacement of diesel buses by CNG-run vehicles along with the introduction of the metro is a welcome step towards controlling the air pollution in urban centres. Areas around towns, raw material producing areas and plantations and other commercial crops, hill stations and cantonment towns were well-connected by railways from the British colonial era. These were mostly developed for the exploitation of resources. After the Independence of the country, railway routes have been extended to other areas too. The most significant development has been the development of the Konkan Railway along the western coast, providing a direct link between Mumbai and Mangaluru. The railway continues to remain the main means of transport for the masses. The railway network is relatively less dense in the hill states, north eastern states, central parts of India and Rajasthan.

Which of the following regions has dense railway network?

• A. Hilly states
• B. North Eastern States
• C. Eastern Rajasthan
• D. Ganga plains

Hint:

The passage lists the regions with a thin network. The answer is not among them.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which region has a dense railway network. The passage tells us where the network is thin, so we can use that to find the dense region.

Step 2: Use the passage:
The passage says the network is relatively less dense in the hill states, north eastern states, central parts of India and Rajasthan.

Step 3: Check option (1) Hilly states.
The passage lists hill states as having a less dense network. Steep slopes make track building hard and costly. So (1) is WRONG.

Step 4: Check option (2) North Eastern States.
The passage also lists the north eastern states as less dense. Hills, forests and rivers limit the lines. So (2) is WRONG.

Step 5: Check option (3) Eastern Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is named in the passage as a state with a less dense network. Dry land and low population keep the lines few. So (3) is WRONG.

Step 6: Check option (4) Ganga plains.
The Ganga plains are flat, fertile and heavily populated. Building track is easy and traffic is high, so the network is very dense. So (4) is CORRECT.

Final Answer:
The Ganga plains have the densest railway network, which is option (4). \[ \boxed{4} \]