CONTRIBUTION OF RAILWAYS TO THE UNITY OF THE COUNTRY A nation’s progress depends to a large extent in the national unity. In the national unity of India, Indian Railways play an important role. Indian Railways, the biggest public sector undertaking in the country and the biggest public utility concern shapes to a great extent the economic destiny of the nation. Railways came to India when the first 21-mile track was opened between Bombay and Thane on April 16th of 1853, when 3 steam engines hauling 20 coaches and 400 people clanked out of Bombay station. On an average, Railways have recorded a growth rate of about 4.3% in freight traffic and 3.7% in passenger traffic per annum, thus linking even die remotest and inaccessible parts of this vast and diverse country. They have rightly been described as the arteries of the nation and a symbol of national unity. As the largest public sector undertaking in the country and the biggest employer of manpower, the contribution of Indian Railways to the national economy and unity can’t be underestimated. Today with a nationwide net work of more than 62,367Kms, Indian Railways have grown into Asia’s largest and world’s second largest railway system under a single management. At present,...
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