Indian Geography / Transportation in India
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Rail transport in India account for nearly 2/5th of passenger traffic and 2/3rd freight traffic in India. It is a State owned transporter working under a separate ministry called Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Indian railway system ranks fourth in the world after US, Russia and China. Indian railway network is world's second largest network under a
single management after USA.
The first passenger train in India was run between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane on on 16th April, 1853
stretching a length of 34 km.
The Railway Board, which is under the supervision of Ministry of Railways, is looking after the management and administration of Indian Railways.
The
complete rail network is divided into different zones. Each zone is being headed by a General Manager, who is accountable to the Railway Board.
The highest
traffic of trains are running on network of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. In order to relieve the burden, dedicated freight corridors are getting
constructed.
Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor runs from Ludhiana in the state of Punjab to Dankuni near Kolkata. Western Dedicated Freight
Corridor runs from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust near Mumbai to Dadri near Delhi.
There are 19 railway zones in India. They are