Indian Railways is the biggest Government institution of India which gives more than 17 Lakh people employment. Indian Railways is the biggest railway system of Asia and the second biggest railway system of the world. In India the first train was run between Mumbai and Thane.
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor General of India at that time the train was running by coal Railway Engine.
The Britishers started the railway system to exploit the resources of India and carry the raw material from different ports of India to the ports for export the material to England and when the manufactured goods came to the ports from England then disbursed these goods all over the country within a very short time.
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During the freedom struggle the freedom fighters apposed the extension of railway network in the country because the railway system used by the Britishers for fulfilling and their interests were in the exploitation of India their own interests.
After independence there is a new chapter started in the development of Railway Government of India established its separate Ministry of Railways. The total responsibility of Railways is on the Ministry of Railways.
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The State Government have no authority to interfere in Railway Network. From the time of independence the developing process of Railways is very rapidly moving now the old coal engines are almost finished and Diesel and electric engines are using and the Government is determinate to replace all diesel engines with electric engines.
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The Electric Engines cause no pollution and its performance is better than Diesel Engine. Now there are eleven zones in Railways. Now total length of Indian Railways is about 65,000 kilometers long railway track in which almost 15,000 kilometers are electric lines.
About 12,000 trains go one place to another everyday. Railway is like a life line to the people of India. The importance of Railway is known by the fact that every year just before the common budget of Government of India a separate Railway budget is present in the parliament by the Railway Minister.
Railway is regularly working for giving the good facilities of their Passengers. Government of India established a separate Paramilitary Force R.P.F. (Railway Protection Force). The main working of R.P.F. is to protect the property and passengers of the Railway.
The jawans of R.P.F. are always travelled with express trains and mails. Railway has its different telephone department which is totally different from Department of Telecom, Government of India.
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Railway has their separate audit departments which audit all accounts of Indian Railways. These audits department of Railways is totally different from CAG (Controller and Auditor General of India).
Railway provides Residence and Medical Aid to their employees. We easily see a residential coloney and a dispensary near every Railway Station. There are almost 7,500 small and big Railway Stations in India. Railway is also help the Indian people in their trade almost 30-40% goods are carried by Railway in different parts of country.
Railway is also play important role during any national calamity and any accidents. Railways provides the food, medicines, doctors and other help in very short time and very rapidly take the affected people towards the secure places at the time of any natural calamity.
We saw that in floods, earthquakes, ocean storm the Railway provide full support to the people as much help as possible. The Railway have the facility for all segments of society.
For the people of economic weaker segment there is a general class, above it there is a second class in which people got the sleeping facility by reservation. Above them there is first class. It is very costly because the seat of first class is very big and comfortable and you can close your chamber and free from any disturbance in the compartment.
The top most facility provide by Indian Railways in Air Condition Compartments. In this compartment the Railway provide sleeping facility with full bed to the passengers.
The Shatabdi Express and Rajdhani Express who are running on very big routes, which passengers travel in those trains the Railway provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to the passengers. From the last five years Indian Railways run a separate luxury train, “Palace on Wheels” in Rajasthan with the support of Ministry of Tourism Government of Rajasthan.
This train have the facility equal to five star hotel by this train we can enjoy all places of historical and tourism importance of Rajasthan. So the facility is available for the people of every class. Railway is the essential part of the life of every Indian.