Hinglish

Railways and Metros

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 19: Infrastructure: Engine of India's Development · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 19.3

Learn

The British began railways in India in 1853 to carry cotton and tea to ports for export, spread British goods and move troops for tighter control. Over time railways became India's lifeline: markets grew and towns rose near stations. Today Indian Railways is the world's fourth-largest system, carries over 2 crore passengers a day at some of the world's cheapest fares, and is one of the largest employers, with about 12 lakh staff plus many indirect jobs. Cargo trains use 75–90% less energy than road transport, and India has electrified about 97% of its network, moving from steam (1895) to diesel (1957), electric (1970) and the Vande Bharat (2019).

Metro trains now run in 23 Indian cities over more than 1,000 km, and India will soon have the world's third-largest metro network after China and the USA. Running underground or on elevated tracks, metros cut travel time and road traffic and use electricity; the Delhi Metro even uses solar power. In 2024, the USA had about 2,93,564 km of rail track, China 1,50,000 km, Russia 85,494 km, India 69,181 km and Canada 48,000 km.

Explore: place events on the timeline.

  1. India's first railway ran in 1853. Put the marker there.
  2. The Vande Bharat train was launched in 2019. Put the marker there.

Remember

  • Railways began in 1853 for colonial needs and became India's lifeline; they are energy-efficient and almost fully electric.
  • Metros in 23 cities cut travel time, traffic and pollution.

Quick check

Why did the British build railways in India?

  1. to carry raw materials to ports, sell British goods and move troops
  2. to help Indian industries compete with Britain
  3. for tourism only
  4. to connect India with Africa
Answer

to carry raw materials to ports, sell British goods and move troops. Later railways became a lifeline for Indians.

Think about it

What economic activities might you see around a busy railway station?

One answer

Food stalls and vendors, porters, taxi and auto drivers, hotels, shops, parcel services and markets that grew because travellers pass through.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.