Consider the following statements regarding the development of railways in India.
1. The first railway line was started in 1853 from Bombay to Pune.
2. The broad gauge covers the highest proportion of tracks of Indian railways.
Which of the statement(s) given is/are INCORRECT?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. 1 only.
Statement 1 is incorrect, while Statement 2 is correct. Therefore, only Statement 1 is incorrect.
The first railway line in India was started in 1853 between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane, not Pune. This historic train covered a distance of about 34 kilometers and marked the beginning of railway transport in India under British rule.
The second statement is correct because broad gauge is the most widely used railway gauge in India. Indian Railways mainly uses broad gauge tracks due to their greater stability, higher speed capacity, and ability to carry heavier loads. Over the years, many metre gauge and narrow gauge lines have been converted into broad gauge under the Uni-Gauge policy.