The history of train in India is more than 168 years old. The first train in India ran between Mumbai and Thane in 1853 on 16 April. This train ran only 34 km and ran on broad gauge track carrying 400 people.
Indian Railways is a statutory body owned by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India that governs India’s national railway system. It is the fourth largest in the world by size with a total route length of 67,956 km (42,226 mi) as of March 31, 2022. Manages the largest national railway system.
After America, Russia and China, if the longest railway belongs to any country, then it belongs to India. If we talk about its extension area, then it is spread over 1 lakh 23 thousand 542 kilometers. Indian Railways is one of the busiest railways. 24 crore people travel on Indian Railways almost every day. Indian Railways comes at the eighth position in terms of job placement.
As of March 2019, the number of people working in Indian Railways was 1.3 million. Lord Dalhousie is called the father of Indian Railways. The first railway proposal for India was made in Madras in 1832. The country’s first transport train, the Red Hill Railway ran from Red Hills up to the Chintadripet bridge in Madras.
The organization of the Indian Railways into regional zones began in 1951, when Southern (14 April 1951), Central (5 November 1951), and Western (5 November 1951) zones were created.
In 1951 fans and lights were made mandatory for all coaches in all passenger classes, and sleeping accommodations were introduced in the coaches. In 1956, the first fully air-conditioned train was introduced between Howrah and Delhi (currently known as Poorva Express).
Computerized ticketing and reservation was introduced in New Delhi in 1986. In 1988, the first Shatabdi Express was introduced between New Delhi and Jhansi; Later it was extended up to Bhopal.
On 22 March 2020, Indian Railways announced nationwide closure of passenger rail service to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in India. It became part of a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The railway shutdown was initially scheduled to last from March 23 to 31, but the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 was slated to last for 21 days. The national rail network, to transport essential goods, resumed its freight operations during the lockdown. is maintaining.
On March 29, the Indian Railways announced that it would start the service of special parcel trains to transport essential goods, in addition to the regular freight service. The national rail operator has also announced plans to convert coaches into isolation wards for COVID-19 patients.
Friends, these were some important things related to railways.
