Development of Transport and Communication Infrastructure

Between 1858 and 1947, the British undertook massive expansion of railways, ports, and telegraph lines across India. Officially these projects were claimed to bring “modernisation” and “national integration,” but in reality, they primarily served the colonial objectives of efficient resource extraction (raw materials to ports), rapid military mobility, and expanding British trade and revenue collection. The result was a new infrastructural network that permanently altered India’s economic geography.

Development of Railways

Origins and Early Growth

Year

Event / Phase

Key Facts

1843

Proposal by Lord Hardinge

First idea for railway in India

1853

First railway line: Bombay to Thane (34 km)

14 April ....

Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content

Already a Member? Login here

Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material since 2018 of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Be an Annual Subscriber

Indian History