question_answer

Study the data given below and answer the questions that follow it:

Progress made by Indian Railways (1950-1951  to  1996 - 1997)
Items	Year
	1950-1951	1996-1997
Total Route Length (km)	53,596	62,725
Electrified Route Length (km)	388	13,018
Passengers  (in lakhs)	12,840	41,530
Number of Railway Engines:
1.Steam	8,120	85
2.Diesel	17	4,363
3.Electric	72	2,519
Coaches	19,628	39,257
Wagons	2,05,596	2,72,127

(a) During the 46 years from 1950-1951 to 1996-1997 the total route length increased only marginally. Why? Give one reason.

(b) How many times has electrified route length increased during this period? Give one reason for this increase.

[AI 2001]

Answer:

(a) The total route length has increased marginally because of the policy of increasing the capacity of existing tracks.

(b) About 43 times

Large scale industrialization and urbanisation of our country.