Which of the following statements about the spread of railways in India during the British period is correct?

Step-by-step solution

1. Read each option carefully.
2. Option A says the first railway line opened in 1845 – the correct year is 1853, so discard.
3. Option B claims the railways were built solely for Indian trade – they were mainly for British commercial interests, so discard.
4. Option C states that by 1900 India had about 40,000 miles of tracks – this matches historical records.
5. Option D mentions that all railway construction stopped after 1910 – false, construction continued.
6. Select the statement that matches verified data.

Concept tested: Railway expansion in colonial India

Published 26 August 2026 · How this solution was prepared and checked

Related questions

• 1 Explain how the introduction of railways affected the movement of raw materials and finished goods within India during the British period.
• 2 Explain how the expansion of railways in British India during the 19th century affected the movement of raw materials from the hinterland to ports and the distribution of finished goods within the country.
• 3 Explain how the expansion of railways in British India during the 19th century affected the price and availability of agricultural produce in the hinterland.
• 4 The first steam locomotive was introduced in Britain in 1804, and the first passenger railway line in India was inaugurated in 1853. How many years later did India get its first passenger railway after the introduction of the steam locomotive?
• 5 State the name of the railway company that constructed the first passenger railway line between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane in 1853.
• 6 In which year was the first passenger railway line in India, between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane, inaugurated?