Indian Railways integrate the country since the major transportation of freight and persons over long distance is by railways. This is especially true for bulk transportation of low value materials. The increasing economic activities have created necessity of transportation of freight and persons at higher speed over long distances.

Electrification of railways was found to be the only solution and the Government embarked on an ambitious programme of railway electrification. The “Quadrangle” consisting of major metropolitan cities viz; Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta and Chennai, together with their diagonal tie lines are now fully electrified. Electrification is also being extended to the major industrial centres of rapid transportation and higher economic yield from a given investment in wagon and railway tracks. In addition, the suburban railway network is strengthened in existing metropolitan areas and suburban system will be extended to the next level of metropolitan areas. The major achievement of the Indian industry was the execution of metro railway system in Calcutta entirely using Indian expertise. Efficient use of resources and fast transportation requires a back up by equally, if not more efficient, signaling, communication and SCADA systems. In both these fields Indian Railways have developed considerable expertise. A further expertise is being acquired by establishment of coastal Konkan railways, which runs in such hilly regions as to have the distinction of the largest number of bridges and tunnels per kilometer compared to any other railway network in the world.

PROGRESS OF RAILWAY NETWORK

By Year Ending	Total Route KM	Total Route KM Electrified
March 1971	59,790	3,706
March 1981	61,240	5,345
March 1991	62,367	9,968
March 1995	62,660	11,772
March 1996	62,915	12,306
March 1997	62,725	13,490
March 1998	62,809	13,765
March 1999	62,809	13,765
March 2000	62,809	14,300
March 2001	63,000	14,900