History of Indian Railway

                                                                   History of Indian Railways

The plan for the introduction of rail system in India which transformed the history of India was 1st proposed in 1832, however no any necessary actions were taken at that time. Later on in 1844 private entrepreneurs were allowed to launch it by Lord Hardinge (Governor-General of India at that time).

First proposals for construction in India were presented to East India Company in 1844 at London by a) EIR (East Indian Railway company b) GIPR (Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company). By the end of 1845 two companies were formed and the East India Company requested to support them in this matter.

The first train was launched to carry the construction material at Roorkee on 22nd Dec 1851 and within a gap of 16 months, 1st passenger train was introduced between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thana on 16th April 1853 and this rail track covered a distance of 21 miles.

After this government approached private investors and convince them to invest in it with annual return of 5% in early year of operations. After it finished, it would be transferred to the Government ownership but operational control will be enjoyed by the investor company. By 1880 Indian rail network covered a route mileage of 9000 miles mainly working through three major port cities (Calcutta, Bombay, Madras).

India had started manufacturing its own locomotives by 1895 and in no times different kingdoms assembled their Independent rails systems and the network of rail lines has been extended to the region including Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Rajasthan. A Railway Board was formed in 1901 through the administrative power was reserved for the Viceroy Lord Curzon. This railway board worked under the Department of Commerce and Industry and this board comprised of three members:-

1. Chairman
2. Railway Manager
3. Agent

In 1907 for the very 1st time in Railway History, the Railways instigated to draw a neat profit and at this time most of rail companies were came under the government control.