The Impact of Indian Railways on India’s Urbanization

Of particular interest to this research was the effect of the railway transport system in the Indian context, Indian Railways on the urbanization process in India.

The Indian Railways with traveller cover of over 23 million daily and lengths of 64596 kilometres having many branches is one of the biggest railway networks internationally that has significantly influenced India’s urban development once it was commenced in year 1853. These important events not only influenced changes in the transport sector but also called for broader economic, social and urban changes of the country. Since the beginning, the railway network extension has been generally associated with the population urbanization process in India and major changes in rural areas creating urban centres for trade and industry. Drawing upon this type of contribution, this article explores the complex relationship of Indian Railways to the ongoing urbanization process in India.

1. Promoting Economic Development for Trade

Because of the Indian Railways, the economic development has greatly benefited from a strong and cheap means of moving goods and people. It was used for transportation of raw materials, agricultural products as well as manufactured goods all over the country and as a result created central business districts for industries in cities. Port cities –Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai – emerged as industrial giants to labour and capital investment due to better transportation through railways. Railway stations further was creating more acceleration to economic activities and places around these cities turned into commercial and industrial tracts.

2. Growth of New Metropolitan Cities

Since the construction of railways, construction of new towns and cities occurred near railway junctions. Railway stations made central places of urban development because situated them served as a centre for migration looking for employment opportunities and better standards of living. Some towns like Asansol, Tatanagar and Kharagpur developed around railway workshop and headquarters and similarly cities like Nagpur and Bhopal owe their importance to the biological locations on railways network. Thanks to railway, those new urban centres became connected with existing large urban centres and grew a network of urban centres.

3. Population Mobility: Migration and Growth of Urban Population

Over time, the Indian Railways has been a catalyst in providing mobility to the population and encouraging internal mobility – from rural to urban settings. Now let’s talk about benefits for millions people who left villages to find a better job, education, or health care, which is possible due to the east of transportation trains. They therefore played a great roll in the exponential increase in the growth of populations of urban areas most especially the metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. This has further triggered development of more and complex infrastructural provisions, housing as well as public utilities and services in the urban centers, though these have been sometime limited by rates of city expansion.

4. It was about Urban Infrastructure and Development.

With the growth of the cities in India, there emerged emergent needs for urban amenities such as roads, bridges, buildings and utilities. The railway network has a significant contribution to the spatial development of cities thus dictating the new emerging residential and business zones. Mumbai Suburban Railway and Delhi Metro are examples where Suburban railway system have contributed in decentralization of city centers and peripheral growth. These systems have helped people live in suburbs yet work in the city meaning that pressure on central business districts has eased while urban development is more dispersed.

5. Effects of Green Building on Land Utilization and Real Estate Industry

Beliefs about the impact of railway stations and tracks have directly affected the manner in which land is used within urban spaces. Which in the past have affected other properties around railway stations to attract more demand for the land hence offering higher returns for real estate investors and as such many commercial and residential buildings. In many cities railway lines have also been used also affected layout and distribution of neighborhoods in the urban areas. Some neighborhoods have benefitted from railways because of the added convenience while others are surrounded by railway yards or tracks, and problems like noise and pollution, and lower property value come with the territory.

6. The Problems and Prospective of Development

However, the Indian Railways has several issues in adapting to the increased rate of urbanization to cater for the needs it will present. Inadequate capacity, congested facilities, and correction for metropolitan areas are key challenges that require the attention of the society to support growth of cities. This is why the construction and improvement of high-speed rail systems, as well as the interaction with other transport systems, including buses and metros, are so important to the future of mobility in India.

Also, Indian government planning “smart cities” development and the improvement of public transport system offers a greater role for Indian Railways in the further development of urban environment. It is increasingly observed that development in the means of rail transportation can help in relief from traffic congested cities, decrease pollution levels and the quality of life in mass urban centers in India would be enhanced if Indian Railways invests in the latest and the most efficient railway systems.

Conclusion

Indian Railways has played a pivotal role in growth of urban civilization, transportation, economic, migration, and infrastructure in this country. While new cities are still being built and historic cities extending their areas, the impact of railways in the development of urban fabric in India will only grow in the future. Imaginable investments and planning approach will ensure, Indian Railways remain as key thrust in building up vibrant sustainable and inclusive cities in India.