Indian Railway was introduced in 1853 when a line was constructed from Bombay to Thane covering a distance of 34 km. Indian Railways is the largest government undertaking in the country. The length of the Indian Railways network was 67,956 km (Railway yearbook 2019-20). It's very large size puts a lot of pressure on a centralised railway management system. Thus, in India, the railway system has been divided into 16 zones.

Which of the following statements is correct?

a- Railway network is relatively denser in the hill states, northeastern states, central parts of India and Rajasthan.

b- The most significant development of railways since independence has been the development of the Konkan Railway along the western coast providing a direct link between Mumbai and Mangaluru. 

Only statement b is correct.

Areas around towns, raw material producing areas and of plantations and other commercial crops, hill stations and cantonment towns were well-connected by railways from the British colonial era. These were mostly developed for the exploitation of resources. After the Independence of the country, railway routes have been extended to other areas too. The most significant development has been the development of the Konkan Railway along the western coast providing a direct link between Mumbai and Mangaluru. The railway continues to remain the main means of transport for the masses. The railway network is relatively less dense in the hill states, northeastern states, central parts of India and Rajasthan.