§ MR. MACLURE (Lancashire, S.E., Stretford)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State for India, in accordance with the assurance given last Session, has taken any steps to construct railways in India and Burmah, which would lead to the development of those countries, and prove beneficial to the industries of Great Britain?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The estimated capital expended on Indian railways for the year ending March 31, 1887, is 974 lakhs—512 by the Government of India, 462 by guaranteed and subsidized companies. By the end of 1887 it is estimated that 1,167 additional miles of railway will be opened. The Mandalay Railway (220 miles) was authorized as a State line by the Secretary of State in November, 1886, and work has now been begun at both ends of the line. The construction of the Bengal-Nagpoor Railway (784 miles) has 455 now been entrusted to a guaranteed Company. The Bolan Railway to Quetta and certain sections of the Scinde-Pisheen Railway beyond Quetta will be opened to the public by the end of March; 90 miles of the Bellary-Kistna Railway will be opened immediately. It is expected that about 100 miles of the Indian Midland, which is being constructed in its several sections simultaneously, will be opened in the course of the year. In addition to these, about 220 miles of the Southern Mahratta Company's system have been opened since September 30, 1886.