§ Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India the total mileage of the Indian railways; how much is in private ownership; how much is in State ownership; how much is under State control; and how much is under construction in each of these categories; and whether the Government of India is making arrangements to acquire for the State any railways at present under private ownership?
§ Mr. BENNThe total mileage of Indian railways on 31st March, 1928, the latest date up to which complete figures are available, was 39,712. Of this mileage
- 5,955 were privately owned,
- 33,757 were in the ownership of the Government of India, Indian States and District Boards and
- 16,999 were directly managed by the Government of India and Indian States.
The mileage under construction on the same date, divided according to the above categories, was 107, 3,522 and 1,788, respectively. The Government of India have arranged for the purchase of the property of the Southern Punjab Railway Company as from 31st December next.