Changes

The continued slow pace and high cost of railway construction during the 1860s convinced the then Viceroy, Sir John Lawrence, that [[metre gauge]] offered significant advantages over [[broad gauge]], such that the speed of laying track could be increased while driving down its cost. Also, that the only way to resolve the lack of risk capital was by direct Government involvement. Thus emerged the concept of the '''State Railway''' in the early 1870s - planned, built and run by the Governmentof India (GOI).

At the same time, and in an effort to reduce the load on the Imperial budget, the Government Annual figures for track mileage constuction began to encourage the various independent Princely States to come forward with their own [[:Category:Indian States Railways|railway schemes]]. Track mileage continued to increase only at a slow rate and but further famines during the late 1870s (which struck at the GovernmentGOI's ability to raise taxes) and the cost of the Second Afghan War again highlighted the need for further change. Once more, the British Government in Westminster sought to attract [[:Category:Private Railways|private capital]], and, if that failed, to provide [[:Category:Assisted Railways|direct assistance]]. At the same time, and in an effort to reduce the load on the Imperial budget, the GOI began to encourage the various independent Princely States to come forward with their own [[:Category:Indian States Railways|railway schemes]].