UPSC Prelims 2006 Q106: Indian Economy – Infrastructure & Industry
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
Railway Zone - Headquarters
- (a) North Eastern Railway - Gorakhpur
- (b) South Eastern Railway - Bhubaneswar
- (c) Eastern Railway - Kolkata
- (d) South East Central Railway - Bilaspur
Answer: (b) South Eastern Railway - Bhubaneswar
Explanation
Railway zones and their headquarters
| Railway zone | Headquarters | Matched correctly? |
|---|---|---|
| North Eastern Railway | Gorakhpur | Yes |
| South Eastern Railway | Kolkata (Garden Reach), not Bhubaneswar | No |
| Eastern Railway | Kolkata | Yes |
| South East Central Railway | Bilaspur | Yes |
Bhubaneswar is the headquarters of the East Coast Railway, so South Eastern Railway : Bhubaneswar is wrongly matched.
Answer: (b) South Eastern Railway - Bhubaneswar.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. North Eastern Railway is headquartered at Gorakhpur.
- (b) CORRECT. South Eastern Railway is headquartered in Kolkata; Bhubaneswar belongs to the East Coast Railway.
- (c) Incorrect. Eastern Railway is headquartered in Kolkata.
- (d) Incorrect. South East Central Railway is headquartered at Bilaspur.
Key point
South Eastern Railway has its headquarters in Kolkata, while Bhubaneswar is the headquarters of the East Coast Railway.
Remember
South Eastern Railway: Kolkata; East Coast Railway: Bhubaneswar.
Common mistakes
- Giving South Eastern Railway to Odisha because of its eastern coast name.
- Confusing the East Coast Railway with the South Eastern Railway.
- Forgetting that Bilaspur hosts the South East Central Railway.
Exam tip
Kolkata hosts both Eastern and South Eastern Railways; Bhubaneswar hosts East Coast Railway.
Sources
- Ministry of Railways, Government of India — Indian Railways Year Book: Zonal Railways and their headquarters
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Indian Railways