Have you or your family members ever taken a train or a metro? What sort of economic activities did you see around the stations? Share the experience with your classmates.
Around railway and metro stations, various economic activities can be observed.
Food vending is common — vendors sell snacks, tea, and meals to passengers, as shown in Fig. 7.9. Small shops sell newspapers, magazines, books, and everyday items.
Porters help passengers with luggage for a fee. Taxi and auto-rickshaw services operate near stations for last-mile connectivity. Catering services and food stalls provide employment opportunities.
The station area often develops into a commercial hub with hotels, restaurants, and retail stores. Indian Railways creates indirect jobs in catering, vending, and taxi services, supporting local economies around stations.
Explanation
The chapter mentions that Indian Railways is the largest employer with about 1.21 million employees in 2024, including engineers, ticket collectors, and service staff. Additionally, it creates many indirect jobs like catering, vending, and taxi services. The image of food vending at a railway station (Fig. 7.9) illustrates the economic ecosystem that develops around transportation infrastructure.
Solution Steps
Various economic activities can be observed around railway and metro stations
Food vending is common — vendors sell snacks, tea, and meals to passengers
Small shops sell newspapers, magazines, books, and everyday items
Porters help passengers with luggage for a fee
Taxi and auto-rickshaw services operate near stations for last-mile connectivity
Catering services and food stalls provide employment opportunities
Station areas develop into commercial hubs with hotels, restaurants, and retail stores
Indian Railways creates indirect jobs in catering, vending, and taxi services, supporting local economies