What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in India?
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The state of infrastructure during the pre-British India was very poor. The transportation and communication lines were below average. In fact, most of the villages lacked connectivity by pucca roads. Consequently, natural dusty tracks were the roads predominant in India. However, such roads spelt misery during monsoons as they became muddy and difficult to traverse.
Additionally, during natural calamities, these roads became unfunctional as a result of which various areas became inaccessible and were cut-off. Animal-drawn carriages were the most common mode of transport. This meant it would generally take a lot of days to travel to other places. Hence the movement of passengers and freights was very inefficient and slow.
Water transport was not very popular except in some parts of North India where rivers were navigable. In a nutshell, the pre-colonial state of infrastructure in India was far below satisfactory and the Britishers were responsible for most of our infrastructure development.
In their long history of two centuries of exploitation, Britishers did everything to drain Indian wealth and support their home country. The poor state of infrastructure was a major hurdle to this process.
Transportation of materials from the countryside to ports was inefficient and time-consuming. In fact, various routes became inaccessible due to an absence of permanent roads. Development of infrastructure was thus a necessity to empower colonial motives. Hence, the development of telegraphs, roads, railways, ports, ports and water transport was aimed at British empowerment rather than providing basic amenities to people.
Additionally, during natural calamities, these roads became unfunctional as a result of which various areas became inaccessible and were cut-off. Animal-drawn carriages were the most common mode of transport. This meant it would generally take a lot of days to travel to other places. Hence the movement of passengers and freights was very inefficient and slow.
Water transport was not very popular except in some parts of North India where rivers were navigable. In a nutshell, the pre-colonial state of infrastructure in India was far below satisfactory and the Britishers were responsible for most of our infrastructure development.
In their long history of two centuries of exploitation, Britishers did everything to drain Indian wealth and support their home country. The poor state of infrastructure was a major hurdle to this process.
Transportation of materials from the countryside to ports was inefficient and time-consuming. In fact, various routes became inaccessible due to an absence of permanent roads. Development of infrastructure was thus a necessity to empower colonial motives. Hence, the development of telegraphs, roads, railways, ports, ports and water transport was aimed at British empowerment rather than providing basic amenities to people.
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Answer:
- One cannot deny the fact that under the British rule, there was significant change in the infrastructural development in the country.
- But the bonafide motive of the British behind the infrastructure development was only to serve their own colonial interests.
- There was infrastructural development in the fields of transport and communication.
- The roads served the purpose of facilitating transportation of raw materials from different parts of the country to ports, and ports were developed for easy and fast exports to and imports from Britain.
- Similarly, railways were introduced and developed for the transportation of finished goods of British industries to the interiors of India.
- Railways assisted British industries to widen the market for their finished products.
- Post and telegraphs were developed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the British administration.
- Hence, the aim of infrastructural development was not the growth and development of the Indian economy but to serve their own interest.
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