Which one of the following cities serve as headquarter of two railway zones?
Which one of the following cities serve as headquarter of two railway zones?
Options
The correct option is A — Kolkata.
Why this is correct:
- Kolkata is the headquarters of the Eastern Railway zone.
- Kolkata (Garden Reach) is also the headquarters of the South Eastern Railway zone.
- No other city among the options hosts two zonal headquarters.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: correct identification of Kolkata as the city hosting two railway zone headquarters.
Hint
Think of the two 'Eastern' railway zones — Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway — and which single city hosts both.
Quick Oral Answer
Kolkata is the headquarters of both the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway zones, making it the only city on the list hosting two railway zone headquarters.
Analysis & Explanation
Indian Railways is organised into multiple zones for administrative convenience, each headquartered in a specific city.
Why Kolkata is correct:
- Kolkata uniquely serves as headquarters for two separate railway zones — the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway — a distinction not shared by any other Indian city.
Why the distractors fail:
- Chennai is the headquarters of only the Southern Railway zone.
- Jaipur is the headquarters of only the North Western Railway zone.
- Bilaspur is the headquarters of only the South East Central Railway zone.
Since each of these three cities hosts exactly one zonal headquarters, only Kolkata satisfies the condition of housing two railway zone headquarters.
Common Mistakes
- 1Assuming a city is a zone headquarters just because it is a major railway junction, without checking whether it is the administrative HQ of that zone.
- 2Confusing South Eastern Railway (HQ Kolkata) with South East Central Railway (HQ Bilaspur) — the similar names are a common exam trap.
Interesting Facts
Indian Railways currently has 18 zones, making it one of the largest railway networks in the world under a single management.
Kolkata's dual role as HQ of both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway reflects the city's historic importance as India's colonial-era rail and port hub.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many railway zones does India have?
Indian Railways is divided into 18 zones as of recent reorganisation, each managed from a designated zonal headquarters city.
Which two railway zones are headquartered in Kolkata?
Kolkata hosts the headquarters of both the Eastern Railway zone and the South Eastern Railway zone.