<P> In addition to trains, trams were introduced in many cities in late 19th century, though almost all of these were phased out . The trams in Kolkata are currently the only tram system in the country . The nationalised Calcutta Tramways Company is in the process of upgrading the existing tramway network at a cost of ₹ 240 million (US $3.7 million). </P> <P> Though state - owned companies like IR and the various metro companies enjoy a near monopoly in India, a few private railways do exist . These private railway lines are used exclusively for freight . </P> <P> There are railway lines owned and operated by companies including plantations, sugar mills, collieries and other mines, dams, harbours and ports . Broad - gauge railways are operated by the Mumbai Port Trust, Madras Port Trust, Calcutta Port Trust, Visakhapatnam Port Trust and Bhilai Steel Plant . The Tata Group operate funicular railways at Bhira and at Bhivpuri Road (as well as the Kamshet--Shirawta Dam railway line). The Pipavav Rail Corporation holds a 33 - year concession for building and operating a railway line from Pipavav to Surendranagar . The Kutch Railway Company, a joint venture of the Gujarat state government and private parties, is involved (along with the Kandla Port Trust and the Gujarat Adani Port) to build a Gandhidham--Palanpur railway line . </P> <P> There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Indian Railways, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Mountain Railways of India . The latter consists of three separate railway lines located in different parts of India: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a 610 mm (2 ft) narrow gauge railway in Lesser Himalayas in West Bengal, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ⁄ in) metre gauge rack railway in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu and the Kalka--Shimla Railway, a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge railway in the Siwalik Hills in Himachal Pradesh . </P>

Aims and objectives of railway transport in india