Correct Answer - Option 4 : 0.610 m
Explanation
According to Indian railways, the clear distance between the inner faces of two rails for the different type of gauges are
Gauge
|
Distance between rail
|
Broad gauge
|
1.676 m
|
Meter Gauge
|
1.0 m
|
Narrow gauge
|
0.762 m
|
0.610 m
|
Standard Gauge
|
1.435 m
|
Narrow Gauge:- When the clear horizontal distance between the inner faces of two parallel rails forming a track is either 762 mm or 610 mm, the gauge is known as Narrow gauge (N.G) The other countries using narrow gauge are Britain, South Africa, etc. 10% of India‘s railway tracks have been laid to this gauge. Suitability: - Narrow gauge is suitable under the following conditions:-
(i) When the construction of a track with a wider gauge is prohibited due to the provision of sharp curves, steep gradients, narrow bridges, and tunnels, etc.
(ii) When the prospects of revenue are not very bright. This gauge is, therefore, used in hilly and very thinly populated areas. The feeder gauge is commonly used for feeding raw materials to big government manufacturing concerns as well as to private factories such as steel plants, oil refineries, sugar factories, etc ( ∴ minimum value of the narrow gauge is used i.e. 610 mm = 0.610 m)