What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in India?

One cannot deny the fact that under the British rule, there was significant change in the infrastructural development in the country. However, 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.  

The main motives of British rulers behind the development of infrastructure in India were to have effective control and administration over Indian Territory, to create profits through foreign trade, to create an opportunity for profitable investment and to mobilise army within India.

Objective to be achieved through the policies of infrastructure development under the colonial regime Basic infrastructure such as railway, ports, water transport, posts, and telegraph developed. The main objectives of development of these structure were as follows:

1. Mobilising the army:

Roads were built for mobilising the army with in India.

2. Drawing out raw materials:

The roads we built for drawing out raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or the port to send these to faraway England.

3. Earning profits:

For earning profits through foreign trade railways were linked as with major ports and marketing centres.

4. Effective control on administration:

Improper administration and military centres were linked through railway lines for having effective control and administration over the vast Indian territory.