Question 14: Fill in the blank [iv] with the most appropriate option:

Fill in the blanks with correct expressions of numbers/values/quantities.
The Indian Railways’ Golden Quadrilateral, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Howrah, and its two diagonals, forms the backbone of India’s rail network. The critical route [i] _____ only 16 percent of the network but handles 52 per cent of passenger traffic and 58 percent of revenue-generating freight traffic. However, this trunk route is severely congested, with line capacity utilisation [ii] _____. Over the years, Indian Railways has witnessed a significant [iii] _____ in its freight traffic share, from 88 percent in 1950-51 to 26 percent in 2021-22. Meanwhile, the national highways along these corridors, comprising just 0.5 percent of the road network, carry 40 per cent of the road freight. To address this issue and capitalize on the growing domestic economy, infrastructure development, and international trade, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) emerged, focusing on the Eastern and Western arms of the Golden Quadrilateral. The DFC stretches to 2,843 [iv] _____ and traverses 56 districts across seven states. This shift of freight operations to DFC tracks improves the reliability of passenger train schedules, making travel more dependable for commuters. Businesses can expect significant [v] _____ in logistics costs due to faster trains and shorter transit times, making goods transportation more economical.            Excerpted from: “The Future of Freight.” Outlook.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.

Fill in the blank [iv] with the most appropriate option: