The correct answer is option 2. Explanation & Key Takeaways: Public Work Department: • Lord Dalhousie, who was the governor-general of India from 1848 to 1856, started the Public Works Department in 1848, and irrigation projects were among the earliest to be launched by this department. Hence, statement (a) is correct. • Road construction gained momentum during his tenure. Hence, statement (c) is not correct. • The management of the Public Works Department during this period was not at all systematic and was under the control of the Military Board of Imperial Government. But the arrangement did not prove to be much effective. Twenty Years Road Development Programme: • The first 20-year Road Development Plan is also popularly known as the Nagpur Road plan. • For the development and construction of roads, the government took a conference of chief engineers at Nagpur in 1943. Hence, statement (d) is correct. • The conference is popularly known as the Nagpur road plan. Broad gauge tracks: • Broad gauge tracks were built during the Later phase of the railway. • In 1910-1920, Broad gauge tracks were built in India. Hence, statement (b) is not correct.