• Transportation has become one of the most important activities because it has helped us in many ways. With the advancement in technology, transportation has become cheaper and faster than ever before.

Introduction

•  Transportation is a comprehensive system facilitating the movement of passengers and goods between locations.
• In India, a diverse range of transportation modes, such as roadways, railways, waterways, airways, and pipelines, are accessible.
• This intricate network is shaped by historical evolution, geographical features, cultural influences, religious factors, and economic circumstances.
• A robust transportation sector plays a pivotal role in fostering the economic growth of a nation and enhancing the overall well-being of its populace.

Modes of Transport

• The categorization of transportation modes can be comprehended through the following divisions.
• The principal modes of world transportation i.e., land, water, air and pipelines are used for inter-regional and intra-regional transport and each one (except pipelines) carries both passengers and freight.
• The significance of a mode depends on the type of goods and services to be transported, the costs of transport and the modes available.

Land Transport

• Ancient civilizations utilized land transport modes, with roadways and railways emerging as primary means.
• Economic and technological advancements led to the development of metalled roads and railways, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and people.
• India boasts one of the world's largest road networks, the leading railway system in Asia, and the second-largest globally.

Roadways

•  Road transport, cost-effective and easily constructible, offers flexibility in connecting farms, fields, factories, and markets.
•  India's extensive road network ranks second globally, handling about 65% of freight and 80% of passenger traffic.
•  National highways, constituting only 2.7% of the network, bear 40% of total road traffic.
•  Most Indian roads are bitumen-based macadamized, with a few national highways featuring concrete surfaces.
•  The Nagpur Plan of 1943 classified roads functionally, with National Highways being a significant category.

National Highways

• National Highways, maintained by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), play a crucial role.
• Sher Shah Suri Marg, historically significant, is designated as NH-1.

• NHAI oversees developmental activities under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), initiated in 1998.

List of Important National Highways in India

National Highways Development Programme (NHDP)

• The initiation of the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) dates back to 1998, driven by the goal of creating roads adhering to international standards to ensure the seamless flow of traffic.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

• Executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), an entity operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
•  Established through an Act of Parliament in 1988, NHAI holds the responsibility for the development, upkeep, and administration of national highways, along with related matters.
• Operational since February 1995, the authority appointed a full-time chairman and members, actively engaging in developmental endeavors under the National Highway Development Project (NHDP).

State Highways

• These are designated highways established and maintained by the State Government. Typically, state highways connect crucial cities, towns, and district headquarters within the state, linking them to national highways or the highways of neighboring states. 
• The total length of state highways in India exceeds 179,535 km, with Maharashtra boasting the longest stretch of over 33,000 km and Kerala leading in road density.

Green Highways Policy, 2015

• The Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification, and Maintenance) Policy, introduced in 2015, focuses on mitigating air pollution and dust impact along national highways. This is achieved through the strategic planting of trees and shrubs, serving as natural air pollutant sinks, and preventing soil erosion on embankment slopes.

Setu Bharatam Programme

• Launched on March 4, 2016, with a budget of 102 billion, the Setu Bharatam initiative aims to eliminate railway crossings on all national highways by 2019. 
• This project addresses road safety concerns and underscores the government's commitment to improving infrastructure.

Major District Roads

• Connecting district headquarters with various locations within the district, major district roads fall under the jurisdiction of Zila Parishads or other district authorities. The total length of district roads in India is approximately 612,778 km.

Rural Roads

• Primarily the responsibility of Village Panchayats, rural roads link villages to nearby towns and cities. The total length of rural and other roads in India exceeds 3,622,228 km.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Introduced in 2000 by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PMGSY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme focused on developing and maintaining roads. These roads are under the jurisdiction of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Expressways

• Considered the finest roads in India, expressways feature controlled entrance and exit ramps. 
• The National Expressway Authority of India oversees their construction and maintenance. 
• The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, set to be the world's longest, is expected to be completed by March 2023, spanning 1380 km as an eight-lane expressway with the potential for expansion to 12 lanes based on traffic volume. 
• The expressway, equipped with wayside amenities, is noteworthy for featuring animal overpasses, facilitating unrestricted wildlife movement—a unique feature in Asia and the second globally.

Major Expressways

Border Roads

• Border roads fall under the purview of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), established in 1960 to expedite economic development and enhance defense readiness by swiftly and cohesively improving roads in the North and North-Eastern regions.

The Border Road Organisation

• A notable achievement of the BRO is the construction of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, recognized as the longest highway tunnel, dedicated to the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

International Highways

•  By virtue of agreements with the Economic and Social Commission on Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), certain highways connecting India with neighboring countries have been designated as international highways.
• These connect the capitals of neighboring countries, such as Lahore-Amritsar, Delhi-Agra, Kolkata-Golaghat, Imphal-Mandalay, and Bashi-Kathmandu.
•  The World Bank plays a role in financing the maintenance of these international roads.

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• Bharatmala Pariyojana is a centrally-sponsored and funded initiative for road and highway projects in India, ranking as the second-largest highway construction project in the country after the National Highway Development Project.
• Under this project, the government plans to construct new roads covering a distance of up to 34,800 km.
• The first phase of Bharatmala Pariyojana was approved by the Government of India in October 2017, with a financial outlay of 5,35,000 crore, focusing on the development of various corridors.

Roadway Corridors

Several essential roadway corridors are outlined below.

•  Golden Quadrilateral (GQ): The Golden Quadrilateral, India's largest expressway project, involves the construction of a 5,846 km long 4/6 lane high-density traffic corridor connecting the four major metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The four-lane Golden Quadrilateral highway was completed in January 2012.

• The North-South, East-West Corridor (NS-EW) is the largest ongoing highway project in India.
• The north-south corridor stretches from Srinagar to Kanyakumari including Cochin to Salem and the East-West corridor stretches from Silchar to Porbandar.
• North-South and East-West corridor comprises the construction of 6,310 km of 4-lane roads. Delhi-Agra Bengaluru-Krishnagiri, Akbarpur-Kanpur and Udaipur-Chittorgarh are the four stretches that are common between the Golden Quadrilateral and the NS-EW Corridors.
• Play a crucial role in the port connectivity highways initiatives.
• These highways will establish connections among the 12 major seaports across India, linking them through dedicated spur routes.

Industrial Corridors

• The Government of India, in the Union Budget of 2014-2015, identified, planned, and initiated five industrial corridor projects. These endeavors aim to stimulate industrialization and systematic urban development.
• The establishment of the National Industrial Corridor Development Authority (NICDA) is underway to facilitate the convergence and integration of the development across all industrial corridors.

Railways

• The introduction of railways to India dates back to 1853, connecting Bombay to Thane. In 1951, the railway systems underwent nationalization, uniting as the Indian Railways, subsequently evolving into the world's largest railway network and the largest in Asia, adorned with significant monuments.
• As of March 31, 2020, the extensive Indian railways spanned a route length of 67,956 km, with a running track length of 99,235 km. Indian Railways takes pride in manufacturing a substantial portion of its rolling stock and heavy engineering components at six dedicated production units, directly managed by the railway ministry.

Six Railway Manufacturing Units:

• Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan - Produces steam locomotives and electric locomotives.
• Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi - Specialized in manufacturing diesel locomotives.
• Wheel Axle Plant (WAP), Bengaluru - Focuses on Wheel Axle production.
• Diesel Component Works (DCW), Patiala - Specialized in manufacturing diesel components and parts.
• Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Punjab - Dedicated to producing rail coaches.
• Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai - Specializes in the production of coaching stock.

Classification of Indian Railways:

On the basis of the width of the track, Indian Railways is categorized into three groups:

• Broad Gauge: The distance between rails in broad gauge is 1.676 m, covering 46,807 km and accounting for 74.14% of the total length of rail routes in the country.
• Metre Gauge: The distance between rails in metre gauge is 1 m, with a total length of 13,290 km, constituting 21.02% of the total route length.
• Narrow Gauge: The distance between rails in narrow gauge is 0.762 m or 0.610 m, covering 3,124 km and accounting for 4.94% of the total length of Indian railways.

Railway Zones

Indian railways is geographically organized into zones. At present, there are 18 railway zones

National Rail Vikas Yojna (2002)

• Formally launched on December 26, 2002, by the Government of India, the National Rail Vikas Yojna aims to address capacity bottlenecks on the golden quadrilateral through a substantial investment plan. This initiative includes strategic rail communication links to ports, the construction of mega-bridges for enhanced hinterland communication, and the development of multi-modal transport corridors.

Rapid Transit in India

• Rapid transit in India encompasses metro, monorail, and light rail systems. The Kolkata Metro, inaugurated in 1984, was India's first rapid transit system.
• The Delhi Metro, operational since 2002, marked the country's first modern metro and the third metro overall. In September 2013, the Rapid Metro Rail Gurugram became India's first privately owned and operated metro. 
• The Blue Line of the Delhi Metro stands as the largest metro rail system in India, with the Delhi Metro Magenta Line being the country's first fully automated and driverless metro.

Metro Rail

• Kolkata introduced India's first metro rail in 1972, marking Asia's fifth metro system. 
• This eco-friendly and energy-efficient mass transport system is now present in seven Indian cities: Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Lucknow. Plans are underway to extend metro rail systems to all Indian cities with populations exceeding 2 million. Proposed metro rail projects include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi.

Kolkata Metro

• With two operational lines and 31 stations, the Kolkata Metro serves as an urban mass rapid transit system catering to the city of Kolkata and its upcoming suburbs.
• Construction for Kolkata Metro Line-1 started in Esplanade and Netaji Bhavan opened in October. 1972 and a small 3.40 km section between 1984, making it the first metro system in India
• Between 1984 and 1995. more sections opened up bringing its total length to 16.45 km.

Metro Rail in India 

Delhi Metro

• The Delhi Metro, an urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), boasts 10 lines and 253 stations.
• Initially commencing construction in 1998, Phase 1, spanning 65.1 km, was completed in 2006. The first section to open was the Shahdara - Tis-Hazari segment of the Red line in 2002. Phase 2, covering 124.93 km, concluded in 2011, and the 162.495 km Phase 3 project is nearly finished.

Bengaluru Metro

• Bengaluru (Namma) Metro, an MRTS for Karnataka's capital, has 2 lines and 51 stations. Construction for Phase 1, encompassing 230 km, commenced in April 2007. 
• The first section, Baiyyappanahalli - MG Road (Purple Line), began operations in 2011. The entire project was inaugurated in June 2017.

Mumbai Metro

• Mumbai Metro, an MRTS with 10 lines, serves Maharashtra's capital. Managed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), it faced challenges in execution.
• Currently, only one metro line connecting Versova - Andheri East-Ghatkopar has been developed.

Jaipur Metro

• Jaipur Metro, an MRTS for Rajasthan's capital, features one 11.98 km line with 11 stations. Phase 1 (Pink Line) commenced construction in 2011 and opened for commercial services in June 2015.

Bullet Train in India

• India's first bullet train, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is a flagship project under the Make in India initiative. The bullet train station in Surat is set to be inaugurated by 2023, with operations commencing in 2026.

Monorail

• India's first monorail service began in Mumbai in 2008. 
• The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a monorail project connecting Noida with Agra, covering the 200 km distance in just one hour.

High-Speed Rail Projects

• The Indian Ministry of Railways envisions the implementation of regional High-Speed Rail Projects by 2020, as outlined in its white paper. 
• These high-speed rail corridors will be constructed as elevated corridors, taking into consideration habitation patterns and land constraints. In July 2012, the Indian railway established the High-Speed Rail Corporation of India Limited (HSRC), a subsidiary of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), to exclusively handle this ambitious project. 
• All high-speed rail lines are planned to be implemented through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
• Railway in Kashmir Officially known as the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (JUSBRL), this railway spans 345 km from Jammu to Baramulla on the North-Western edge of the Kashmir valley.

Vande Bharat

• Vande Bharat, also known as Train 18, stands as India's first indigenous train. Designed and built by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai under the Make in India initiative, it was launched on February 15, 2019. With 16 passenger cars and a seating capacity of 1,128 passengers, Vande Bharat commenced its journey between Delhi and Varanasi.

Mountain Railways of India

Several important mountain railways in India include:

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train): A 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway running between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal.
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway: A railway in Tamil Nadu, operational since 1908, utilizing steam locomotives.
• Kalka-Shimla Railway: A 2 ft 6 inch (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway in North-West India, offering breathtaking views from Kalka to Shimla.
• Matheran Hill Railway: A heritage railway in Maharashtra, covering a distance of 20 km from Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats.
• Kangra Valley Railway: Covering a distance of 164 km from Pathankot to Nagar in Himachal Pradesh.

Railway Services in North-Eastern India

Various railway services in North-Eastern India include:

• Gyanodaya Express: Started to facilitate Delhi University students' journey to the Northeastern states from March 11 to 19, 2014.
• Dekargoan Naharlagun Rail Service: The first train to Arunachal Pradesh, running between Naharlagun and Assam.
• Dudhnoi-Mendipathar Rail Service: A regular rail service connecting Mendipathar railway station in the North Garo Hill district of Meghalaya and Dudhnoi Railway station in Assam.
• Bairabi-Satrang Railways: Connecting Bairabi to Sairang Railway station in Mizoram.
• Jiribam Tubul-Imphal Railways: Linking Imphal with Jiribam using the broad gauge network of India.

First Fully Women Operated Station

• Gandhi Nagar Railway Station in Jaipur, Rajasthan, became the first major non-suburban railway station fully managed by women. It is the second in the country, following Matunga Railway Station in Mumbai in the suburban category.

India's First Energy-Efficient Railway Station

• Kacheguda Railway Station in Hyderabad, under South Central Railway, has become India's first energy-efficient A1-category railway station, completing 100 years of historic significance.

Katra-Udhampur Rail Link

• The Katra-Udhampur Rail Link is a 53 km-long rail service connecting Udhampur to Katra, providing a crucial link to Vaishno Devi and the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
•  Katra serves as the renowned base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi temple. This rail line also connects the Baramulla valley to Quazigund.
• The Udhampur and Katra route boasts seven tunnels and 30 small and large bridges, with a total of seven tunnels spanning over 10 km within the 25 km stretch.

World's Highest Railway Bridge

• The Chenab Rail Bridge, situated between Bakkal and Kauri, a mere 42 km from the main Reasi town in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, stands as a remarkable steel and concrete arch bridge. Spanning the Chenab River at an impressive height of 359 m, it holds the title of the world's highest rail bridge.
• In November 2017, the base supports were declared completed, marking the commencement of the construction of the main arch. The bridge was fully completed and inaugurated in August 2022, surpassing the record of China's Beipan River Shuibai Railway Bridge.

Undertakings Under Ministry of Railways

Several key undertakings under the Ministry of Railways include:

• Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES): Providing consultancy services for railways from concept to completion.
• Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON): A specialized agency for major railway projects in India and abroad.
• Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC): Established to raise funds through bond issues and augment railway plan finance.
• Container Corporation of India (CONCOR): Developed as a public sector undertaking for multimodal transport infrastructure.
• Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL): Set up for constructing a broad gauge line from Roha to Mangalore, enhancing transport infrastructure for the Konkan region.
• Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS): A non-profit organization entrusted with designing, developing, and managing major computer services for railways.
• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC): Formed to handle catering services and tourism activities, facilitating rail travel through the internet.
• Rail Tel Corporation of Indian Limited (Rail Tel): Established in 2001 to modernize Indian Railways' communication system for safe and efficient train operation.
• Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL): Set up to execute projects strengthening the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals and enhancing port connectivity under the National Rail Vikas Yojana.
• Indian Railway Welfare Organisation (IRWO): An autonomous body addressing specific housing needs for both serving and retired railway employees.
• Konkan Railways: Operating as a separate corporation, this railway runs from Mangalore to Roha, involving Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. It holds the fastest tracks in India, with 51% of shares owned by Indian Railways.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor

• The proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is set to connect the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2018, with an expected completion date in 2023. This high-speed rail corridor spans 508 km, featuring 12 stations and an innovative 21 km tunnel beneath the sea.
• The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), serving as the funding agency for the bullet train project, outlined in the detailed project report that passengers will experience the exhilaration of traveling under the sea at a remarkable speed of 350 km/h.

Dedicated Freight Corridor

• The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) operates as a special purpose vehicle under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways. It is tasked with planning, development, mobilization of financial resources, and the construction, maintenance, and operation of dedicated freight corridors.
• Incorporated in October 2006 under the Indian Companies Act of 1956, DFCCIL is overseeing two dedicated freight corridors currently in the implementation stage:
  • Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (1468 km) stretching from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai.
  • Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (1760 km) connecting Ludhiana, Punjab, to Dankuni in West Bengal.

Newly Approves Dedicated Freight Corridor

Pipelines

• Pipelines are crucial for transporting various substances through a network of pipes. They facilitate the movement of liquids and gases efficiently. In India, several significant pipeline networks contribute to the country's energy infrastructure:
• Naharkatia Noonmati Pipeline: Transports crude oil from Naharkatia in Assam to Barauni in Bihar via the Noonmati oil refinery.
• Salaya-Koyali-Mathura Pipeline: An 1870 km pipeline connecting Salaya (Gulf of Kachchh) to Koyali and Mathura oil refineries.
  • Carries imported crude oil to Mathura oil refinery. Extended up to Koyali and further to Jalandhar (Punjab).
• Bombay High-Mumbai-Ankleshwar-Koyali Pipeline: Connects the oil fields of Bombay High and Gujarat with Koyali refinery.
  • This 210 km pipeline links Mumbai to Bombay High.
• Hajira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) Gas Pipeline:The world's longest underground pipeline, covering 1750 km.
  • Transports gas from the oil fields of the Western Ghats to the interior parts of the country.
• Jamnagar-Loni LPG Pipeline: A 1269 km pipeline constructed by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL).
  • Connects Jamnagar in Gujarat to Loni near Delhi.
• Mundra-Delhi Pipeline: A 1054 km pipeline linking Mundra in Gujarat to Delhi.
  • Inaugurated in 2009.

Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project

• Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project was Inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 24th October 2016.
• An ongoing project involving a 2540 km pipeline from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Odisha.
• Aims to provide piped cooking gas to residents of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• The TAPI Pipeline, also known as the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline developed by the Galkynysh - TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. This pipeline facilitates the transportation of natural gas from the Galkynysh Gas Field in Turkmenistan, passing through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and ultimately reaching India.

Water Transport

•  Water transport, the most economical and ancient mode of transportation, operates on a natural track, requiring minimal capital investment in track construction and maintenance, except for canals.
• With low operational costs, it boasts the largest carrying capacity and is ideal for transporting bulky goods over extended distances.
• Playing a vital role in connecting different parts of the world, water transport is indispensable for foreign trade. Various types of water transport include:

Shipping

• About 95% of the country's trade by volume and 70% by value relies on maritime transport.
• India ranks among the top 20 merchant fleets globally, with 12 major ports and 200 minor ports.
• Key ports in India had a capacity of 1534.91 million tonnes per annum in FY20, receiving cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth US$ 1.64 billion from April 2020 to March 2021.

Inland Waterways

• India boasts around 14,500 km of navigable waterways, including rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks.
• Inland Water Transport (IWT) moves approximately 55 million tonnes of cargo annually, providing a fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly mode.
• Operations are currently limited to specific stretches in various rivers, canals, and deltaic regions, serving both organized and unorganized sectors.

Major Inland Waterways of India:

• National Waterway Number 1 (NW-1): Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river systems between Haldia (Sagar) and Allahabad (1620 km).
• National Waterway Number 2 (NW-2): Brahmaputra River, 891 km between Satiya and Dhubri, declared on September 1, 1988.
• National Waterway Number 3 (NW-3): West Coast Canal (Kottapuram-Kollam), Udyogmandal canal (Kochi-Pathalam bridge), Champakara Canal (Kochi-Ambalamugal).
• National Waterway Number 4 (NW-4): Godavari and Krishna rivers and canals between Kakinada and Puducherry, declared on November 25, 2008 (1095 km).
• National Waterway Number 5 (NW-5): Brahmani river and Mahanadi delta system, including stretches like Talcher Dhamra, Geonkhali Charbatia, and Charbatia Dhamra.
• National Waterway Number 5 (NW-5), spanning the Mangalgadi Paradip stretch of Mahanadi delta rivers, was designated on November 25, 2008, covering a distance of 623 km.
• National Waterway Number 6 runs from Lakhipur to Bhanga along River Barak, with a declared status in 2013 and a total length of 121 km.

National Waterways Act, 2016

• In March 2016, India enacted the National Waterways Act, declaring 111 rivers, creeks, canals, estuaries, or their sections as national inland waterways. 
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India, headquartered in Noida, is a statutory body responsible for implementing various programs and policies related to national waterways.

Seaways and Ocean Routes in India

• India strategically positions itself on the world's shipping routes, boasting a coastline of approximately 7,516.6 km.
• Maritime transport accounts for about 70% of India's trade value. As of 2021, India holds over 30% of the global market share in the shipbreaking industry, housing the world's largest shipbreaking facility in Alang.
• With 12 major seaports and 205 notified minor and intermediate ports, India handles significant traffic volume.
•  All ports are located in nine coastal states: Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• On the West coast, major ports include Mumbai, Kandla, Mangalore, JNPT, Vadhavan, Mormugao, and Cochin.
• Ports on the East coast include Chennai, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata, and Ennore.

Chennai Port

• Formerly known as Madras Port, Chennai Port ranks as India's second-largest container port, following Mumbai's Nhava Sheva (JNPT).
•  Operational since 1881, it is Tamil Nadu's third-oldest port, situated on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal.
• Chennai Port earned the title "Gateway of South India," significantly contributing to the city's prominence.

List of Major ports of India 

Kochi (Cochin) Port

•  The Cochin port is situated in Kerala. It is also the first trans shipment terminal in India.
•  The port lies on two islands in the Lake of Kochi. Willingdon island and Vallarpadam, towards the Fort Kochi river mouth opening onto the Laccadive sea.
•  It mainly exports coffee, tea, spices while it mainly imports mineral oil and chemical fertilizers. It is a shipbuilding centre of India.

Ennore Port (Kamarajar Port Limited)

•  It is the 12th major port of India and the first port in India which is a public company.
• Located on the Coromandel coast, approximately 24 km North of the Chennai port.
• A major coal exporter and one of India's privately owned ports.

Kolkata Port

• Officially known as Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust, Kolkata port is the sole riverine major port in India, situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, about 203 km inland from the sea.
•  The oldest operating port in India, constructed by the British East India Company, and known as the Gateway of Eastern India.
• Main center for the trade of jute.

Kandia Port

• Deendayal Port Trust is situated in Kandla, a seaport in the Kutch district of Gujarat, near Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is a major port on the West coast.
• First export processing port in India, recognized as a trade-free zone.

Mangalore Port

• Located in the coastal city of Mangalore, it is a deep-water, all-weather port specializing in iron ore exports.

Mormugao Port

• Situated in Goa, designated as a major port in 1963.
• Leading iron ore exporting port in India.

Mumbai Port Trust

•  The largest natural port in India, located in West Mumbai on the mainland.
•  Features three enclosed wet docks: Prince's Dock, Victoria Dock, and Indira Dock. Plays a crucial role in the country's economy and trade affairs. Also known as Front Bay or Gateway of India.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)

• Also known as Nhava Sheva (Navi Mumbai), the first major port in the country to become a 100% landlord port under the PPP model.
• The largest and busiest container port in India, fully owned by the Government of India. Established in 1989.
• Major exports include sports goods, textiles, carpets, meat, and plastics; major imports involve electrical machinery, vegetable oil, aluminum, etc.

Paradip Port

• The first major port commissioned after independence, a deep seaport at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal.
•  Has its own railway for goods transportation.
•  Deals with the export of iron and aluminum, with substantial iron ore exports to Japan.

Tuticorin Port

• Renamed as VO Chidambaranar Port, it is an artificial port located in the Gulf of Mannar. Known for pearl fishery in the Bay of Bengal and referred to as the Pearl City.
• Deals mainly in the trade of salt, sugar, food grains, edible oils, coal, and petroleum products.

Visakhapatnam Port

• A natural harbor and the second-largest port in terms of cargo volume handled.
• Located midway between the Chennai port and Kolkata port.
• The deepest port in India, dealing with the export of iron ore to Japan.
• Comprises three main harbors: outer harbor, inner harbor, and fishery harbor.
• Major trade involves coal, iron ore, pallets, oil, and alumina.
• Government has accorded in principle approval for development of a major port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra as India's 13th major port at a total cost of 65544.54 crore with the government holding 51% stake in the project.
• The port will be developed by incorporating a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with Jawaharlal Nehru port as lead partner.

Medium and Minor Ports in India

• There are over 200 such ports in India which include Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Kakinada, etc. The minor ports and intermediate ones are managed by the State Government's maritime board.
•  These help in reducing the congestion at major ports. These ports promote the tertiary sector.

Air Transport

•  Air transport is the most modern means of transport, which is unmatched by its speed, time- saving and long-distance operation.
• The beginning of air transport was made in 1911 with a 10 km air mail service between Allahabad and Naini.
• At the time of independence, four companies were operating their air services (Tata Sons Limited, Indian National Airways, Air Services of India, and Deccan Airways) and later two separate corporations were set up, Air India International to cater for the international air routes and the Indian Airlines for the domestic services.
• Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited has been providing helicopter support services to the petroleum sector including ONGC, Oil India Limited, and Hardy Exploration at Chennai. It also provides services to certain State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the North-Eastern states.
• The government under Open Sky Aviation Policy is allowing private operators to fly in the Indian skies and transport passengers and freight.

Airport Authority of India (AAI)

• AAI was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April, 1995 by merging erstwhile National Airports Authority and International Airports Authority of India.
• The merger brought into existence a single Thanisation entrusted with the responsibility of creating, upgrading, maintaining and civil aviation infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country

International Airports in India

National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016:

• The Union Cabinet approved the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 on 15th June, 2016.
• The policy aims to create an ecosystem for safe, sustainable, and affordable air travel, along with cost-effective cargo transportation.
• It covers aspects like regional connectivity, safety, air transport operations, 5/20 requirements for international operations, bilateral traffic rights, fiscal support, maintenance, repair and overhaul, air cargo, and aeronautical Make in India.
• PM Narendra Modi launched the UDAN Scheme on 27th April 2017, as a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP).

Greenfield Airport:

• A greenfield airport is built from scratch on undeveloped land to minimize congestion at existing airports.
• Typically located at a greater distance from the city with special consideration for environmental impact.
• Governed by the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008.

Communication:

• Communication is a two-way process that involves sharing ideas, and overcoming physical distance barriers.
• Communication channels facilitate the transmission of improved technology between countries.

Postal Services:

• India Post, operated by the Department of Posts, is the world's most widely distributed postal system.
• Divided into 22 postal circles, each headed by a Chief Postmaster General.
• The highest post office in the world is in Hikkim, Himachal Pradesh, operated by India Post at a height of 15,500 ft (4,700 m).

Mail Services:

• Postal articles in the nature of a message, including letters, postcards, etc., are classified as mail.
• The Postal Department has implemented an IT Modernisation Project for digitization and modernization.
• All 25,099 Departmental Post Offices have been computerized and networked, offering various electronic services.

Courier Services:

• Courier services provide rapid door-to-door delivery for a fee.
• A convenient option for e-commerce sellers, ensuring seamless parcel delivery for a small charge.

Telegraph Services:

• William Brooke O'Shaughnessy, the first Director-General of telegraphs in India, was authorized by Lord Dalhousie to construct an experimental line in 1852.
• Appointed Director-General of telegraphs, he built an extensive system, with the Calcutta to Agra 800-mile line opening in March 1854, expanding to 4,000 miles in two years.
• From April 1, 1914, telegraph services merged with the postal department, and on January 1, 1985, it was separated.
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) took over the telegraph service in 2000, and discontinued in July 2013 due to reduced demand.

Telecommunication:

• India boasts the world's second-largest mobile phone user base, with over 1.38 billion users in 2021.
• It also holds the second-largest internet user base, exceeding 451 million by the end of the financial year 2019.
• Himachal Pradesh leads in tele-density at 146.37%, while Bihar has the lowest at 59.95%.
• The diverse access network in India employs copper pair, optic fibre, and wireless technologies.

Electronic Method:

• Electronic mail (e-mail) facilitates quick message exchange between users, akin to electronic letters, with advantages in timeliness and flexibility.

Internet Services:

• The internet is a globally connected network facilitating communication and access to data resources.
• Governed by agencies like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), major internet service providers in India include Airtel Xstream Fiber, Reliance JioFiber, Excitel Broadband, BSNL, etc.
• The National Broadband Mission, launched on December 17, 2019, aims to provide affordable and universal broadband access to all villages by 2022.

Mass Communication:

• Mass communication, through mediums like radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books, and films, entertains and raises awareness about national programs and policies.

Radio:

• Radio broadcasting began in India in 1923 by the Radio Club of Bombay, significantly impacting socio-cultural life.
• All India Radio broadcasts diverse programs encompassing information, education, and entertainment.
• Special News Bulletins: Occasional special news bulletins are aired during significant events such as parliamentary sessions and state legislature proceedings.

Television:

• Television has emerged as the most effective audio-visual medium for disseminating information and educating the masses.
• The operationalization of INSAT-IA (National Television-DD1) led to the initiation of Common National Programmes (CNP) across the entire network, extending services to backward and remote rural areas.

Satellite System:

• Satellites serve as a mode of communication and also regulate other means of communication.
• The continuous and synoptic view provided by satellites is crucial for the country's economic and strategic interests, aiding in weather forecasting, monitoring natural calamities, and border surveillance.

Trade:

• Trade involves the transfer of ownership of goods and services, where individuals exchange something in return.
• Specialization and division of labor drive trade, as people focus on specific aspects of production, trading for other products.
• International trade and India's foreign trade play significant roles, marked by an unfavorable Balance of Trade (BoT), high sea route dependence, increasing import of raw materials and capital goods, and a low position in international trade.
• Principal commodities in imports include petroleum and its products, capital goods, gold, and silver.

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)

• India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) serves as the premier trade promotion agency of the Government of India, organizing trade fairs to showcase the country's excellence in diverse fields, especially trade and commerce. 
• ITPO has played a pioneering role in the national trade growth dynamics since its inception.

Prelim facts

• The share of road transport in total transport of India is

-80% (UPPSC (Mains) 2014

• The longest National Highway of India is

-NH-44 (MPPSC (Mains) 2013)

• Which state has the largest Kilometers of National Highways in India?

-Uttar Pradesh (UPPSC (Pre) 2000

• Pradhan Mantri Bharat Jodo Pariyojana is related to the

- Development of Highways (MPPSC (Pre) 2013

• The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is related to Developing community life in villages which are

- not well connected (UPPSC (Pre) 2001)

• Which state ranks first in india in the length of roads?

- Maharashtra (UPPSC (Pre) 2018

• Jawahar tunnel passes through which place?

-Banihal, Jammu and Kashmir (CGPSC (Pre) 2014)

• When was the first railway line opened in India and between which stations? Between Mumbai-Thane in 1853

(MPPSC (Pre) 1994, UPPSC (Pre) 1996)

• The headquarters of the Eastern Railways is located at

- Kolkata [WBCS (Pre) 2008]

• Which railway station of India has been recently developed with modern Amenities like the airport with public-private ownership?

-Rani Kamlapati Station, Bhopal (UKPSC (Pre) 2022)

• The Railway Zone Headquarter Hajipur is located in

-Bihar IBPSC (Pre) 2008

• Where are railway coaches manufactured in Uttar Pradesh?

Raibareli (UPPSC (Pre) 2008)

• Where is the Railways Staff College located Hatar

- Vadodara (UPPSC (Pre) 1991

• The third Rail Coach Factory (RCF) is being established at

Raebareli (UPPSC (Pre) 1995

• Which state became the first state where the railway track was made on the public partnership model?

- Gujarat (UPPSC (Mains) 2016

• Which two stations connecting railway has been recognized as Heritage Railway line by UNESCO?

Siliguri and Darjeeling [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2013

• Which numbered Rajdhani train covers the longest distance?

-12431 Trivandrum Centra [BPSC (Pre) 2011)

• The correct descending order -Pir Panjal, Karbude, Nathuwadi

sequence of the rail tunnels by a length in and Begdewadi (UPPSC (Mains) 20151

• The largest Natural port in India is located in

- Mumbai [JPSC (Pre) 2021)

• Which Indian city has the largest shipyard of India?

- Cochin [IAS (Pre) 2003, MPPSC (Pre) 2016]

• Kandla Port or Deendayal Port Authority is located in

- Gulf of Kutch (RAS/RTS (Pre) 1996, UPPSC (Pre) 2008)

•   Marmugao Sea Port is situated in which state of India?

- Goa [BPSC (Pre) 1995]

• Headquarters of Central inland Water Transport Corporation of India is located in

- Kolkata [WBCS (Pre) 2019)\

• What is the length of the shipping canal in the Sethusamudram project?

-167 km [RAS (Pre) 2007)

•  In India the 13th major port is going to be setup in which state?

Maharashtra [BPSC (Pre) 2020)

•  When war air transport started in

India 1911 [JPSC (Pre) 2021

Self Check

1. Which of the following group of cities are connected by the Golden Quadrilateral National Highway System?

MPPSC (Pre) 2016, MPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Jalandhar, Ambala, Delhi, Jaipur

(b) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata

(c) Allahabad, Agra, Lucknow, Gorakhpur

(d) Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Belgaum

2. Which state has the maximum road density?

JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Kerala

(b) Gujarat

(c) Punjab

(d) Haryana

3. Which of the following pairs) is/are correctly matched?

IAS (Pre) 2014

National Highway

1. NH-4
2. NH-6
3. NH-15

Cities Connected

Chennai and Hyderabad

Mumbai and Kolkata 

Ahmedabad and Jodhpur

Codes

(a) 1 and 2

(b) Only 3

(c) All of these

(d) None of these

4. The East-West corridor of the Golden

Quadrilateral connects which of the following centres (nodes)?

MPPSC (Pre) 2019

(a) Silchar and Porbandar

(b) Guwahati and Ahmedabad

(c) Kandla and Tinsukia

(d) Itanagar and Jamnagar

5. With reference to india's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements

1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two 

(c) All three

(d) None of these

6. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is

UPPSC (Pre) 2001

(a) to augment road connectivity and provide food grains to the poorest of the poor at cheaper rates.

(b) to facilitates patrolling of the area to prevent misuse of electricity by unauthorised persons.

(c) to help police to reach the place of crime more swiftly to control crime-spurt.

(d) to develop community life in villages which are not well connected.

7. Which of the following pairs(s) is/are not correctly matched?

BPSC (Pre) 2008

(a) Central Railway              Mumbai

(b) Western Railway              Chruch Gate

(c) North Frontier Railway   : Prayagraj

(d) South Eastern Railway:   Garden Reach, Kolkata

8. The Railway Zone Headquarters Hajipur is located in

BPSC (Pre) 2008

(a) Chhattisgarh

(b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Jharkhand

(d) Bihar

9. Which one of the following States/Union Territory was connected with the Indian Railways Network in the year 2021?

(a) Mizoram

(b) Ladakh

 (c) Manipur 

(d) Sikkim

10. Which of the following railway stations of India has been recently developed with modern amenities like the airport with Public Private partnership?

UKPSC (Pre) 2022

(a) New Delhi

(b) Rani Kamlapati Station, Bhopal

(c) Pune

(d) Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai

11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists.

Codes

1. a) 2 1 4 3
2. b) 2 4 1 3
3. c) 3 4 12 
4. d) 3 1 4 2

12. Which of the following is the NW-1? CGPSC (Pre) 2017

(a) Godavari-Krishna basin waterway

(b) Mahanadi-Brahmani river waterway

(c) Brahmaputra river waterway

(d) Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river waterway

13. Which is the largest natural port in India?  JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Chennai

(b) Tuticorin

(c) Mumbai

(d) Cochin

14. Which one of the following sea ports gained significance for handling iron ore exports to Japan?

(a) Kandla

(b) Ennore

(c) Kochi

(d) Mormugao

15. Which one of the following is a non-major port?

IAS (Pre) 2009

(a) Kochi (Cochin)

(b) Dahej

(c) Paradip

(d) New Mangalore

Right Know Answer

1 (b)

2 (a)

3 (d)

4 (a)

5 (d)

6 (a)

7 (c)

8 (d)

9 (c)

10 (b)

11 (a)

12 (d)

13(c)

14 (d)

15 (b)