Indian transport

Walking was a major form of transport in ancient times, and Adi Sankaracharya used to cover long distances on foot while travelling all over India.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has commenced the construction of more than 50 skywalks as part of the Mumbai Skywalk project, which aims to improve transit conditions for pedestrians in the city.

Palanquins, also known as palkis, were a luxurious method of transport used by the rich and noblemen for travelling and carrying idols of gods.

The Indian government banned bullock carts due to safety concerns. While they were once a common means of transport in India, their low speed and safety risks led to their discontinuation.

Along with walking, cycling accounts for a significant portion of commuter trips in the informal sector of urban areas, ranging from 50% to 80%.

The government development authorities all over India have encouraged the setup and use of separate bicycle lanes alongside the roads to combat pollution and ease traffic congestion.

Human-pulled rickshaws have faced proposals for a ban in various cities and villages in India, with local governments describing them as "inhuman."

Cycle rickshaws were introduced in India in the 1940s. They feature an elevated seat at the back for two passengers and are pedaled by a person from the front.

Cycle rickshaws have been banned in several cities due to their role in causing traffic congestion.

The Delhi Police submitted an affidavit against the plying of cycle rickshaws to ease traffic congestion in the city.

Environmentalists have supported the retention of cycle rickshaws as a non-polluting mode of transport, highlighting their eco-friendly nature.

Bicycles or cycles have ownership rates ranging from around 30% to 75% at the state level in India.

Along with walking, cycling accounts for a significant percentage of commuter trips in the informal sector of urban areas.

Recent developments, such as the setup of separate bicycle lanes alongside roads, indicate the growing popularity of bicycle riding in metropolitan cities of India.

As per the provided information, the total length of India's road network is approximately 6,215,797 km.

The Indian road network is the second largest in the world after the United States, as mentioned in the provided information.

As per the National Highways Authority of India, approximately 82% of freight traffic is carried by the roads in India.

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was launched in 2000 to improve rural connectivity in India by constructing all-weather roads.

The National Highways Development Project aims to equip national highways with at least four lanes and convert some stretches to six lanes.

In India, expressways are classified as a type of road that has access control. While India has a large network of four or more lane highways, only those with access control are designated as expressways.

According to a study by Ola Cabs in 2017, Delhi had the highest average traffic vehicle speed among India's metropolitan cities, with a speed of 25 km/h (16 mph).

The Golden Quadrilateral is a major road project in India that connects the four important metropolitan cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai.

As mentioned in the provided information, National Highways cover only about 2% of the road network in India, despite carrying approximately 40% of the total road traffic.

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, launched in 2000, is a program funded by the Central Government and the World Bank. Its objective is to build all-weather roads and improve rural connectivity in India.

As per the given estimates, district and rural roads have the highest length among the different types of roads in India.

According to the given information, the length of expressways in India as of 2023 is approximately 4,027.719 km.

As stated in the content, National Highways form the economic backbone of India by connecting major cities and state capitals.

Mumbai is the major city in India that has the Bandra - Worli Sea link, a notable bridge project aimed at reducing traffic congestion.

Prior to the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, approximately 40% of villages in India lacked access to all-weather roads.

Mumbai introduced air-conditioned buses in the year 1998, enhancing the public transportation options in the city.

Urban bus transport in India is primarily owned and operated by public agencies, highlighting the social significance of buses as a means of public transport.

Buses account for over 90% of public transport in Indian cities, highlighting their significant role in the transportation system.

Bangalore was the first city in India to introduce Volvo B7RLE intra-city buses in January 2005, enhancing the intra-city transportation options.

The Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System was awarded the prestigious Sustainable Transport Award in 2010, recognizing its contribution to sustainable transportation practices.

Chennai houses one of Asia's largest bus terminus, known as the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus.

Government state transport corporations introduced low-floor buses in India to attract private car owners and help decongest roads.

Bangalore is the first Indian city to have an air-conditioned bus stop, located near Cubbon Park. The bus stop was built by Airtel.

In most Indian cities, two-wheelers account for a majority of the vehicle population, surpassing buses and cars.

State road transport corporations have proven extremely useful in connecting villages and towns across India, contributing to improved connectivity.

As of 2012, there were 131,800 publicly owned buses in India, while 1,544,700 buses were owned by private companies, indicating a ratio of 1:20.

Motorised two-wheelers include scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds, as mentioned in the content.

According to the provided information, there were 47.5 million powered two-wheelers and 8.6 million cars in India in 2003.

Royal Enfield started motorcycle assembly in India in 1948, as mentioned in the content.

Royal Enfield is known for manufacturing different variants of the British Bullet motorcycle in India, as stated in the content.

Scooters India Limited (SIL), a state-run enterprise, bought the manufacturing rights of the last Innocenti Lambretta model, according to the content.

According to the content, Bajaj Auto, Yamaha, Hero MotoCorp, Honda, TVS Motors, and Mahindra 2 Wheelers are the largest two-wheeler companies in India based on market share.

The manufacture of scooters in India began in 1949 when Automobile Products of India (API) set up in Mumbai and started assembling Innocenti-built Lambretta scooters.

According to the content, Scooters India Limited (SIL) stopped producing scooters in 1998.

As mentioned in the content, companies like Wicked Ride and Metro Bikes are working with state governments to address last-mile connectivity issues with mass-transit solutions.

According to the information provided, in most cities, it is mandatory for both the rider and the pillion-rider of scooters to wear protective headgear. This safety regulation aims to ensure the safety of scooter riders on the roads.

According to the information provided, private automobiles account for 30% of the total transport demand in urban areas of India.

Chennai is known as the "Detroit of India" due to its significant presence and contribution to the automobile industry.

Maruti has the highest market share in India's automobile market, as mentioned in the provided information.

The Maruti 800, launched in 1984, revolutionized the Indian auto sector with its low price and high quality, as stated in the content.

In the city of Bangalore, a carpooling drive involving celebrities was launched to encourage public participation, as mentioned in the provided information.

The city of Kolkata passed a law to phase out vehicles over 15 years old with the aim of reducing air pollution, as stated in the content.

According to the information provided, poorer urban residents are more likely to benefit from improved air quality due to their higher exposure to polluted areas and outdoor work.

When comparing car ownership rates among the BRICS developing countries, India's car ownership rate is on par with China, as mentioned in the content.

Hatchbacks predominate in Indian cities due to factors such as affordability, fuel efficiency, congestion, and lack of parking space, as mentioned in the content.

On average, 963 new private vehicles are registered every day in Delhi alone, as stated in the content.

The first utility vehicle in India, based on the original Jeep design, was manufactured by Mahindra, as stated in the content.

The Tata Sumo, launched by Tata Motors, captured a 31% share of the market within two years of its launch, according to the content.

Premier Padmini and Hindustan Ambassador cars are commonly used as taxicabs in Mumbai and Kolkata, as mentioned in the content.

Passengers traveling by taxi in India may incur additional charges such as fuel surcharges, toll taxes, and late-night charges, as stated in the content.

Radio taxis have become increasingly popular in India due to reasons of safety and convenience, as mentioned in the content.

Mumbai is set to introduce an "in-taxi" magazine called MumBaee, as mentioned in the content.

Taxis can be hailed on the street in cities like Kolkata and Mumbai, as mentioned in the content.

Share taxis in India are normal taxis that carry one or more passengers traveling to destinations either on one route to the final destination or near the final destination, as stated in the content.

Kolkata has many "no refusal" taxis available, as mentioned in the content.

The significance of foreign-developed app-based taxi services like Uber and Indian-developed app-based taxi services like Ola in India is that they ensure convenient and safe taxi experiences, as mentioned in the content.

Auto rickshaws in India are generally painted in yellow, green, or black, as mentioned in the content.

Mumbai and Kolkata are the cities where auto rickshaw fares are regulated and metered, as stated in the content.

Prepaid auto booths at airports and railway stations require a fixed payment, ensuring a predetermined fare for the auto rickshaw ride, as mentioned in the content.

Electric rickshaws in India have a maximum speed of 25 km/h, as stated in the content.

Electric rickshaws in India are powered by a BLDC Electric Motor, as mentioned in the content.

In cities like Chennai, it is common to see auto rickshaw drivers demand more than the specified fare and refuse to use fare meters, as mentioned in the content.

Electric rickshaws in India are popular due to their low running and initial cost, as stated in the content.

Autos in cities such as Agartala, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel, as mentioned in the content.

In Mumbai and Kolkata, auto rickshaws are prohibited from entering certain parts of the city, specifically South Mumbai and certain parts of Downtown Kolkata, as mentioned in the content.

Indian Railways (IR) is divided into eighteen zones, each of which has a divisional headquarters, as mentioned in the content.

The railway network in India covers a total route length of more than 67,415 km (41,890 mi), as stated in the content.

As of March 2019, approximately 71% of the route-kilometer of Indian Railways was electrified, as mentioned in the content.

As of March 2019, Indian Railways transports 23.1 million passengers daily, as stated in the content.

The Vande Bharat Express is currently the fastest train in India, with operational speeds of up to 180 km/h, as mentioned in the content.

The Rajdhani Express trains provide connectivity between Delhi and the capitals of the states, as stated in the content.

The Palace on Wheels is a luxury train that serves the Rajasthan circuit, as mentioned in the content.

Auto rickshaws are prohibited from entering certain parts of Mumbai and Kolkata, as mentioned in the content.

Electric rickshaws are rapidly growing in number in India due to their low running and initial cost, as stated in the content.

The Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) service introduced by the Konkan Railway Corporation allows trucks to be transported on flatbed trailers, as mentioned in the content.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites located within the Indian Railways network, as mentioned in the content.

As of March 2019, approximately 45% of the railway route-kilometer was electrified, as mentioned in the content.

Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express trains have a maximum permissible speed of 110 to 140 km/h, as mentioned in the content.

The total length of the Indian Railways track as of March 2021 is approximately 123,542 km, as mentioned in the content.

The Ministry of Railways is responsible for the supervision of Indian Railways, as stated in the content.

Indian Railways had approximately 1.227 million employees as of March 2019, as mentioned in the content.

Currently, the Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in India with operational speeds of up to 180 km/h, as mentioned in the content.

The Roll on Roll off (RORO) service introduced by the Konkan Railway Corporation allows trucks to be transported on flatbed trailers, as mentioned in the content.

The dedicated freight corridors being developed by Indian Railways are expected to support hauling of trains up to 1.5 km in length with 32.5-ton axle-load at speeds of 100 km/h, as mentioned in the content.

Indian Railways has been addressing the erosion of market share in the freight segment through various initiatives, including upgrading goods sheds and terminals, attracting private capital for logistics terminals, and operating time-tabled freight trains, as mentioned in the content.

The Mumbai Suburban Railway has the highest passenger density in the world, as mentioned in the content.

The Chennai MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) and Chennai Suburban have the first elevated railway in India, as mentioned in the content.

The Kolkata Metro was the first metro system to start operations in India in 1984, as mentioned in the content.

The Mumbai Monorail is the first operational monorail network in India, as mentioned in the content.

The Namma Metro is in Bengaluru, as mentioned in the content.

The Ghaziabad Metro is under implementation in Delhi, as mentioned in the content.

The Pune Monorail is under planning in Pune, as mentioned in the content.

The Greater Nashik Metro is under planning in Nashik, as mentioned in the content.

The monorail system in India is generally considered as a feeder system for metro trains, as mentioned in the content. It is designed to complement the existing metro infrastructure and provide connectivity to areas that may not be covered by the metro network.

Kolkata has the first operational tram service in India, which has been in existence for over a century, as mentioned in the content.

According to the content, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is controlled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

As mentioned in the content, Air India is India's national flag carrier.

According to the content, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the busiest airport in India.

The content states that there are 346 civilian airfields in India.

As mentioned in the content, the purpose of the "ghost airports" was to make air travel more accessible for those in remote regions.

According to the content, India plans to construct another 200 "low-cost" airports over the next 20 years.

As stated in the content, Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited is the company that provides helicopter services to ONGC and various state governments in India.

According to the content, as of 2021, there are 45 heliports in India.

The content mentions that Jaisalmer Airport in Rajasthan is the airport located at the Siachen Glacier, which has the highest helipad in the world.

As stated in the content, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is responsible for civil aviation security in India.

According to the content, the major carriers in India, in order of their market share, are IndiGo, Air India, Spicejet, Vistara, Jet Airways, and Go First.

The content states that the Airports Authority of India is controlled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

As mentioned in the content, Air India merged with Indian (airline) in 2011.

According to the content, as of November 2014, out of the 346 civilian airfields in India, only 132 were classified as "airports".

The content mentions that the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the busiest airport in India.

According to the content, Chennai Port is the largest container port in the Bay of Bengal.

The content states that about 96% of the foreign trade by quantity takes place through the ports in India.

According to the content, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Navi Mumbai ranks 25th in the world in terms of container traffic.

The content mentions that there are twelve major ports in India, including Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, Chennai, Ennore, Thoothukudi, Kochi, Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, New Mangaluru, Mormugao, and Kandla.

The content states that maritime transportation in India is managed by the Shipping Corporation of India, a government-owned company.

According to the content, the Shipping Corporation of India owns and operates a fleet of 79 ships.

The content mentions that the only Indian state with three ports, namely Ennore, Chennai, and Tuticorin, is Tamil Nadu.

According to the content, major ports in India are regulated by port trusts, which are regulated by the central government.

As mentioned in the content, minor ports in India are regulated by the respective state governments.

The content states that India has 33 non-operational airports, which were built but are not currently in use.

According to the content, India has a total navigable length of 14,500 kilometers, including rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks.

The content states that the total cargo moved by inland waterways in India is just 0.15% of the total inland traffic, which is significantly lower compared to countries like Germany and Bangladesh.

As mentioned in the content, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority responsible for the administration, regulation, and infrastructure development of waterways in India.

According to the content, National Waterway 1, which includes the Allahabad–Haldia stretch of the Ganga – Bhagirathi – Hooghly River system, was declared on 27 October 1986.

The content states that National Waterway 4 comprises the Bhadrachalam–Rajahmundry and Wazirabad–Vijaywada stretch of the Krishna–Godavari river system, along with the Kakinada–Puducherry canal network.

According to the content, National Waterway 3 includes the Kollam–Kottappuram stretch of the West Coast Canal, along with Champakara and Udyogmandal canals.

As mentioned in the content, National Waterway 5 comprises the Mangalgadi–Paradeep and Talcher–Dhamara stretch of the Mahanadi–Brahmani river system, along with the East Coast Canal.

According to the content, out of the total navigable length of 14,500 kilometers in India's inland waterways, 485 kilometers of canals can be used by mechanized crafts.

As per the content, cargo transport in an organized manner is confined to a few waterways in states like Goa, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala.

As stated in the content, the cargo moved by inland waterways in India constitutes only 0.15% of the total inland traffic, while it accounts for 20% in Germany and 32% in Bangladesh.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority responsible for the development, maintenance, and regulation of inland waterways in India.

Assam has the largest network of inland waterways in India. The state is known for its extensive river system, including the Brahmaputra River, which offers opportunities for cargo transportation.

National Waterway 1, which covers the Allahabad–Haldia stretch of the Ganga – Bhagirathi – Hooghly River system, was declared on October 27, 1986.

National Waterway 3, known as the West Coast Canal, includes the Kollam–Kottappuram stretch of the canal along with Champakara and Udyogmandal canals.

India's ranking in the Global Logistics Performance Index moved up to 35th place in 2016 from 54th in 2014.