INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSPORTATION

What is transportation?
Transportation is the movement of living and non-living things from one location to another.

 The transport system in India includes Rail transportation, road transport, air transport,
water transport and portal connectivity.
 India has one of the largest road networks in the world, 2nd largest railway system in Asia
and 3rd largest in the world.
 Water transport in India is the oldest means of transport is still very poor.

Road Transport
Roads are mainly classified into 4 categories:

 National Highways
 State highways
 District roads
 Village roads
Major initiatives for road development
 The National Highway Development Project (NHDP): High quality highways, Golden
Quadrilateral.
 Pradhan Mantri Bharat Jodo Pariyojana (PMBJP): linking of major cities to National
Highways.
 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): construction of rural roads.

Problems with road development

 Land acquisition
 Rehabilitation and environmental concern.
 Traffic risk post construction
 Overcapacity built for initial years.
 Economic returns comes after a long time.
Railways
Indian railways is the 3rd largest rail network in the world after US and China. It is divided into
multi-gauge system covering –
Broad gauge (1676 mm)
Meter gauge (1000 mm)
Narrow gauge (762/610 mm)

 The first rail railway line in India was operated for public traffic in 1853, between
Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane over distance of 34 km.
 It is a departmental undertaking under GoI.

Importance of railways
 Cheapest and most convenient mode of transport.
 Play significant role in growth and development of industries.
 Helps in growth of agriculture. Example Krishi rail scheme
 It is suited for long distance and hence help in country’s integration.
 Helps in transportation of bulky materials such as coal, minerals etc.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)

 It is a corporation run by the Ministry of Railways (India)
 To undertake planning and development, mobilization of financial resources and
construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors.
Air Transport

 India is the 9th largest civil aviation market in the world. In FY17, domestic passenger
traffic witnessed a growth rate of 21.5%.
 In FY17, airports in India witnessed a domestic passenger traffic of about 205 million
people.
 Investment worth US$ 6 billion are expected in the country’s airport sector in 5 years.
 India’s civil aviation market is set to become the world’s 3rd largest by 2020 and expected
to be the largest by 2030.

Airport Authority of India

FDI
 100 per cent FDI is allowed under automatic route in scheduled air transport service,
regional air transport service and domestic scheduled passenger airline. FDI over 49%
would require government approval.
 Approval of 49% FDI in aviation for foreign carriers.
Water Transport
 India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, contributing about 1% to the country’s
transportation.
 Water transport can be divided into two major categories – inland waterways and
oceanic waterways.
 Inland waterways Authority was set up in 1986 for the development, maintenance and
regulation of national waterways in the country.
 There are 111 officially notified Inland National Waterways in India.
Importance of Water Transport
 It is the cheapest means as compared to other means of transport because it involves no
expenditure on construction other than maintenance.
 It is very useful for transporting heavy and bulky goods. A ship can carry lakhs of tons of
goods at a time.
 It is a better mode of transportation for petroleum and its products as it involves cross-
continental transfers. India lacks in petroleum deposit and most of it is imported from
Middle East countries.
 It is fuel efficient and environmentally friendly means of transportation.

Ports in India
 There are 13 major ports and 187 minor ports.
 Maritime transport comes under the concurrent list of the constitution.
 Central shipping ministry administer major ports and minor ports are administered by the
respective coastal states.