The most common transport in India. Transport of India. Air Transport of India
India is connected by airlines to all major cities of the world. International airports are available in Delhi, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Calcutta (formerly Kolkata), Chennai (formerly Madras). Air transportation carried out by 2 state companies: Air India and Indian Airlines; Domestic airlines are operated by 3 private companies. The flight to Delhi from Moscow is about 7-8 hours.
Direct flights:
1. Aeroflot. Planes fly from Moscow to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Trivandrum. Fast non-stop flight, you can connect flights from St. Petersburg, there are seasonal sales (ticket prices are 2-3 times lower than usual).
2. Air India. Non-stop flight, the opportunity to get a discount on domestic flights. You encounter the paradoxes of India already on the plane: Air India sells tickets for the seats it has bought on Aeroflot planes. Due to this, the cost of the ticket increases by one and a half to two times.
Connecting flights:
1. Quatar Airways. Convenient connections, reasonable price, good service. Qatar Airways It is especially convenient to use for a trip to the south of India: Mumbai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, but you can also fly to Delhi. The transplant takes place in the capital of Qatar - Doha.
2. Uzbekistan airways. Relatively low ticket prices, possibility of departure from St. Petersburg, seasonal discounts. Landing in Tashkent. When flying to India, the interval between flights is small, but the interval between flights Delhi - Tashkent and Tashkent - St. Petersburg is about four hours. In addition, on your return flight you should be prepared for a long queue at Pulkovo, since many citizens of Uzbekistan will be flying with you to St. Petersburg.
National airlines of other CIS countries also fly to Delhi, but are considered less reliable and less popular among Russian tourists.
You can travel around the country over long distances by plane and train, and over short distances by bus, taxi, motorcycle and pedicabs.
India's international rail network is the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. Categories of travel are different, starting with SA, the expensive first class, with air conditioning (the ticket price is comparable to the cost of travel in other countries of a similar class), and ending with the cheapest option - a general carriage, with a ticket without a seat, but this is quite inconvenient. There are also air-conditioned sleeping cars with double compartments, as well as seated carriages with air conditioning (both second class); There are second class carriages with fans.
There is an extensive network within India bus routes, connecting all parts of the country. This is especially true for those areas where there is no railway connection, in particular for high mountain areas. Most rural roads are served by old buses, but on highways Express buses with air conditioning are increasingly appearing. Each state has its own transport companies and many private bus companies. All types of government buses are suitable for travel, the only difference is comfort and cost. They have a conductor. You can buy a ticket at intermediate stops and get travel advice.
Taxis are easily distinguished by their special yellow and black coloring. The price should be agreed upon in advance with the driver.
Motorcycle and pedicabs are common. They can be hired just like taxis.
This is an exotic, convenient, cheap and fast way of transportation. But they are only suitable for short trips. Their speed is low, convenience is minimal, and if the road leads uphill, the traveler will have to walk alongside. However, rickshaws may disappear from the streets of Kolkata by the end of this year, as the chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal has warned. He explained that this decision was made for humanitarian reasons.
You can rent a car, and more often it will be a car with a driver. The price takes into account the route or approximate mileage per day, as well as money for food and overnight accommodation for the driver. If the car is without a driver, which is not very common in India, then you must have a driver's license and you will have to pay a large deposit. We must remember that in India, traffic is on the left.
As Dr. Marshall clearly stated, “The most effective economic fact of our time is not the development of manufacturing but of transportation services.” And that's true. The peculiarities of transport development in India are the basis of the economic infrastructure. This helps in improving trade and industry.
Briefly about transport in India
Transportation eliminates disruption and facilitates the movement of goods from producers to consumers. It also helps eliminate regional inequalities.
Transportation has become of great importance for economic development and rapid economic growth. Nowadays, transport is known as a symbol of civilization.
Railway transport in India is the most important form of transport system. The first railway line was laid between Bombay and Thane in 1853. After this, railway services developed even further. At the time of independence, the total length of the route was 53,596 km with 8,209 engines, 19,536 passenger bogies and 206,000 freight wagons.
The British created an extensive network of railways. This was necessary in order to exercise and maintain strict control over the territory of India, as well as to open up for the country a source of food and raw materials for its industries.
At present, the local railway is the largest enterprise in the country with a total capital investment of about Rs. This is the largest enterprise in Asia (ranked 4th in the world). It provides direct employment to nearly 18 lakhs.
Advantages and features of railway transport
They are also worth talking about. Here is a list of the advantages of railway transport:
1. Development of agriculture.
2. New sources and areas of production.
3. Growth of markets and specializations.
4. Assistance in domestic trade.
5. Mobility of labor and capital.
6. Check for price fluctuations.
7. Eliminate hunger.
8. Employment.
10. Social significance.
Disadvantages of railways
Although railway development in India has occurred at a rapid pace, challenges continue to stand in the way of sustainable growth.
1. Poor condition of rolling stock.
The main problem faced by Indian Railways is that the tracks are old. They cause many serious train accidents. This also results in speed limits.
2. Travel without tickets.
Another problem facing India. A large number of passengers actually travel without buying tickets! Some “hares” simply sit on the roof and drive off like that.
Near railways road transport plays a key role in transport system countries.
Types of roads
Roads in India have been classified as follows:
1. National automobile:
They refer to the main roads that connect the state, capitals, ports and large cities.
2. State highways:
These are the main roads of the state. They connect the capital and cities of the state. State Govts are responsible for their content.
3. Regional roads:
They connect regional highways and production areas. Their condition is monitored by district councils.
4. Village roads:
They connect villages with regional roads. Panchayats (local government bodies) build these roads.
5. Border roads:
They were built using the border road organization. This company built 18,500 km of highway.
Means of road transport
Two main means road transport in India are:
1. Ox cart.
It is the main mode of transport in Indian villages. According to F P Bhatia, there are around 1 million carts in India. They provide jobs, respectively, to a million people.
2. Motor transport.
It appeared in India after 1913. To ensure proper control over it, the 1939 Law on vehicles X. It has now been replaced by the 1988 Act. It was amended in 1994. There are currently 303 Lac vehicles, up from just two in 1947.
Advantages of road transport
1. Expansion of agriculture is possible. U public transport There is no such feature in India.
2. Production of perishable products.
3. Benefits for industries.
4. Busy.
5. Less investment.
6. Flexibility.
7. Saving time and costs.
Problems of road transport
1. Bad roads.
They are practically undriveable in India. Per 100 sq. km in India there are 34 km of roads. For comparison, in Japan - 270 km. And in Western Germany - 167 km long per 100 sq. km. The government should spend more on road development.
2. High taxes.
Heavy tax burden on motor vehicles in India. For one vehicle in India it is 3500 rupees. In America - 860 in the same currency, and in Great Britain - 470.
3. No proper maintenance.
In India, roads are not maintained properly. Less than 0.1% of national income is spent on road maintenance in India, while in Japan it is 3% of national income.
It is the cheapest way to travel both long and short distances. Water transport does not use the most expensive resources, as is the case with air transport. However, in ancient times, shipping was one of the major industries of India, known as the Queen of the Eastern Seas.
Types of transport in India
1. Inland waterway.
It has played a very important role in the Indian transport system since ancient times. Its length is 14544 km. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, Godavari, and Krishna rivers are navigable. Transport of goods in an organized manner is limited to West Bengal, Assam and parts of the North Eastern region and Goa.
In 1945, the Central Irrigation and Energy Commission was created to develop domestic water transport. Later, the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation was established in 1967 and the Inland Waterways Authority of India was established in 1986, which was a step forward and should help accelerate development.
2. Coastal transport.
India has a long coastline, 7516 km, with 11 large and 139 small working ports and a vast territory. Despite its importance (being the cheapest and most energy efficient mode of transport), there has been a sharp decline in coastal shipping operations. The number of ships fell from 97 in 1961 to 56 in 1980 and the gross registered tonnage fell from 3.1 lakh to 2.5 lakh during the same period. It rose to 6.3 lakh in 1995-96.
After independence, seven major ports were built at Kandla in Gujarat, Haldu near Kolkata, Nava Sheva in Mumbai, Paradip in Orissa, and Karnataka in Goa. The main ports are being modernized, expanded and re-equipped. India currently has 450 vessels comprising tankers, liners and cargo carriers.
3. Ocean transport.
India has built a navy from scratch. In 1951, 24 Indian ships were developed with a total cost of 0.17 million. The number of the fleet at the end of December 1994 was 438 ships for 6.3 million. In 1993-1994, the volume of foreign trade amounted to 122.3 million tons, which is equal to 34% of the total volume of sea cargo.
Advantages of water transport
1. Important for foreign trade.
2. Defense of the country.
3. Cheap vehicle.
4. Transportation of heavy loads.
5. Useful during natural disasters.
6. Less maintenance costs.
Disadvantages of water transport
1. Limited area.
Rivers and oceans are free gifts of nature. Accordingly, the operational area remains fixed. Unlike iron and highways, man cannot build waterways.
2. Slow speed.
The failure of the monsoons leads to a drop in water levels in rivers, making navigation difficult.
3. Less security.
Everything is obvious here. The danger of sinking boats and ships is always great.
He is the fastest in this country. And the development of transport in India in this area can be promising. On this moment There are several dozen airlines in the country. The most popular is Air India, and it flies to 89 destinations around the world.
Advantages of air transport
Below is a description of transport in India.
1. High speed.
2. Transportation of expensive and light goods.
3. Minimum cost.
4. No geographical restrictions.
6. Strategic importance.
Disadvantages of air transport
1. High costs.
Air Transport in India is becoming more expensive every day with increasing operating costs.
2. Non-cooperation of staff.
Indian airlines are facing problems due to lack of cooperation from workers such as pilot strikes etc.
3. Outdated aircraft.
It changes very quickly. Airplanes in India are outdated. They are no longer safe. Hence, it is difficult for Indian airlines to compete with global airlines.
4. Significant investment.
The creation of aviation facilities requires huge investments. The government is unable to increase the number of aircraft and airports in the country.
5. No educational institutions.
The country does not have adequate facilities to train large numbers of pilots. With the privatization of airlines, we are again faced with the problem of a sufficient number of trained personnel.
6. Maximizing risks.
In air transport, the risks are increasing day by day due to crime and terrorism, violence, hijacking, etc. all over the world.
India is a significant country where people are always in a hurry to get somewhere. On the road it is impossible to understand what rules drivers of cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, and bicycles follow, since no one follows the rules traffic. Everyone just goes where they need to go.
has a well-developed network of international flights operated by Indian airlines. Recently, in addition to state-owned companies, small private airlines have also become popular, of which there are 9, and they offer tourists very favorable conditions for flights.
Railway in India.
Traveling by train in India is the safest way to travel. The railway network covers all major cities in the state. There are 7 classes of service. Most trains have dining cars. The journey from the capital to Bombay will take 12-17 hours, to the city of Calcutta - 18 hours. Train ticket prices are very low. For example, a ticket for the Delhi-Mumbai train will cost only 1.5 thousand rupees. Trains in India are very late. So, if your station is intermediate and when you get out onto the platform you don’t see your train, don’t be surprised, most likely you’ll have to wait a few more hours.
Buses in India.
— first of all, this is an extreme transport. Buses are the second most popular mode of transport among all modes of transport in India and are the cheapest and only way to travel in many areas where there are no railway lines. Each state has its own buses. There are cheap buses here, but they are often so crowded that there is nowhere to even stand. But there are also buses upper class, more comfortable and equipped with air conditioning. The cost of travel on cheap buses is 1-2 rupees per kilometer, on private ones - 2-4 rupees.
Urban transport in India.
There are two types of taxis: public and private. State vehicles are often Ambassador models in black and yellow and black and green, Tata models in black, white and yellow, and Mahindra jeeps. All of them are distinguished by a blue stripe on the body and the inscription “tourist”. Private cars are white Ambassador and small Tata. Before boarding, you need to agree on the price; bargaining is appropriate when it comes to private taxis. In the state ones there is an approximate price list; bargaining is not accepted here. Taxis can also be ordered and paid in advance; ticket offices are available at the exits of airports and train stations; such a taxi is called a prepaid taxi - Prepaid Taxi.
Another Indian means of transport is rickshaws; they come in motor and cycle rickshaws; in Kolkata there are also jogging rickshaws. A pedicab is a small two-seater carriage on two wheels that is attached to a bicycle. This transport is convenient only for a sightseeing walk in the old town in the pedestrian zone. A motorized rickshaw is a three-wheeled modification of a motor scooter, which has a cabin for passengers. The cost will be 2 times cheaper than a taxi or 2/3 of the cost in a taxi. This must be agreed upon in advance. Some auto rickshaws have meters or have a price list depending on the route. There are also auto rickshaws called “tempo”, they are distinguished by two wooden benches in the back, which can accommodate 6 people.
Roads in India. Rent a car.
In India, traffic is on the left. The condition of the roads is not the best - they are narrow, all full of holes and potholes, the markings are barely visible. The inconvenience is aggravated by the continuous flow of traffic, in parallel with which oxcarts and elephants move, and local drivers also have a very poor driving culture.
There are no sidewalks here, even in major cities And populated areas, and therefore passers-by are forced to move along the road along with the transport. There are very few road signs, signs and traffic lights. Often there are only signs warning of sharp turns, and the presence of a traffic light does not mean that it is working. There is no road lighting. If you want to explore by local transport, be careful.
The cow is a sacred animal, it dominates the streets, you need to carefully drive around it, and never push it, otherwise you will face a fine.
The rules here are not observed at all, but they adhere to one rule - “according to concepts.” That is, the driver notifies with a signal horn about the upcoming maneuver, but since the horns do not stop, the drivers practically do not pay attention to it and move on. True, in India the speed limit is rarely exceeded, and driving is not done while intoxicated, but this does not save from numerous accidents on the roads. The cost of fines for breaking rules in India is not high.
Therefore, when it comes to renting a car in India, it is better to analyze the option of renting a car with a driver. This will save you from unnecessary problems. Rental companies are located in hotels, airports, business centers; they will provide rental of any car. You just need to have your driver's license and insurance with you.
India has a very large domestic airline network. Airports are located in every major city and regional center. The main airports in the country are the airports in Delhi, Bombay, Goa, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. Most of them have well-developed infrastructure.
The country's urban transport is represented mainly by buses. In large cities and resort areas, buses are modern and equipped with air conditioning. Buses of commuter lines and private companies are usually in poor technical condition.
India has bad roads, buses are very crowded, and pickpocketing is rampant here. For these reasons, tourists are not recommended to use buses. However, buses are considered the cheapest way to travel around the country.
Water transport in India is not very well developed. Sea connections are available between Port Blair ( Andaman Islands), Kolkata and Madras, as well as between Kolkata and Madras, but only during the tourist season.
A more modern line operates between Cochin and the Lakshadweep Islands.
Passenger ships regularly ply along the Kerala coast. There are flights connecting Allapuja and Kovalam.
A modern catamaran equipped with air-conditioned cabins sails between Mumbai and Goa. Foreigners have the option of paying for travel in rupees if they have a currency exchange receipt.
New Delhi has a metro system. Travel is inexpensive. Trains and metro stations have powerful air conditioning. There is also a reliable fire safety system.
Very large volume of passenger and freight transport falls on railway transport. In major cities of the country there are modern high speed trains. Express trains are less comfortable, but travel costs less.
There are three types of taxis in India: regular taxis, auto-rickshaws and pedicabs. Travel is quite inexpensive. At night, rates are one and a half times higher.
Very often taxi drivers deceive and shortchange tourists. You can find booths in cities
prepayment for taxi services, which is quite convenient. There is less overpayment here.
Tourists can also rent a car. All major international rental companies operate in the country. Their offices can be found in airports and hotels. There are also offices for local small companies.
Almost all roads in India have very bad condition. The roads here are too narrow and there are often no markings or road signs. The traffic flow is quite dense. Driving in India is on the left.
Local drivers do not follow traffic rules. The cars are in very poor technical condition. Cows and elephants often appear on the roads. People walk along the sides of the roads.
To rent a car, an international driver's license is required, as well as a liability insurance policy. Tariffs are very high.
I decided to write an article about how you can travel around India, how much it costs, the pros and cons of each type of transport. I don't know if this information will be useful to anyone, but I thought it would be useful to know. The good thing about India is that you can travel everywhere, regardless of your budget. The only thing you need to do is fly here first!
1) The most convenient (for short distances) is to rent a car with a driver, which can be done in any city. Depending on the size of the machine and its level, the price will be different. A large car (for example, Toyota Innova) will cost 1800 rupees in Goa for the first 80 km, then 18 rupees per kilometer; a small car (regular passenger car) will cost 1200 rupees for the first 80 km and 13 rupees for each subsequent kilometer. I note that in Goa taxi costs more than in other cities. In Delhi (Toyota Innova) will cost 1800 rupees for the first 80 km, then each kilometer - 15 rupees. Usually I hire Innova, because... This is a fairly large (6-7 seater), comfortable car. Moreover, it is available everywhere.
After my last trip From the Himalayas, I realized that the best thing to take to the Himalayas is not the Innova, but something like the Mahindra Scorpio. Although the Innova is very comfortable, it does not have high enough ground clearance for the mountains. We visited places where it is best to go by jeep and Scorpio is the most the best option for this.
The cheapest car option is Tata Indigo, 1300 rupees for the first 80 km and then 10 rupees per km. For those who travel with two or three and who have limited funds, the choice of this car will be the best option.
In fact, you can rent a car different levels: both jeeps and executive class, as well as minibuses or buses (for example, for a group).
2) You can rent a car and drive it yourself. To do this, you need to have a license and be able to drive a car, given that in India, traffic is on the left. For drivers who are used to driving in Russia or elsewhere with right-hand traffic, driving on your own in India can be a bit of a challenge. It is difficult to change the direction of driving from right-hand traffic to left-hand traffic. Therefore, not everyone can dare to rent a car and drive it themselves. If you don’t care whether you drive on the right or left, then this will be the most convenient and not so expensive way to travel. The prices for different cars are also different, for example, a Toyota Innova will cost 1800 rupees per day. Also, if you rent a car for a period of 3-7 days, more than a week or a month, the price will be cheaper.
3) You can also rent motorcycles and scooters. There is also a large selection here. In Mayapur, the place where I live, I have my own Honda pleasure scooter. A very good Honda Activa scooter because... it has very good power (but is quite big compared to my scooter).
In Goa, for example, this is the most best view transport, because there are relatively short distances. You can rent a scooter for 200-300 rupees (depending on the brand of the scooter and the place where you rent it) and ride all day. You will have to pay extra for gasoline. Usually at rental places you will be offered to buy gasoline from them, but it is best for you to fill up the scooter yourself at a gas station, because... it will cost much less.
Just remember that when you take a scooter or motorcycle, be very careful on the road, because... traffic (almost all the time and everywhere) is very busy in India!
4) To travel around the country over long distances, the most convenient and fastest, but expensive form of transport is an airplane. If you buy an intra-flight ticket to India in advance, it will cost you much less than if you buy closer to the departure date. Therefore, if you like to plan your trip in advance, then a plane will not cost you that much. For example, if you buy a ticket 6 months in advance (Kolkata-Delhi), then the ticket will cost you about 80-100 dollars round trip. If you buy a ticket closer to departure, it will cost you about $100 only one way. Therefore, it is good to plan your trip in advance.
The cheapest airlines in India are Indigo and SpiceJet.
But what I like most is using the services airlines Air India, because firstly, the ticket price includes meals, and secondly, the planes fly to the International Airport in Delhi (not domestic, like all other flights), which is very convenient when connecting flights when arriving in India from another country
5) Trains in India - for every taste and every pocket. There are 3 classes of cars: AC, Sleeper and 2 Class. AC (with air conditioning) is also divided into 3 categories: AC1, AC2, AC3.
AC1 is quite expensive (prices are almost the same as for an airplane), average between the Russian SV and a coupe.
AC2 is something like a reserved seat, only with curtains ( central places– four-seater and there are 2 more side seats).
AC3 are also quite comfortable carriages, only each compartment has 6 seats + 2 side seats. The difference between AC and slipper cars is that AC cars have air conditioning (which is always turned on at minimum), they provide you with bed linen and a towel, and the main thing is that no one else can enter them.
In the slipper you are not provided with accommodation, it is very dirty, someone is constantly walking around.. As a result, this option is only for brave adventurers.
Second class (2 Class) are the cheapest carriages, where they mainly have seats. There are also entire 2nd class trains, something like our electric trains. Tickets for them are VERY cheap (up to 20 rupees you can travel over distances of about 100 km). But Indian electric trains are a different story.
Also be extremely careful at railway stations, because... they are always very crowded, which is an excellent environment for pickpockets.
There are also luxury trains in India, for example, on the Delhi-Mumbai route (Maharaja’s Express) lasting 8 days (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Udaipur-Yellora and Aurangabad-Ajanta-Mumbai.
Someday I will definitely take a ride on this train. Price: from $5,160 to $23,700 (presidential apartment).
There are also other luxury trains on other routes..
6) The bus is one of the cheapest modes of transport by which you can travel any distance.
There are comfortable air-conditioned buses (they usually run at night) and regular buses that run both short and long distances.
The prices for regular buses are quite cheap. For example, travel from Vrindavan to Delhi by bus will cost only 133 rupees (compared to a car, which costs about 1800 - small or 2500 - large), from Vrindavan to Agra - 70 rupees. The only thing is that the bus is not the most comfortable form of transport.
There are also luxury buses (for example, Olivia).
7) I even had cases when I hitchhiked. I just found myself in places where buses only run once a day and there was no other option but to hitchhike. It even turned out that we were given a lift in a police car.
8) And in India you can’t do without rickshaws or tuk-tuk (motor rickshaw, cycle rickshaw...)
Kolkata (the only city in India) still has manual rickshaws
So, travel lovers, welcome to India! Here you can find transport for every taste, color and budget.
