Key Points

India has one of the second largest road networks in the world, with a total length of about 62.16 lakh km as of 2020-21. Roads carry about 85 percent of passenger and 70 percent of freight traffic annually.

For construction and maintenance, roads in India are classified into four categories: National Highways (NH), State Highways (SH), Major District Roads, and Rural Roads.

National Highways are constructed and maintained by the Central Government. They constitute only 2 percent of the total road length but carry 40 percent of the road traffic.

The NHAI was operationalised in 1995 as an autonomous body responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of National Highways.

This project comprises a 5,846 km long 4/6 lane highway corridor connecting India's four major metro cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

The North-South corridor connects Srinagar to Kanniyakumari, while the East-West corridor connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat.

Established in May 1960, the BRO develops and maintains strategically important roads along the northern and north-eastern boundaries of the country.

The Indian Railway was introduced in 1853, when a line was constructed from Bombay to Thane, covering a distance of 34 km.

Indian Railways is one of the longest networks in the world and the largest government undertaking in the country. The system is divided into 17 zones.

Indian Railways has three main track gauges: Broad gauge (1.676m), Metre gauge (1m), and Narrow gauge (0.762m or 0.610m), which is mainly in hilly areas.

Constructed in 1998, the 760 km long Konkan Railway connects Roha in Maharashtra to Mangalore in Karnataka and is considered an engineering marvel.

India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways. The Inland Waterways Authority of India, set up in 1986, manages their development and regulation.

This waterway lies on the Ganga river, stretching 1,620 km between Prayagraj and Haldia. It is one of the most important waterways in India.

Oceanic transport is crucial for foreign trade, handling approximately 95 percent of trade by volume and 70 percent by value through 12 major and 200 minor ports.

Air transport in India began in 1911 with an airmail service between Allahabad and Naini. It is the fastest mode of transport and crucial for a vast country.

Pipelines are an efficient mode for transporting liquids and gases. Asia's first cross-country pipeline was built from Naharkatiya in Assam to Barauni in Bihar.

Radio broadcasting started in India in 1923. It was named All India Radio in 1936 and later became Akashwani in 1957.

Television broadcasting began in India in 1959, limited to Delhi. It was separated from All India Radio in 1976 and given the identity of Doordarshan (DD).

India's satellite system is grouped into two: the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) for telecommunication and meteorology, and the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS) for resource management.