National highway Vehicles ply on a national highway in India on November 14, 2013. (more) transportation in India Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/transportation-in-India Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Andrew Pereira Andrew Pereira Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 25, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are the major modes of transportation in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The major modes of transportation in India are roads, railways, waterways, and airways. They connect states, cities, ports, industrial regions, and remote areas, facilitating both passenger and freight movement across the country." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How are roads classified in India? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Roads in India are classified into national highways, expressways, state highways, district roads, village roads, and border roads. National highways and expressways link states and major cities. State highways, district roads, and village roads link state capitals, districts, and rural areas. Border roads provide connectivity to border regions." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How large is the Indian railway network? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "As of 2025, the Indian Railways has a total route length of 42,500 miles (68,500 km), making it the fourth largest rail network in the world after the United States, China, and Russia." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the Sagarmala initiative? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The Sagarmala (u201CGarland of the Seau201D) initiative was launched in 2015 by the Government of India to expand and strengthen coastal shipping in the country." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How many operational airports does India have? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "As of 2025, India has 157 operational airports, including 35 international airports." } } ] } Top Questions What are the major modes of transportation in India? The major modes of transportation in India are roads, railways, waterways, and airways. They connect states, cities, ports, industrial regions, and remote areas, facilitating both passenger and freight movement across the country.
How are roads classified in India? Roads in India are classified into national highways, expressways, state highways, district roads, village roads, and border roads. National highways and expressways link states and major cities. State highways, district roads, and village roads link state capitals, districts, and rural areas. Border roads provide connectivity to border regions.
How large is the Indian railway network? As of 2025, the Indian Railways has a total route length of 42,500 miles (68,500 km), making it the fourth largest rail network in the world after the United States, China, and Russia.
What is the Sagarmala initiative? The Sagarmala (“Garland of the Sea”) initiative was launched in 2015 by the Government of India to expand and strengthen coastal shipping in the country.
How many operational airports does India have? As of 2025, India has 157 operational airports, including 35 international airports.
transportation in India, networks that facilitate mobility and commerce at a national scale. Transportation systems enable the seamless movement of people and goods via roads, railways, waterways, airways, and other modes. These networks are crucial for driving economic activity and integrating Indian states, districts, cities, and villages. Although historically regulated by the government, transportation has witnessed substantial private and foreign participation since the liberalization, privatization, and globalization of the economy starting in 1991. The transportation system in India has developed over centuries, transforming from ancient trade routes into one of the largest modern transit networks in the world. In ancient ...(100 of 1244 words)
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