Transport, Communication and Trade in India

About this unit

This unit covers India's transport network (roads, railways, waterways, airways and pipelines), its communication systems (from post and radio to satellites and the internet), and its international trade, including seaports and their hinterlands. Efficient transport and communication integrate the national economy and connect India with the world.

Key ideas

• Roads are classified as national highways, state highways, district roads, rural roads, border roads and others.
• Railways carry bulk goods and passengers over long distances; the Konkan Railway is an important engineering achievement.
• National Waterways use rivers and canals for cheap cargo movement.
• Pipelines carry crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas.
• Communication ranges from personal (post, telephone) to mass (radio, television, satellites, internet).
• Seaports on both coasts serve hinterlands and handle most of India's foreign trade by volume.

How to prepare

Mark major highways, the Konkan Railway, national waterways and ports on a map of India. Learn one key feature of each major port. Remember key years in Indian railways, air transport and broadcasting.