Chapter-21 : Transport
Short Notes or Revision Notes
GIST of India Year Book 2024
Indian Transportation Infrastructure
Indian Railways:
- Established over 170 years ago.
- Vast network: 68,043 km, 7,308 stations.
- Electrification: 90% of broad gauge network (as of March 2023).
- R&D wing: Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
- Catering services: Governed by Catering Policy 2017 (base kitchens/e-catering).
- Vande Bharat Express: India’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train (160 km/h).
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):
- Oversees road infrastructure development (national highways, research).
- Associated organizations: NHAI (National Highways Authority of India), NHIDCL (National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited).
Highway Development Projects:
- Bharatmala Pariyojana: Upgrading and expanding national highways for better connectivity and logistics.
- Focus on expressways and multi-modal logistic parks.
- Prioritizes North East region connectivity (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal).
- Parvatmala Pariyojana: Ropeway development for last-mile connectivity and tourism (including urban areas).
- Land acquisition: Streamlined through Bhoomi Rashi portal for transparency.
Integrated Planning:
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: Facilitates coordinated infrastructure development across ministries.
Highway Operations:
- Managed by NHAI:
- Wayside amenities every 40-50 km.
- Toll collection.
- Incident management support.
New Technologies:
- NH projects incorporate new materials and technologies:
- Recycled asphalt.
- Waste plastic.
- Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC).
User-Centric Initiatives:
- Online services.
- Common national registers.
- Simplified processes (contactless services, dealer point registration).
Traffic Management:
- Intelligent Traffic Management Systems.
- E-tolling for efficient traffic flow and toll collection (over 7.7 crore FASTags issued).
Vehicle Modernization:
- Vehicle Scrapping Policy: Phases out unfit and polluting vehicles.
Maritime Transport:
- Sagarmala Programme: Port-led development to reduce logistics costs and improve export competitiveness.
Coastal Shipping:
- Promoted for carbon efficiency.
- Aims to shift cargo from land to coastal and inland waterways.
- Ro-Pax ferries enhance coastal connectivity and sustainability.
Shipping Industry:
- Integral part of global trade and India’s Exim trade.
- Maritime India Vision 2030: Blueprint for coordinated growth in the maritime sector (over 150 initiatives).
Ship Building:
- Focus on defense and coastal vessels.
- Aided by Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy.
Ship Repair:
- India’s strategic location attracts ships for repair (Cochin Shipyard Ltd. – major player).
Ship Recycling:
- Alang-Sosiya in Gujarat: World’s largest ship recycling yard (employment, steel recycling).
Major Ports:
- 12 major ports and over 200 non-major ports.
- Handle 55% of total traffic (vital for economic development).
Inland Waterways & Maritime Transport
- Inland Water Transport (IWT):
- Fuel-efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport.
- Promoted by National Waterways Act and Jal Marg Vikas Project.
- Cruise Shipping:
- Potential for growth in tourism, foreign exchange earnings, and onshore income.
- Indian Maritime University (IMU):
- Central University for maritime education and research.
Air Transport & Civil Aviation
Government Bodies:
- Ministry of Civil Aviation:Oversees policies and regulations.
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):Ensures safety oversight and regulation.
- Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS):Regulates civil aviation security.
- Airports Authority of India (AAI):Manages airports and airspace.
- Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB):Investigates aircraft accidents.
- Commission of Railway Safety (CRS):Deals with railway safety.
- Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA):Regulates airport tariffs.
- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA):Promotes aeronautical training.
- Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU):India’s first aviation university.
Policies & Initiatives:
- Integrated Civil Aviation Policy:Outlines policy framework for the sector.
- Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN:Improves regional air connectivity.
- Air Sewa Initiative:Provides a hassle-free air travel experience.
- Disinvestment of Air India:Completed in January 2022 (Air India, Air India Express, and 50% of AISATS).
- Greenfield Airports Policy:Aims to develop new airports (12 operational).
- National Air Sports Guidelines 2023:Promotes air sports activities in India.
- Krishi Udan 2.0:Incentivizes air cargo transport for agricultural produce (covers 58 airports).
- Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel (DigiYatra):Uses facial recognition for a smooth airport experience (operational at 13 airports).
- Flexible Use of Airspace:Optimizes airspace utilization (129 Conditional Routes established).
- Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan:Promotes accessibility for people with disabilities in air travel.
Other Initiatives:
- Drone usage across sectors:Aims to make India a global drone hub by 2030.
- Aircraft Leasing:Over 70% of Indian carriers’ fleet is leased.
- Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO):New guidelines to promote the MRO industry.
- GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN):Improves precision approaches.
International Cooperation:
- Air Services Agreements:India has agreements with 116 countries (as of Oct 2023).
- Open sky arrangements:India has arrangements with 24 countries (as of Oct 2023).
Long-Term Goals
- Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA):Aims to reduce emissions from international aviation (India’s concerns highlighted).
- Long Term Aspirational Goals (LTAG) of ICAO:Aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (India advocates for flexible implementation).
हिन्दी