Page 90 - Social Science 2_flatten
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feels that the whole world is on wheels. • At the time of Independence, trains
were hauled by steam engines. These
Modes of Transport
were replaced by diesel and electric
Transport in India has shown rapid
engines. This increased the speed of
growth over the years, both in the spread
train. Nowadays, trains such as the
of the network and in transporting people
Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi
and goods. It has greatly contributed to
Express travel at speeds of upto 130
the unity of the country and its economic
kilometres per hour.
growth. The present transport system of
Metro trains and Bullet trains are the
India comprises railways, roads, coastal
latest version of railway transport. These
shipping, air transport, etc.
trains move on elevated or underground
Railways tracks. Metro trains run in big cities like
• The Railways in India are the main Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and
mode of transport of goods and Chennai. Cities where metro projects are
passengers. Goods trains carry bulky coming up include Jaipur, Gurgaon,
and heavy goods like coal, iron, cement, Hyderabad and Lucknow.
oil, etc. Passenger trains carry over 13
Roadways
million people every day in India.
• India has one of the largest networks of
roads in the world. It covers about 33
lakh kilometres at present. The
network consists of National
Highways, State Highways,district
roads and village roads. The National
Highways connect state capitals, and
Train other big cities and towns. The State
Highways connect cities and towns
within a state with the national
• The first train in India ran between
highways.
Roorkee and Piran Kaliyar on December
22, 1851 to carry clay from Piran Kaliyar Road Transport
to Roorkee. • Road transport provides door-to-door
• The first commercial train journey in service.
India was between Bombay and Thane
• It is suited to carry goods and people to
on 16th April, 1853. The train had 14
and from rural areas.
carriages and three locomotives
• It is most suitable for short-distance
(engines). The distance was around 21
miles. journeys.
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