Transport in India: Railways, National Highways, Ports and Waterways Notes for SSC CGL, CHSL

Questions on transport in India are easy marks in SSC General Awareness: "Which port is the largest container port?", "What is the Golden Quadrilateral?" and "Which is the longest national highway?" These transport in India notes for SSC give the railways, roads, ports, waterways and airways in tables, with the facts that are asked most often.

Railways

• The first train in India ran on 16 April 1853 from Bombay (Mumbai) to Thane.
• Indian Railways has one of the largest networks in the world (the fourth largest by route length), and is run by the Ministry of Railways, with its headquarters in New Delhi.
• The railway network is divided into 17 zones for the administration.
• The Railway Budget was merged with the Union Budget in 2017.

Roads and National Highways

Major Ports of India

Mundra (Gujarat) is a private port and is the largest port in India by cargo handled.

Inland Waterways

Airways

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) looks after the airports of India; the headquarters is in New Delhi.
• Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) is the busiest airport of India.
• Air India was started by J. R. D. Tata in 1932 as Tata Airlines.

Quick Tips

• Learn the zones, the first train date and the NHAI year.
• Learn the port with its state and coast.
• Remember JNPT as the largest container port and Mundra as the largest by cargo.
• Remember NW-1 (Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and NW-3 (Kerala).

Quick Revision Points

• The first train ran from Bombay to Thane on 16 April 1853.
• NH 44 is the longest national highway of India.
• The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
• JNPT is the largest container port.
• NW-1 is on the Ganga from Prayagraj to Haldia.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Between which two places did the first train run in India?
   Answer: Bombay (Mumbai) and Thane
2. Which is the longest national highway of India?
   Answer: NH 44
3. Which four cities does the Golden Quadrilateral connect?
   Answer: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
4. Which is the largest container port of India?
   Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva)
5. Which port is a tidal port in Gujarat?
   Answer: Deendayal (Kandla)
6. Which is the deepest landlocked port of India?
   Answer: Visakhapatnam
7. Which is an artificial port on the east coast of Tamil Nadu?
   Answer: Chennai (and Tuticorin)
8. Which national waterway is on the Ganga?
   Answer: NW-1
9. Which national waterway is on the Brahmaputra?
   Answer: NW-2
10. In which year was NHAI set up?
    Answer: 1988

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Indian Geography notes page, read the previous topic Minerals and Mining in India and the next topic Census 2011 of India. Also read the Indian Geography mind map.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the first train run in India?

On 16 April 1853 from Bombay to Thane.

Which is the longest national highway of India?

NH 44 from Srinagar to Kanyakumari.

What is the Golden Quadrilateral?

A highway network that connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Which is the largest container port?

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) at Nhava Sheva.

Which is the largest port by cargo in India?

Mundra (a private port in Gujarat).

Which is the deepest port of India?

Visakhapatnam.

Which is the tidal port of Gujarat?

Deendayal (Kandla).

What is NW-1?

The National Waterway on the Ganga from Prayagraj to Haldia.

What is the BRO?

The Border Roads Organisation that builds roads in border areas.

Which is the busiest airport of India?

Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.

Is this topic asked in SSC exams?

Yes. Transport questions are asked in SSC General Awareness.

How many zones does Indian Railways have?

Indian Railways has 17 zones.