The first aircraft to fly over Indian skies was the air mail carrier on 18th February 1911 when air mails were carried from Allahabad to Naini when Henri Piquet a French Pilot with British India flew a distance of about 18 Kms. On 15th October 1932 JRD Tata flew his Leopard Moth air plane from Bombay to Karachi and later founded the Tata Air Lines in 1932 which later became the Air India today. 'In the year 1953 the air transport in India was nationalized by amalgamating a few private airlines to create Air India International Ltd., for abroad services and Indian Airlines for domestic services. In the year 1962, Air India International Ltd., became Air India with a unique record of being the first "all jet airline" company in the world. 'In 2005, Indian Airlines, the domestic airline, was branded as "Indian" only to be merged later with Air India to become one identity of "Air India" from February 2011 with about 130 jet air planes. 'Although the government owned air transport in our country has not been as profitable and beneficial to the exchequer, efforts are on to revive its performance.'The civil aviation sector is managed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation headed by Ashok Gajapati Raju Pushpati.  Director General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body of civil aviation in our country. ''

Wright Brothers - Orville and Wilbur - 1905 - USA.

Kitty Hawk.

FIXED WING - These include a large range of aircrafts from small trainers recreational to large sized passengers and cargo air liners etc.,
ROTARY WING - It is a broad category of aircrafts with a moving wing which are helicopters, autogyros and gyrodynes.

A type of rotor craft similar to helicopters. They use a rotor to develop lift. While a helicopter's rotor is rotated by an engine, during normal flight, the rotor of autogiro is driven by aerodynamic forces in autorotation. Invented by Juan de Cleva in 1919 and first flown successfully on 9.1.1923 at Madrid, Spain.

A heavier than aircraft with a rotor system that is normally driven by its engine for take off, hovering and landing like a helicopter but also has an additional propulsion system that is independent of the rotor system. Also called Heliplane.

Airplanes that are used for transportation of passengers. They are of two types, viz:
1. WIDE BODY JETS - Largest airliners are called so, with twin aisles. They are generally used in international routes. They are Boeing, Airbus etc.,
2. NARROW BODY JETS - A smaller and more common class of airliners with narrow body and with single aisle - Boeing, Airbus 320, Fokker, VC 10, Tupolev, Yakholov etc., Induction of these planes into service is called the "Jet Age".

Passenger aircrafts for 19 or fewer passengers for short or private flights are called so. DC 9, Vickers VC10, Lockheed, L 1011 etc.,

BOEING - founded by William E.Boeing of Seattle, USA in 1916.
AIRBUS - a subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company, based in Blagnac, France and founded in 1970. This company accounts for half of the world's aircrafts.

First, Business and Economy.

A pathway leading to both ends of a two side or single side seating arrangements.

Place or cabin from where the airplane's movement is mechanically, electrically and electronically controlled by the crew members - Pilots.

Though called a "Black Box", it is "orange" in color. It records all the conversations between the flight crew and Air Traffic Controllers in the airports. It is for this reason, topmost importance is given for the search of this box immediately in case of any accidents for analysis of the cause of the accident.

It is the vapour trails or artificial clouds made by the exhaust of aircrafts' engines, often seen in the sky behind an aircraft - Usually occurs above 5000 mts/16500 ft in the sky.

A path between the runway and different parts of the airport.

A long well laid out stretch in the airport on which airplanes land and take off.

A large area covered building at an airport where planes can be stabled and maintained.

A building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark the planes.

An engine, serve to propel the aircraft on the ground and in the air. Turbine based engines, located under or on the wings or attached to the body, are generally used with stabilizers attached to it.

Allows the planes to land and take off. They usually retract during flight. Smaller aircrafts may have a fixed one. Some are fixed with special landing gears known as "Pontoons" or "Skis" to land on water, snow or ice.

A structure attached to the fuselage (body) which generally houses the fuel tanks.

It is a small wing that provides positive or negative lift to stabilize the aircraft in flight.

A vertical wing that is usually attached to the top rear of the fuselage.

Movable surface on the wings of aircraft which is used for changing the direction of travel. Some larger aircraft use "Spoilers" for the same purpose.

Located on the vertical stabilizer (Fin) and controls movement around the vertical axis called YAW.

JRD Tata - Jehangir Ratanji Dadhabhoy Tata in 1929.

PUSSMOTH -Bombay to Karachi via Ahmedabad -15.10.1932,which marked the beginning of Indian Air Traffic. LEOPARD MOTH is his personal plane.

J R D Tata - Tata Airlines in 1932, with PUSS MOTH and LEOPARD MOTH airplanes.

By the Act of Air Corporation Act of 1853, Air India International Ltd., was started in August 1953, by amalgamating a number of private airlines, simultaneously starting the Indian Airlines for domestic routes.

On 8th June 1962. (On 11th June 1962 Air India became the world's first all jet airline).

7th December 2005.

27th February 2011 - along with their subsidiaries Air India Express and Alliance Air. The parent company now known is Air India Limited.

Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited - established in 1985.

"Have you tried the new Air India".

Air India - "Your Palace in the Sky". Indian Air Lines - "New Horizons - Enduring Value".

20.4.1960 - First Boeing 707 flight to London.

"Gauri Shankar" - Boeing 707 - 420.

Prem Mathur - 1951(with Deccan Airways before nationalization).

Harita Kaur - 1994 - from Indian Air Force.

Capt. Durga Bannerjee - 1966

1. Indian Aviation Academy, Mumbai.
2. Anurag Allied Aviation Services P.Ltd., Delhi.
3. Delhi Flying Club Ltd., New Delhi
4.American Fliers IndiaP.Ltd.,Mumbai
5. Academy of Aerospace and Aviation Training institute, Indore.
6. Government Aviation Training Insitute, Bhubaneswar.
7. Flytech Aviation Academy, Secunderabad.
8. Orient Flying School, Chennai
9. Tatanagar Aviation P.Ltd., Jamshedpur.and many more.

They are the hospitality management staff within the flight while on sky. Both men and women are trained. The institutions are: 1. Global Institute, Delhi. 2. Indian Aviation Academy, New Delhi. 3. Frank Finn Management Consultants, in a number of places. 4. Pacific Airways, New Delhi 5. Free bird Aviation and Management Services, Trivandrum. and many more.

ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of UN, established in 1947. Headquartered at Montreal, Canada. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport.
IATA - International Air Transport Association, Montreal, Canada. An international industry trade group of airlines to assist airline companies to achieve lawfull competition and uniformity in prices etc.,

A military airport.

An area allotted in an airport belonging to the armed forces, for the usage of civil aviation related services and activities. There are about 26 civil enclaves in India.

IATA - issues 3 lettered codes.
ICAO - issues 4 lettered codes.

I - Beijing - China - Terminals 3 - 9 lakh sqkms.
II - Hong Kong - China - 5,70,000 Sqkms.

American Air Lines - USA.

Fed Ex - the famous courier service company.

Skytrax - USA.

Saudi Arabia - King Fahd International Airport, Dhammam, 780 SQkm Completed in 1990, but due to the gulf war, it was officially opened for commercial traffic only on November 28,1999.

1. AMD/VAAH - Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
2. BLR/VOBG - Bengaluru International Airport, Bengaluru.
3. BOM/VABB - Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.
4. COK/VOCI -- Kochi International Airport, Kochi, Kerala.
5. CCU/VECC -- NSC Bose International Airport, Kolkatta.
6. DEL/VIDP -- Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
7. GAU/VEGT -- Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, Assam.
8. HYD/VOHS -- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
9. IDR/VAID -- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport, Indore.
10. MAA/VOMM- Anna International Airport, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
11. NAG/VANP -- Dr.Baba Saheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
12. TRV/VOTV -- Trivandrum International Airport, Trivandrum.
13. CCJ/VOCL -- Calicut International Airport, Calicut.
14. CJB/VOCB -- Coimbatore International Airport, Coimbatore, TN.
15. JAI/VIJP --- Sanganer International Airport, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
16. LKO/VILK -- Chaudhri Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow.
17. IXE/VOML -- Mangalore International Airport, Mangalore.
18. PAT/VEPT -- Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Airport, Patna.
19. PNQ/VAPO -- Pune International Airport, Pune.
20. GAY/VEGY -- Gaya(Bodhgaya) International Airport, Bihar.
21. GOI/VAGO -- Vasco da Gama International Airport, Dabolim, Goa
22. ATQ/VIAR -- Raja Sansi International Airport,Amritsar.
23. TRZ/VOTR -- International Airport, Tiruchy, TN
24. VNS/VIBN -- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varnasi.
25. IXZ/VOPB -- Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair.

1. Cochin International Airport, Kochi.
2. Bengaluru International Airport, Bengaluru
3. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
5. Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.

Airports Authority of India - New Delhi - functioning from 1.4.1995 - under the control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Ashok Gajapati Raju Pushpati of Telugu Desam Party forming part of the NDA at the centre.

Air India Express - started on 29.4.2005 owned by Air India Charters Ltd., After the merger of the airlines, it is now part of the Air India Limited.,

It is the only Airport in the world to have a shrine inside the Airport and the devotees have to cross the runway to reach the shrine.

SPRUCE GOOSE - the largest aircraft every built by physical dimensions, by Edward Hughes, US. It was originally named "Hughes H4 Hercules". It is the largest flying boat ever built and has the largest wing span of any aircraft in history.

It is "vertical take off and landing". The IIT Chennai Students developed "Yu-Fly" aircraft using Depron - a special light weight foam for its body.

Holland.

1. B29-SUPER FORTRESS: Bomber named "ANOLA GAY" bombed Hiroshima, Japan on 6th August 1945, with the bomb code named "Little Boy" piloted by Paul Tibbets. (Anola Gay is the mother of the pilot Paul Tibbets).
2. B29 - SUPER FORTRESS: Bomber named "BOCK SCAR", bombed Nagasaki, Japan on 9th August 1945 with the bomb code named "Fat Boy", piloted by Chales W. Sweeney.

Aircraft that are used in military war fare capable of bombing targets.
1. 1917 - Fokker (during WWI);
2. 1925 - Gloster Game cock.
3. 1929 - Gauntlet
4. 1932 - Boeing Peach Shooter.
5. 1935 - Svensko Aero.
6. 1940 - Dornier, Mustang, Republic, Curtis, Thunder Bolt.
7. 1949 - "Dob" Sabre.
8. 1966 - Mirage, Sukhoi.
9. 1970s- MIG series.
10.200s - F Series, Hawk Series.
Ajeet(introduced in 1977 and retired by 1991)and Tejas, proposed for induction into Indian Airforce by 2011, are from our country.

No. Name of the Airline	Country
1. African Express Airways	Kenya
2. Royal Air Maroc	Morocco
3. Ariana Afghan	Afghanistan
4. Kam Air	Afghanistan
5. Dallo Airlines, Emirates	Dubai, UAE
6. Biman, GMG, Royal Bengal	Bangladesh.
7. Druk Air	Bhutan
8. Angkor Airways	Cambodia
9. Cathay Pacific, Dragon	Hong Kong
10. All Nippon	Japan
11. Air Astana	Kazakhstan
12. Air Asia	Malaysia
13. Air Blue, Shaheen Air	Pakistan
14. Singapore, Tiger	Singapore.
15. Air Lanka, Mihin Lanka	Sri Lanka
16. Mandarin	Taiwan
17. Thai Airways	Thailand
18. Qantas, Jet Star	Australia
19. Air Pacific	Fiji
20. Aero Caribbean	Cuba
21. KLM	France.
22. Lufthansa, LTV International	Germany
23. Aegean, Olympic	Greece
24. Alitalia	Italy
25. KLM Royal Dutch	the Netherlands.
26. Scandinavian	Denmark
27. Aeroflot	Russia
28. Gulf Air	Bahrain
29 Ethihad, Air Transat.	Abu Dhabi
30. Mexicana	Mexico
31. Delta, Continental,US Airways	USA
32. Varig Linhas, Gol Transporters	Brazil
33. Avianca	Columbia
34. British Airways	UK
35. Malev	Hungary.
36. FinnAir	Finland
37. Sabena	Belgium
38. Swiss Air	Switzerland.
39 Air France	France
40. Garuda	Indonesia.

1. JET AIRWAYS - Founded by Naresh Goyal on 1.4.1992 and commenced operations from 5th May 1993. Leading and largest Indian airlines.
2. SPICE JET - Founded in May 2005 and headquartered at Gurgaon.
3. Club One Air.,
4. Deccan 360.,
5. Deccan Aviation.,
6. Go Air.,
7. IndiGo.,
8. Jagson Air Lines.,
9..Air Sahara.

The list is too long. However, few important destination airports around the world are given below:
1. Al Ain International Airport, UAE.
2. El Arist International Airport, Egypt.
3. King Hussein International Airport, Aqaba, Jordan
4. John F.Kennedy International Airport, New York.
5. Heathrow Airport, London.
6. Cairo International Airport, Cairo, Egypt.
7. Charles De Gaulle International Airport, Paris.
8. Simon Boliver International Airport, Venezeula
9. Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong.
10.Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo
11.Zia International Airport, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
12.Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, Rome.
13.Niagara Falls International Airport, New York.
14.King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah.
15.Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania
16.Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan.
17.Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal
18.Suvarnabhoomi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
19.King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
20.Marcopolo International Airport, Venice, Italy.
21.King Fahd International Airport, Dhammam, Saudi Arabia
22.Guangzhou International Airport, China.

1907 - Frenchman Paul Cornu makes first free helicopter flight at Lisieux France.
1923 - C-4 World's first autogiro flight by Spanish Juan de la Clerva. This paved the way for actual helicopter development.
1936 - Focky Wolf FW 61 - First fully controllable helicopter flies in Germany reached 122 Kmph.
1942 - Sikorsky R4 - First mass produced helicopter built by US and Britain for use in WWII.
1946 - Bell Mosdel -47 - First Certified helicopter for civilian use. Used for rescue operation during Korean War.
1959 - Bell UH 1 "Huey" - most famous of all times - 16000 helicopters produced - Synonymous with Vietnam war.
1961 - Sea King H3 - Helicopter that is still used in US and other navies. "Marine One" of this version is the official transport of US President.
1962 - Chinook -CH47 - heavy lifter helicopter.
1966 - Pave Low MH 53 - Famous for its use in Vietnam War. Technically most advanced.
1967 - Mi-8HIP - Russia's multipurpose transport. The most produced helicopter numbering over 20000.
1967 - Jet Ranger BEL 206 - The most successful commercial helicopter - used in VIP transport, law enforcement, news gathering etc.,
1968 - Homer Mi 12 - Only two prototypes exist. World's largest helicopter. Bigger than a Boeing 727.
1974 - Hind Mi24 - One of world's fastest assault helicopters, combines role of gunship and transport.
1978 - Westland Lynx - Fast and Agile. Has a record speed of 400.87 kmph.
1979 - Black Hawk UH 60 - US's frontline troop transport - can reach 270 Kmph.
1984 - Apache A 64 - Most advanced and combat proven.
2007 - Osprey V22 -First tilt rotor aircraft - Can take off and land vertically

Home Mi12.

Air Bus 380.

Singapore Air Lines.

John Travolta - Hollywood actor.

Daulat Beg Oldie at 16200 ft above sea level at Akshai Chin, Leh, a Jammu & Kashmir territory, under dispute with China.

Daocheng Yading Airport, Tibet China - 14472 ft above sea level. This territory is under dispute between India and China. 
The secon is Chusul, Ladakh.

Qamdo Bangda Airport, Tibet - 14219 ft. above sea level.

"Same" food to prevent food poisoning.

Chennai - established in March 1930.

" The Lost World " 6.4.1925 by Imperial Airways.

King Fahd International Airport, Damman, Saudi Arabia

Heathrow Airport, London.

Atlanta, US.

Gujarat - Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Bhuj Air Force Base, Harni, Jamnagar, Kandla, Keshod, Porbandar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat, Zalawad.

Belfast, Ireland.

There is a road that crosses the runways and the road traffic is stopped whenever a flight takes off.

Cochin International Airport.

The French wanted to add "E" at the end of the name Concord, and they got it also. Thus the aircraft had its name as CONCORDE.

New York to London Heathrow Airport - 24.10.2003.

Siachen Glacier - India - 6400 mtrs.

Director General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi.

The railway transport system started with trial line near Chintadripet Bridge In 1836 and another trial line between Red Hills and St. Thomas Mount in 1837, all in Chennai, for carrying crushed stones from stone quarries.
The first railway companies established were Great Indian Peninsular Railway and East Indian Railway in 1853/1854. The first train operation commenced on 22.12.1851 at Roorkee for carrying construction materials.
The first passenger train operation commenced on 16th April 1853 ( this date is taken as the beginning of Indian Railway system) between Bori Bunder (now CST) to Thane for a distance of 34 Kms. Thus began the real rail transportation in our country way back in 1853 and today it is the 4th largest network in the world.

The rail network in our country covers nearly 64015 Kms, transports 10 billion Passengers, and nearly 1100 million tones of freight annually. It has about 6920 Stations, 2 lakh freight wagons, 50000 coaches, 8000 locomotives and has 14 lakh employees.(these figures are only near about and changes regularly)

Such a huge organization is functioning under a single identity of Indian Railways headed by Cabinet Minister and assisted by a  Minister of State Railways. It is administered by the Railway Board headed by a Chairman,Members and divided into various zones (18 including Metros)  headed by General Managers and Divisions (67) headed by Divisional Railway Managers.  

James Watt -It was designed first by New Coman in 1705, but was put to practical use by James Watt in 1765.

Richard Trevethick in 1801.

From Stockton to Darlington in UK in 1827. The first public railway transport system.

FAIRY QUEEN - A steam engine manufactured in 1855, in UK by M/s Kiltson, Thomson and Hewittson and withdrawn from service in 1909. Reconditioned in 1997 and put into use in the luxury train "Palace on Wheels" (Rajasthan Government owned) between Delhi and Alwar. Now it is considered a 'National Treasure' and housed at the National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Lord Dalhousie in 1843 as Governor General. Thus, he is called the father of Indian Railways.

George Clerk, Chief Engineer, Bombay Presidency.

On 22.12.1851 first train was put into use for hauling construction materials at Roorkee.

Broad Gauge -- 1.67 mt/5'6"
Meter Gauge -- 1.00 mt/3'3"
Narrow Gauge -- .762 mt/2'5"
Standard Gauge -- 4'8.5" - this gauge is followed only in Europe and other western countries. In India, only Delhi Metro is following this gauge.34 Kms.

Railway Week - when functions are organized to honour distinguished services of railwaymen, all over India.

1.Narrow Gauge: a)1067mm/3' 6" - Southern and Central Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Honduras, Costa Rica.    b) 1000mm -- 3' 3/8" -- SE Asia, India, East Africa, S. America, Central Europe. c) 762 mm/ 2' 6" - Sri Lanka
2.Broad Gauge: a) 1520mm 4' 11 27/32"   b) 1600mm/5' 3"   c) 1676mm/5' 6"  d) 2140mm/7' 1/4"
3.Standard Gauge: 1435mm -- large number of countries use this gauge, specially in high speed train tracks.

Indian Railways Act of 1890, amended from time to time.

The Railway Board under the Railway Ministry, manages the railway transport system "Indian Railways". It was established in 1905.

A chairman, assisted by Members of Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Staff, Finance Commissioner. There is also a Director of Medical Services to assist, but does not form part of the Board. The Chairman is the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways.

Commissioner of Railway Safety, headquartered at Bengaluru, functioning under the Civial Aviation Ministry. Started functioning from 1.11.1961. It was earlier known as "Railway Inspectorate". Without his approval no train can be run on a newly laid track, including electrification etc.,

During the British period the Railways were functioning as Company Railways and Princely State Railways owned by some Princes. There were about 42 such railways and a few important ones which formed the larger area are:
1. East Indian
2. Bikaner & Jaipur
3. Bengal & Assam
4. Audh Tirhut
5. Bombay, Baroda & Central India
6. Cooch Behar
7. East Bengal
8. Bengal Nagpur
9. Mysore State
10. Madras & Southen Maharatta
11.South Indian
12. Sangli State
13.Nizam State
14.Scindia State
15.Great Indian Peninsular
16.Jaipur Saurashtra.

Sangli State - with a stretch only 6 Kms.

In 1951/52, starting with six zones, then to eight and then to nine by 1952. As of 2012, it has become 16 zonal railways. For administration purpose, the zonal railways are further divided into Divisions.

1. NR - NORTHERN RAILWAY - 14.4.1952 - Hq: Delhi - Divisions: 4- Ambala, Firozpur, Lucknow and Moradabad.
2. NER - NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY - 1952 - Hq: Gorakhpur - Divisions - 3: Izzatnagar, Lucknow, Varnasi.
3. NFR - NORTH FRONTIER RAILWAY - 1958 - Hq: Guwahati - Divisions - 5: Alipurduar, Katihar, Lumding, Rangia & Tinsukia.
4. ER - EASTERN RAILWAY - April 1952 - Hq: Kolkatta - Divisions 4: Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malta.
5. SER- SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY - 1955 - Hq: Kolkatta - Divisions 4 : Kharagpur, Adra, Chakradarpur and Ranchi.
6. SCR - SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY - 2.10.1966 - Hq: Secunderabad - Divisions 6 : Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Guntakal, Guntur, Nanded and Vijayawada.
7. SR - SOUTHERN RAILWAY - 14.4.1951 - Hq: Chennai - Divisions - 6: Chennai, Madurai, Palghat, Salem, Palakkad, Tiruchirapalli and Trivandrum.
8. CR - CENTRAL RAILWAY - 5.11.1951 - Hq: Mumbai - Divisions - 5: Mumbai, Bhusawal, Sholapur, Pune and Nagpur.
9. WR - WESTERN RAILWAY - 5.11.1951 - Hq: Mumbai - Divisions - 6: Mumbai Central, Baroda, Ratlam, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Bhavnagar.
10.SWR - SOUTH WEST RAILWAY - 1.4.2003 - Hq: Hubli - Divisions - 3: Hubli, Bengaluru, Mysore.
11.NWR - NORTH WEST RAILWAY - 1.10.2002 -Hq: Jaipur - Divisions 4: Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur.
12.WCR - WEST CENTRAL RAILWAY - 1.4.2003 - Hq: Jabalpur - Divisions : 3 - Jabalpur, Bhopal and Kota.
13.NCR - NORTH CENTRAL RAILWAY - 1.4.2003 - Hq: Allahabad - Divisions 3: Allahabad, Agra, Jhansi.
14.SECR - SOUTH EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY - 1.4.2003 - Hq:Bilaspur - Divisions 3 - Bilaspur, Raipur, Nagpur.
15. ECoR - EAST COAST RAILWAY - 1.4.2003 - Hq. Bhubaneswar - Divisions - 3 : Khurda Road, Sambalpur, Visakhapatnam.
16. ECR - EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY - 1.10.2002 - Hq: Hajipur - Divisions 5 : Danapur, Dhanbad, Mughalsarai, Samastipur, Sonpur.

Zone is headed by General Manager and the Division by Divisional Railway Manager.

1. KONKAN RAILWAY - Commenced from 26.1.1988 - Headquartered at Navi Mumbai. It is a Public Ltd., Company. It is a railway line from Roha to Mangalore along the western ghats for 760 Kms, stretched over Maharashtra, Goa and parts of Karnataka. It is divided into two regions: 1. Ratnagiri and 2. Karwar.
2. KOLKATTA METRO : 24.10.1984 - India's first underground Rapid Transit Rail System between Tollygunge to Dum Dum in Kolkatta for a distance of 25 Kms with 23 stations (15 underground). Inaugurated by Smt. Indira Gandhi on 29.12.1972. It is run as a Corporations and forms the 17th Zone of Indian Railways.
3. NEW DELHI METRO : It is the second under/above the ground Rapid Transit System opened in Indian on 24.12.2002 by the Late Hon. President  APJ Abdul Kalam.. It consists of 6 lines for a total length of 213 Kms with 160 stations. Administered by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., It has four corridors viz:Blue,Yellow,Red and Green. The Green Corridor is the first  railway system in India to have Standard Gauge (4 ft 8.5 inches) rail lines.
4.BANGALORE METRO: Called as "Namma Metro" meaning "Our Metro". Now operates only for 25  Kms with 25 stations. Upon completion, it will operate for 182 Kms in 3 branches with 162 stations.
5.CHENNAI METRO: Began operations on 29.6.2015 for 10 Kms. When completed it will operate for 45.1 Kms.
6.JAIPUR METRO: Commenced operations on 3.6.2015 for 9.63 Kms with 9 stations. When completed it will operate for 35.1 Kms with 22 stations.
7.GURGAON METRO: Began operations on 14.11.2013 for 5.1.Kms with 6 stations.
Metro railways are operating on Standard Gauge.

MASS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM - Chennai - It is not a separate corporation. It is administered by the Southern Railway. This system operates from Chennai Beach to Velachery stations for a distance of 25 Kms with 21 stations. It was commissioned in 1997. Further extension work is going on. Chennai Metro Rail works is also on for about 45.1 Kms and is expected to be completed by 2013/14.

Chennai Beach to Tambaram commissioned in 1931.

Traffic: Planning and movement of passenger/freight traffic. Engineering: Construction and Maintenance. Commercial: Ticketing, and marketing Mechanical: Maintenance of rolling stock. Signal & Telecommunication: Installation and maintenance of signals and telecommunication network.
Besides them, there are departments like, Security, Personnel, Medical, Finance and Vigilance which are playing their own major role in the function of railways.

1.Chittaranjan Locomotive Works: Established in 1950, at Chittaranjan, Mihijam R.S., West Bengal. Manufacturers Locomotives. The first locomotive produced by this workshop was a steam engine bearing no. WG 8401. Named after Chittaranjan Das, a freedom fighter of West Bengal. Initially intended for manufacturing steam locomotives now modernized for manufacturing other locomotives.
2. Integral Coach Factory: Established in 1952 - located at Perambur, Chennai, Tamilnadu - Manufacturers coaches for Indian Railways and also executes export orders. One of the prestigious units of India.
3. Diesel Locomotive Works, Varnasi - Established in 1961 - manufactures Diesel Engines and components.
4. Rail Coach Factory: Kapurthala, Punjab - Established in 1986 and manufactures passenger coaches for the Indian Railways.
5. Rail Wheel Factory Yelahanka, Bengaluru - Established in 1984, this unit manufactures wheels for all the rolling stock.
6. Diesel Loco Component Works: Patiala, Punjab - Established in 1981 manufactures the components for Diesel Engines and is being upgraded. Besides the above, Wheel and Axle Plant in Chapra, Bihar and another Integral Coach Factory at Allappuzha, Kerala is under consideration.

. IRCTC - Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation - takes care of the improvement of catering in the trains and also web based ticket reservation system. ( www.irctc.co.in) . It is one of the most transacted website.
2. Indian Railway Finance Corporation - An organization meant for mobilizing funds for Railways for development.
3. Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation Ltd.,: To develop infrastructure for Mumbai suburban Railway systems. (www.mrvc.indianrail.gov.in)
4. Rail Tel Corporation Ltd., Established in September 2000 - to create nationwide broadband telecom and multimedia network in all parts of the country. To promote safety systems and net works and contributes towards the objectives of the National Telecom Policy.(www.railtelindia.com)
5. RITES Ltd - Rail India Technical & EngineeringServicesLtd.,established in 1974. A consultancy organization for transport, infrastructure and related technologies. Executed a number of projects outside India and within India. (http://www.rites.com)
6. IRCON INTERNATIONAL Ltd., Established in 1976 - headquartered at Gurgaon. Has executed a number of projects within and outside India, like railway projects, airports, highways etc.,(http://www.ircon.org//)
7. RAIL LAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Ltd., Established in November 2006 - an organization to commercially develop the vacant lands of Railways.
8. CRIS - Centre for Railway Information System - Established in 1986 - An autonomous society under the Railway Board to develop and maintain the information system for Railways.
9. RDSO - Railway Design & Standards Organization - Established in 1957 and based at Lucknow with the status of a Zonal Railway. It is responsible for the research and development activities of the Indian Railways.
10.CORE - Central Organization for Railway Electrification - Established in 1961 and based at Allahabad - responsible for the electrification works throughout Indian Railways.
11.CONCOR - CONTAINER CORPORATION - Established in 1988 - for developing container transportation of the Indian Railways. (www.concorindia.com)
12. BHARAT WAGON & ENGINEERING CO. Ltd., 1978 - Patna, Bihar. (www.bbunl.com/co_bharat.html)
13. DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR CORPORATION OF INDIA - 2006 - To undertake planning, development, mobilize finance, construction, maintenance and operation of the dedicated freight corridors for faster freight movements.
14. KONKAN RAILWAY CORPORATION - 1990 - HQ: Belapur in Navi Mumbai - Became operational from 26.1.1998 - connects Mumbai with Mangalore along the western ghats - covering 760 Kms. (www.konkanrailway.com)

1. DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY - Runs between New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal for a distance of 86 Kms. It was built between 1879 to 1881 and stands at an elevation of 2134 mts/7000 feet above sea level. It is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site. World's second highest railway station GHUM is in this route. It is a narrow gauge railway system (0.6096mts).
2. NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY - Runs from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam in the Nilgiris Mountains in Tamilnadu for 46 Kms. It is famous for the most famous Hill station of Ooty or Ootacamund. It is the oldest of the mountain railways in India. Constructed in 1845 but put into operation only from 1889/90. It is a UNESCO declared World Heritage site. Functions on rack and pinion system.
3. KALKA SHIMLA : Commenced in 1903 (9.11.1903). Runs for a distance of 96 Kms with 102 tunnels and 864 bridges in the route. Kalka is in Haryana while Shimla is in Himachala Pradesh. Has one of the largest tunnel of 1.1 Kms named Barog tunnel.
4. MATHERAN LIGHT RAILWAY - Built between 1904-1917 by Abdul Hussein (son of Adamjee Peerbhoy) of Mumbai . This hill railway line runs for 21 Kms between Neral and Matheran, a tiny hill resort near Mumbai. It was taken over by the Government in 1932.
5. KANGRA VALLEY RAILWAY - Runs between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar of Firozpur Division of Northern Railway.for a distance 164Kms, with about 971 architecturally beautiful bridges . It was commissioned in 1929. It is the second of the Hill Railways in Himachal Pradesh, the other being Kalka Shimla.

1. Largest network in Asia - 64 215 Kms - 60000 passenger coaches, 9000 locomotives and 2,30,000 freight wagons.
2. Largest single employer in the world - having nearly 15 lakhs employees.
3. Fourth largest network in the world.
4. Largest Public Sector Undertaking in India.
5.. Biggest contributor to the national economy.
6. Carries more than 16 million passengers daily.
7. Carries more than 1 million tones of freight.
8. Runs close to 15000 trains daily.
9.World's second largest electrified track net work.
10. Four of the five Mountain railways are World Heritage sites.

1. PALACE ON WHEELS - Owned by the Rajasthan Government. It is programmed for eight days covering all the important tourist spots of Rajasthan and also Taj Mahal in Agra. Journey commences from Delhi and stops at Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra and the tickets are to be purchased in terms of US Dollars. It was commissioned in 1982 and has 23 coaches, all of them named after the Rajput states.
2. DECCAN ODYSSEY - Owned by the Maharashtra Government for promoting tourism along the western coast/ghats, it starts from Mumbai and covers Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Belgaum, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ajanta, Ellora in 7 days and 7 nights.
3. GOLDEN CHARIOT - A Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation venture, with 11 coaches named after the past rulers of this region. In its 8 days and 7 nights programme touches, commencing from Bengaluru, Kabini, Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Badami and Goa.
4. ROYAL RAJASTHAN - Second tourism oriented royal train sponsored by Rajasthan Government. Introduced in 2009 follows the route of the Palace on wheels and starting from New Delhi, it stops at Jaipur,Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, and Agra.

1. LIFE LINE EXPRESS : It is a hospital on wheels. Also called the "Jeevan Rekha Express" - started on 16.7.1991. Provides rural health by reaching the places. Promoted by Impact India Foundation and other charitable sources. Conducts health check up and minor surgeries.
2. SAMJHAUTHA EXPRESS : Also Called the "Friendship Express". Runs between Delhi and Lahore on Tuesdays and Fridays. Commenced operations from 22.7.1976. The exchange point lying between Attari in India and Wagah in Pakistan.
3. THAR EXPRESS : Runs between Khokhrapar (Pakistan) and Munabao (India) , connecting Karachi in Pakistan and Jodhpur in India within a few kilometers. The exchange points are at Barmer in India and Mirpur Khas in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
4.MAITREE EXPRESS - 375 Kms - KOKKATTA and DHAKA Cant - 14.4.2008.

Many of the luxury trains are owned and operated by Orient Hotels P.Ltd., and are operated in Europe where the tourism is at its best.:
1. Venice Simplon Orient Express - 1982 - runs between London to Venice. It is also known as "Orient Express". Starting from London, it traverses through Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Istanbul, Dresden and Cracow - that is through UK, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
2. Royal Scotsman - a luxury train of Scotland accommodating only 36 passengers. Owned by Orient Hotels P.Ltd.,
3. Hiram Bingham - Peru - a luxury train that takes through "Machhu Picchu" the world wonder and heritage site.
4. Northern Bell - a luxury train within UK.
5. Eastern & Oriental Express - runs between Bangkok and Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.
6. British Pullman - A luxury train within UK
7. Rovos Rail - - 1989 - Covering 7 African countries like South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia etc.,
8. The Ghan - Australian luxury train.
9. Transcoastal and Transpaline - Luxury trains of New Zealand.
10. Blue Train - tourist luxury train of South Africa -Pretoria to Cape Town.

Golden Eagle Trans Siberian Express - April 2007 - covers about 6000 miles 9335 Kms -world's longest journey across two continents and eight time zones. Traverse through Trans Siberian Rail Road which connects Moscow, and European Russia with the far east Russian provinces, Mongolia, China.

Groups A,B,C and D. Group A - Direct recruitment through UPSC. Group B - Mostly through promotions. Group C - Direct through Railway Recruitments, and certain other special provisions like compassionate, sports and others and also through promotions of Group D staff through examinations. Group D - Mostly through compassionate, and on other special grounds. In some cases direct recruitment is also resorted to. This system is followed in almost all the central government organizations.

IRTS - Indian Railway Traffic Service.
IRSME - Indian Railways Service for Mechanical Services - only in the Mechanical Department - recruited as Special Class Apprentices.
IRSSE - Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers - Signal and Telecommunications Department.
IRES - Indian Railway Engineering Service.Recruited through the Combined Engineering Services Examination by the UPSC.
IRAS - Indian Railway Accounts Service
IRSS - Indian Railway Stores Service
IRPS - Indian Railway Personnel Service. Recruited through the UPSC Civil Services Examinations and allotted on the basis of their rankings.
Allotment to these cadres are based on their performance in the UPSC Civil Services Exams and the Combined Engineering Services Exams.
For IRSME- a special examination as 'Special Class Apprentices are held at regular intervals by the UPSC.

Railway Recruitment Boards located at - Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal,Bilaspur, Chennai, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Jammu & Srinagar, Kolkatta, Malda, Mumbai, Muzzafarpur, Patna, Ranchi, Secunderabad, and Trivandrum.

1. Railway Staff College, Vadodara : Gujarat - A premier institution to train all Group A recruitees and other promoted officers, in all non-technical subjects related to Railways and management aspects etc., Established in 1930 at Dehradun and now functions at Pratap Vilas Palace, Vadodara.
2. IRSSE Institute: Nashik Road, Maharashtra - trains all Group A recruitees in Electrical Engineering.
3. IRISET : Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering Technology and Telecommunications Engineers - Secunderabad.
4. IRES Institute: Pune, Maharashtra - to train Group A recruitees in the Civil Engineering and Permanent Way technology.
5. Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Jamalpur.
6. RPF Academy : Lucknow to train Railway Protection Force Officers.
7. Zonal Training Schools: Located in almost all the railways to train Group C and some Group D staff for direct recruitment trainees as well as promoted staff.
Besides them, there are various other schools for Drivers and other staff whose services fall under the safety category.

Railway Budget is presented two days in advance of the General Budget which is presented on the last working day of February.

This practice is still followed from 1924 as per the "Separation Convention" on the recommendations of the "AcWorth Committee" report, as the National Budget was dependent on Indian Railway Budget economically to the extent of 70% in the early years. Now it represents only about 15% of the National Budget. However, the receipts and expenditures of the Railways are reflected in the General Budget.

John Mathai.

N. Gopalasamy Ayyangar.

Pawan Kumar Bansal of Congress. (as of October 2012)

Lal Bahadur Shastri after the 25th November 1956 Ariyalur accident in which more than 100 people died. The accident occurred due to heavy flash floods washing away the tracks and some of the train coaches. Ofcourse, later Lal Bahadur Shastri became the PM of India.

On 15.8.1854 Howrah to Hooghly - 24 Kms.

1.7.1856 - from Vyasarpadi to Wallajah Road - 63 Kms.

19.10.1875 - Hathras Road to Mathura Cantonment.

From Moscow to Vladivostok ( a port city on the Pacific Ocean in Russia)  in Russia -- 9289 kms.

Gorakhpur -- 1.366 Kms. Next is Kollam  - 1.180 Kms followed by Kharagpur 1,072 Kms. All in India.

Vivek Express - Kanyakumari to Dibrugarh (Assam) involving 4286 Kms of travel with a travel time of 82.30 Hrs.

Karbude Tunnel - 6506 mts in length - Konkan Railway between Ukshi and Bhoke Railway Stations.

Vallarpadam Bridge from Kochi to Vallarpadam Container terminal measuring 4.062 Kms. The next longest Bridge is Son Bridge in Bihar - 3.065 Kms.

Gotthard Tunnel - Switzerland - 15 Kms.

FENGHUOSHAN at 4905 meters above sea level on the Qingzang Railway connecting mainland China with Tibet.

TANGHULA PASS at 5072 mtr above sea level in the Qing Zang Railway China.

Tangulla Mountain Railway Station at 5068 mtr above sea level in Qing Zang Railway of China.

Qazigund - 1722 mtrs a.s.l. - 80 Kms from Srinagar - October 2009.

Condor - 4786 mtrs - between Rio Mulatos and Postoi Line in Bolivia.

IB - between Brajrajnagar and Jharsguda in Howrah-Nagpur, S.E.Railway.

Sri Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta - in Southern Railway between Arakkonam - Renigunta section. It is only a halt for passenger trains.

New Delhi - Mumbai Rajdhani  Express - followed by New Delhi - Bhopal Shatabdi.

Surekha Yadav - C. Rly - Mumbai.

Maandhir Rajput - New South Wales Corporation Railway.

Gidarpindi, Punjab in Firozpur Divison of Northern Railway.

A station on the Jaipur - Rewari section called a "Janatha Station" as it was entirely built by the local villagers, commissioned on 3.1.2005.

The Thailand - Burma (Myanmar) 415 KMs railway line between Bangkok (Thailand) and Yangon/Rangoon (Myanmar) is called so. It was built by Empire of Japan during WWII. Forced labour was used and about one lakh asian labourers and 16000 prisoners of war died as a direct result of the adverse working conditions of the project.The most famous portion of the railway line is the Bridge No. 277 over river Kawae Yi, based on which famous Hollywood film "Bridge on the River Kwai" was made.

London Underground system commenced from 10.1.1863 for 408Kms/253 miles with 268 stations. It is also called the "tube" locally. It is also the longest underground railway system in the world.

1830 - Liverpool to Manchester, UK.

Qinghai - Tibet railway line on the Tangulla Mountain Pass, is the highest railway line.

Beijing - China spread over 58.8 heactares.

201 Kmph by "Mallard" a British locomotive.

TGV Atlantique of Germany recorded at 320mph/516 Kmph.

Angel's Flight Railway at Los Angeles.

Coaches are named after Princely States/Districts while the restaurants are named as "Maharaja" and "Maharani".

Mostly is called "Metro" or "Rapid Transport", with the names of the places prefixed in few cases. Some differently named ones are:
SUBWAY -- Beijing, Japan, S.Korea and USA
LINE -- Kuala Lumpur;
LIGHT RAIL -- Philippines;
U BAHN -- Germany;
T BANE -- Norway;
URBANE -- Puerto Rico;
MARTA, MBTA, SPEED LINE - USA;
THE TUBE, EURO STAR -- UK.

Senior Citizens (above 60 yrs)., Physically disabled., Blind., Mentally Retarded., Deaf and Dumb., Cancer., Kidney, TB, Leprosy patients., Freedom Fighters etc., ( for more details see the Time Table of the Railways)

Rudolf Diesel - 1892 - Germany.

Nokola Tesla - Serbia - 1888.

Waterloo.  The namesake place is now in Belgium near Brussels. In a war In 1815 in this place Napoleon met with a huge defeat and thus came the end of his political power and rule.

Peru.

Meaning New Trunk Line, referring to the "Bullet Train" the high speed railway line of Japan.

Qingzang Railway. It is the highest and has the longest tunnel in the world.

A tourist train that ran between places of Buddhist interest places like Gaya, Saranath etc., in the 1980s. Now it is discontinued.

Switzerland - between St. Moritz and Zermatt - two major mountain resorts in the Swiss Alps. It passes through Oberalp Pass at the highest point of 2033 mtrs/6670 feet a.s.l.

Shivalik Palace.

They are all the locomotives of the toy trains of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

New Zealand.

From the Afghan Express - because Afghan camels used the same route before the railway lines were laid. It is a train between Adelaide and Darwin a distance of 2979 Kms - 54 Hrs Journey - operated from 1929.

Maitree Express.

A luxury train of South Africa that runs between Pretoria & Cape Town.

It is the three times the seating capacity of a coach. A term used by the railways to decide passenger traffic density.

They are all women security squads deployed in trains for the safety of women passengers.

Up - refers to trains traveling towards its headquarters. Down - refers to trains traveling away from its headquarters.

12395 - Ibadat Express between Rajendranagar to Ajmer 12396 - Ziyarat Express for the return journey from Ajmer to Rajendranagar ( check the numbers since the trains numbers have been changed to five digits)

Chennai and Jammu Tawi.

A journey authority given to foreign tourists and NRIs on payment of specified amount in American dollars, by the railways that allow unlimited travel during a specified period, subject to a maximum of 3 months period.

1. CHENNAI CENTRAL - Designed by George Hardinge and R.F.Chrisholm redesigned it with the Clock Tower, completed by 1900.
2. CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS - Earlier known as Bori Bunder and then Victoria Terminus - Designed by Frederick William Stevens and completed in 1888. Built in Victorian Gothic Style of architecture, this monumental railway station is a World Heritage Site from 2004. It is said that it is a resemblance of St. Pancras Railway Station in London.
3. HOWRAH - Designed by Halsey Ricardo of UK and opened in 1905.It is connected to the Kolkatta city by the Howrah Bridge across river Hooghly.

Sinhaghad Express - Pune to Bombay introduced from 12.4.1978.

1604-1605 - Wallaton Wagonway near Nottigham, UK - the wagons with materials were drawn by horses on wooden rails.

1803 - 15km track at Penydarren in South Wales, UK.

1807 - "Mumbles Train" between Swan Sea and Mumbles in Wales, UK.

The first steam engine which had smooth wheels made to run on plain metal rails.

1837 - Robert Davidson.

1863 - in London, UK with steam Engine and in 1890 it was made into electric underground rail system.

1913 - Sweden

Singapore Metro rail system.

Participation of Railway Employees in Management introduced from 1994.

USA, Russia and China.

Delhi Cantonment Railway Station.

Fairy Queen - now housed in National Rail Museum, Delhi.

South Korea and Norway.

Simplon Rail Tunnel through the Alps. Commissioned in April 1905.

Sahib, Sindh and Sultan.

Shatabdi Express (In Sanskrit "shatham" means hundred)

After the end of WWI, when motorized vehicle movement increased in India, emphasis was laid on development of roads in India. However, with the British in rule, having their own vision of connectivity, and after independence, from a primarily agricultural economy base, and growth of infrastructure receiving slightly lesser importance, there was not much remarkable improvement in the road sector until the last quarter of the 20th century.
However, fast industrial growth combined with liberalization and globalization made it for the government to take serious note of the need of faster development of roads. Thus, to keep pace with the growth, the government started increasing its plan outlay in every budget .
Thus, came the "Golden Quadrilateral" to connect the four metro cities of Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkatta with expressways with four/six lanes at a cost of about 60000 crores. As of mid June 2011 it is nearly complete for a distance of 5846 Kms.
Simultaneously the government, including the state governments, felt the need to develop the rural roads for better connectivity with the urban and city roads. From the Centre, Pradhan Mantri Gramma Sadak Yojana was launched in 2000 to build all weather roads to connect all rural villages where the population is more than 500 (250 for hilly areas) and above.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is headed by Cabinet Minister.
For the purpose of development both by the centre and the states, the roads have been classified as:

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS; It is about 70,934 Kms including 1208 Kms of Express Ways and with the very fast growing economy, the connectivity with state capitals, larger cities, ports and industrial complexes, the need for this length and maintenance becomes all the more important. The National Highways covers only two to three percent of the road net work in India, but carries nearly 40 to 45% of the road traffic both passenger and freight movement. There are about 235 designated National Highways branching out to nearly 350 routes.

STATE HIGHWAYS: Runs for a total length of 1.32 lakh Kms to connect the state capitals with districts and towns in the districts, while maintaining connectivity with the National Highways at different points and also rail net work.

MAJOR,MINOR DISTRICT ROADS AND VILLAGE ROADS: These roads are meant to maintain connectivity between /with the villages to districts running for about 4.68 lakh Kms.Rural Roads : Runs for about 26 lakhs and 50000 Kms.
Thus, our road network stands the third largest in the world. The Minister incharge of road transport in India is Dr.C.P. Joshi, Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

As of 2013, India has a total road length of 46,89,842 Kms making it the second largest road network in the world, after USA.

The Government of India have changed the numbers of the NATIONAL HIGHWAYS in 2010 under a new numbering system.  The NH numbers given below are pre revised numbers.  (The revised number and destinations will be modified soon). 

Sher Shah Suri.

Grand Trunk Road - South Asia's longest and oldest major road, built around 1540-45 for a length of about 2500 Kms commencing from Sonar Gaon in Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan, passing through Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol, Amritsar, Varnasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Delhi, Kurukshetra, Ambala in to Lahore and Kabul thereon.

1854 during Lord Dalhousie's period.

National Highways are roads with 4/6 lanes connecting state capitals, major ports and industrial hubs maintained by the National Highways Authority of India Ltd., There are about 235 NHs branching out to nearly 350 routes.

An autonomous body established in 1988/1995 functions under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways headed by C.P.Joshi. The NHAI manages nearly 70000 Kms of National Highway. Under its National Highways Development Project, it is proposed to invest nearly 2,20,000 crores by 2012 for various on going and new projects to be completed by 2015 which includes the Golden Quadrilateral project.

Atal Behari Vajpayee, the former PM.

NH	From/To	States	Distance.
1.	Delhi - India-Pakistan border	Delhi, Haryana, Punjab	456 Kms.
1D	Srinagar - Leh	J & K,Tibet	422 Kms.
2	Delhi - Dankuni	Delhi, Haryana, UP,Bihar, Jharkhand, WB	1456 Kms
3.	Agra - Mumbai	UP, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra.	1161 Kms
4.	Thane - Chennai	Maharashtra,Karnataka,AP, Tamilnadu.	1235 Kms
5.	Bahargara-Chennai	Odisha, AP, TN	1533 Kms
6.	Hazira - Kolkatta	Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand,Gujarat, West Bengal	1949 Kms
7.	Varnasi - Kanyakumari	UP,MP, Maharashtra, AP, Karnataka, TN	2369 Kms
8.	Delhi - Mumbai	Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra	1428 Kms.
9.	Pune-Machilipatnam	Maharashtra,Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh	841 Kms
12.	Jabalpur - Jaipur	MP, Rajasthan	890 Kms
13	Sholapur - Mangalore	Maharashtra, Karnataka	691 Kms
15.	Pathankot - Samokhiali	Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat.	1526 Kms
24.	Delhi - Lucknow	Delhi, Uttar Pradesh	438 Kms
31	Barhi - Charali Amingaon	Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand	1125 Kms
44	Shillong - Sabroom	Meghalaya, Assam,Tripura	630 Kms
45	Chennai - Theni	Tamilnadu	472 Kms
47	Salem - Kanyakumari	Tamilnadu, Kerala	640 Kms
48	Bengaluru - Mangalore	Karnataka	328 Kms
49	Cochin - Dhanushkodi	Tamilnadu, Kerala	440 Kms
50	Nashik - Pune	Maharashtra	192 Kms
54	Dabaka - Tuipang	Assam, Mizoram	850 Kms
56	Lucknow - Varnasi	Uttar Pradesh	285 Kms
59	Ahmedabad - Indore	Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh	350 Kms
65	Ambala - Pali	Haryana, Rajasthan	690 Kms
72	Ambala - Haridwar	Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh	200 Kms
75	Gwalior - Ranchi	Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand	955 Kms
76	Pindwara - Allahabad	Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan	1007 Kms
79	Ajmer - Indore	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan	500 Kms
86	Kanpur - Dewas	Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh	674 Kms
91	Ghaziabad - Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh	405 Kms
150	Aizawl - Kohima	Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland	700 Kms
205	Anantapur - Chennai	Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu	442 Kms
209	Dindigul - Bengaluru	Tamil Nadu, Karnataka	456 Kms
213	Palakkad - Kozhikode	Kerala	130 Kms
218	Bijapur - Hubli	Karnataka	176 Kms
221	Vijayawada - Jagdalpur	Andhra Pradesh , Chhatisgarh	329 Kms
222	Kalyan - Nirmal	Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh	610 Kms
223	Port Blair - Mayabunder	A & N Islands	300 Kms
229	Tawang - Pasighat	Arunachal Pradesh	1090 Kms
234	Mangalore - Villupuram	Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu	780 Kms
235	Meerut - Bulandshar	Uttar Pradesh	66 Kms

NH 1 - Delhi to Wagah Border; NH 2 - Kanpur to Kolkatta; NH 91- Kanpur to Delhi.

The BOT system - 'B'uild - 'O'perate and 'T'ransfer method introduced by the NHAI - whereby private partners are allowed to build a stretch of land allowed to them, operate it for a specified period and then hand over the stretch to the NHAI . During the period of operation, the private parties are allowed to collect "Toll Charges" from the road users to make up for investment and operational costs. This system is authorized by NH(Amendment) Bill, 1995.

NH 7 (now NH 44)  - Varnasi to Kanyakumari covering a distance of 2369 Kms and passing through Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

NH 47A (now 966B) - Kochi Byepass (Kundanur) Junction with NH 47 - Willingdon Island - just a small stretch of 6 Kms (actually 5.9Kms).

1. Ahmedabad - Vadodara Expressway 95 Kms Gujarat
2. Mumbai Pune Expressway 93 Kms Maharashtra
3. Jaipur Kishangarh Expressway 90 Kms Rajasthan
4. Allahabad Byepass 86 Kms UP
5. Durgapur Expressway 65 Kms WB
6. Chennai Byepass 32 Kms TN
7. Delhi Gurgaon 28 Kms Delhi/Haryana
8. Noida-Greater Noida 24.53 Kms Delhi/UP
9. Hyderabad elevated expressway 11.6 Kms AP
10. Delhi Noida Direct Flyway 23.55 Kms Delhi/UP
11. Hosur Road elevated expressway 9.985 Kms Karnataka
12. Kona Expressways 8.00 Kms WB
13. Ambala Chandigarh Expressway 35 Kms. Haryana.
Development of more expressways to the extent of 2727 Kms and also creation of National Expressways Authority of India is also under consideration.

Mumbai-Pune Expressway - became fully operational from April 2002.

TransCanada Highway - 8030 Kms - Completed and fully operational from 1971.

Highway connecting Manali (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh in Ladakh,Kashmir.

At Khardungla in Leh-Manali route - at a height of 18380 feet.

70000 Kms.

Swarna Chathuspatha.

Established from 7.5.1960 to develop and maintain motorable roadways along high mountainous regions along the border. Headed by a Director General comprises of Army corps of Engineers and General Reserve Engineering Forces - Engineers selected through UPSC.

Respective State Public Works Department, Districts and Panchayats.

Exploration, trading and acquisition of various new areas and lands was there from the mid 15th century, specially from Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch explorers. Even in ancient periods, some of the Indian rulers have made some explorations and conquests of eastern part of the world like Cambodia and Sri Lanka and have ruled them.

Although the British had their shipping industry in India, it was the south Indian freedom fighter V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, who laid the foundation of the Indian Shipping industry by starting the "Swadeshi Steam Navigation Co." between India and Sri Lanka in 1906. Although he and the company crumbled and collapsed under the pressures of the British rule, he certainly made a beginning for the Indian Shipping Industry to being at some point of time later.
With the Ocean traffic proving to be beneficial for transportation of large quantities on commercial basis, and the growth became necessary, the Indian Government started the Shipping Corporation of India in 1961 by acquiring and amalgamating some smaller shipping companies then in operation. More expansions were made in 1973 and 1986. Now, Shipping Corporation of India has 84 own vessels and is also managing another 55 vessels, to become the premier shipping company of India.

The Shipping industry/transport is administered by the Ministry of Shipping headed by Nitin Gadkari.

On the inland water front, India has about 14500 Kms of navigable length available for utilization for inland water transport. For this purpose, the government has started the "Inland Waterways Authority of India" in 1986, with its headquaters at Noida. There are six designated National water ways at present. They are:

1. Allahabad - Haldia: 1986 - Ganges & Hooghly rivers - 1620 Kms.
2. Sadiya - Dhubri - 1982 - Brahmaputra - 891 Kms.
3. Kottapuram - Kollam - 1993 - Over West coast, Champakara and Udyogmandal canals - 205 Kms.
4. Kakinada - Puducherry - 2008 - Over Puducherry stretch of Canals, Kaluvelly Tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of Godavari and Wazirabad - Vijayawada stretch of Krishna river. 1095 Kms.
5. Talcher - Dhamra - 2008 - Brahmani, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mangalgadi - Paradip stretch of Mahanadi delta rivers - 623 Kms.
6. Lakhipur-Bhangra - Under development - Bhangra stretch of river Barak - 121 Kms.
The Dredging Corporation also was established in 1976, to maintain the various ports of India, with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam. The Government has also made substantial allocation in its 10th (5418 Crores) and 11th plan outlays for port developments and infrastructure developments.

Catamarans - It is believed that "Paravas" a fishing community of Southern Tamilnadu invented and practiced this mode of transport. It is made of long evenly sliced wooden longs, shaped at both ends like hull and tied together, mostly manually sailed (nowadays power engines are attached) and mostly used for fishing activities

A wheelless, noiseless, floating watercraft used for transportation of almost everything between different destinations.

ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE - A principle of "buoyancy" discovered by Archimedes a Greek Mathematician, physicist - according to which when a body is partly or wholly immersed in a liquid, it is pushed upwards by a force equal to the weight of liquid displaced by it.

It states that when a body is floating in a liquid, the weight of liquid displaced by it is equal to the weight of the floating body. In simple, every floating body displaces its own weight of liquid.

Since the floating body displaces its own weight, so long as the weight of ship does not exceed the weight of water displaced by her, the ship will float. When the weight of the ship becomes more than the weight of water displaced by it, then it will sink.
Thus, a ship's weight is expressed in terms of "displacement", which is, in fact the weight of water displaced by her. A force equal to this weight of water displaced, pushes the ship upwards and keeps the ship afloat. This is called "Buoyancy".
Earlier days ships were built of wood. Wood being lighter, less dense and natural floater, the wooden ships floated.

PLIMSOLL LINE: A special marking to be positioned amidships, that indicates the water types and temperatures.
To make it simple, it is a simple paint mark that stops ships from being overloaded. A line on the hull of every cargoship that indicates the level of maximum submergence, because submerging the ship above this rubber trim (to prevent erosion and corrosion of paint by salt water) results in disaster.

A unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Also called a "sea mile" is a unit of length equal to 1.852 Km or 1852 mtrs or 6076.1155 ft.

Fathom - depth - 6 feet
Cable - depth - 100 fathoms/600 feet
Nautical Mile - distance/length - 10 cables
League - distance/length - 3 Nautical Miles.

They are smaller sized and motorized ships, used for shorter distances between two land masses, mostly along the coast and between islands.

Cruise - "Freedom of the Seas" and "Liberty of the Seas" class of ships are few of the largest cruise ships in the world.

These are also ships that have been built specifically to negotiate the dragging effect of the sea, as water is nearly 800 times denser than air and offers huge resistance for the movement of the ships. Hovercrafts are the fastest on the sea and may reach about 100 knots.

LINERS: A common term for both cargo and passenger ships. They operate to a strict schedule, arrive and depart on fixed dates following a set route.
TRAMPS: They do not operate on fixed schedules or routes. They visit ports only when cargoes are made available.

Panamax type of ships specially designed to the specifications required to pass through the canal.

They are also large ships, but cannot pass through either Suez or Panama canal.

CRUISES: Passenger ships - mostly luxury and pleasure trip ships.
GENERAL CARGO SHIPS: Generally twin deckers - with refrigeration provisions, deep liquid tanks, etc., Capable of carrying bulk quantities.
CONTAINER SHIPS: Mainly intended to carry containers in large numbers.
TANKER SHIPS: Specialized ships for carrying liquids in bulk quantity.
TRAWLERS: Normally made for fishing activities.
FACTORY SHIPS: Ships with mechanical facilities for converting a whale like catches into complete processed food upto packing.
CABLE SHIPS: Capable of laying underwater cables.
WAR SHIPS: Meant for Defence use - like Aircraft Carriers, Submarines etc.,
DREDGERS : Meant for deepening sea shores and seas, construction of dams and dykes, recovering floating oil and other spills etc., There are many types among them.

The body of a ship.

A directional instrument fixed in the ship.

An equipment to keep a ship stable at a place and protect it from drifting due to strong wind and tide. It is lowered through a winch from the ship. The winches are called ' Windlass ' or ' Capstan '.

Inland waterway which can accommodate sea going ships. Eg: St.Lawrence sea-way in North America.

Place of shelter for ships, especially where they may lie close to and sheltered by shores. Eg: Chennai, Mumbai. etc.,

A place possessing a harbour where customs clearing facilities are there.

Port located along a trade route and ships call in this port for repairs, fuelling, stores etc., Eg: Colombo.

It is a reexporting port. Goods are stored at this port for a period of time and reexported. Eg: Singapore. Generally, duty free ports are of this type.

A port located in the interior, much away from sea, or coastline, on the banks of a river or lake, like Kolkatta Port on river Hooghly, Chicago on lake Michigan.

Situated at the mouth of a river - also called the estuarian port. Eg: New Orleans on River Mississippi; Kolkatta on River Hooghly.

A port situated near a canal and usually it is strategic or transit port. Eg. Port Suez, Panama Port .

Located near a partially enclosed sea or bay. Eg: Mumbai, Boston, Melbourne etc.,

An inland container depot where marine containers are stuffed for export via a sea port. All the documents are finalized at dry ports and sea port is one of the constituent of the internodal transport that follows: Eg. Delhi, Bengaluru, Guwahati., etc.,

Artificial excavated basin fixed with flood gates into which ships are received for loading and/or discharging - cargo, repairs or for supplies. Docks are either wet or dry.

Ordinary docks where water basin remains full of water all the time to keep ships remain afloat.

Are those from which water can be drained out of the dock basin so that the repairs can be attended to . It is also called "Graving Dry Docks".

A floating structure usable as Dry Dock. These are not tied to ports but they are moveable and can operate at places where sufficient water is available.

Enclosure including a graving dry dock, for building and repairing of ships, collection of stores etc.,

Substantial structure of stone, timber etc., at dock water's edge for ships' to lay alongside and load and discharge cargo.

Structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into sea, and used as promenade and landing stages.

A massive structure, especially of stone, serving as pier or breakwater.

Mole running out to protect harbour or coast or a landing pier.

It is to produce the moment required to start the ship turning and to keep the vessel turning, by resisting the tendency of water pressure to push the ship back on to the original course.

Also called the "Screw", the part that actually move the ship, each turn or distance thus traveled is called "the Pitch".

The flag hoisted by a ship when it is ready to set sail.

It is the name of the box in which the ship's compass is stored.

1. North Atlantic route; 2. South Atlantic route; 3. Cape Route; 4. Pacifific Ocean route; 5. Suez Canal and 6. Panama Canal.

North Atlantic Route: Has the heaviest shipping density, busiest and most important route. Connects Western Europe and USA. 25 to 30% of the world's traffic is on this route. It links most popular economically and industrially advanced regions.

Connects western Europe, the Mediterranean countries and some parts of South America. It links highly industrialized and agriculturally rich countries.

The route of going around the Cape of Good Hope, Southern Africa, which connects West European countries with the Western and Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. This route is mostly used for Europe to Australia and New Zealand.

A low density traffic route connecting Australia and Philippines Islands with China, Japan, USA and Western Coast of Canada.

CQD - Does not have any specific expansion. SOS - "Save Our Souls" - is generally followed expansion, although not an official one. Germany was the first to adopt this in 1905.

NAVAL ARCHITECTURE - Design, Development and Construction of ships.
MARINE ENGINEERING - Covers the entire engineering, mechanical, electrical and electronic aspects of a ship.
NAUTICAL SCIENCE : Related to navigational science of ships, involving ocean studies, cartography, meteorology etc., Besides there are management studies on Port, Logistics etc.,

1.MERI - Marine Engineering and Research Institute, Kolkatta & Mumbai
2.Lal Bahadur College of Advance Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai.
3.International Maritime University, Chennai.
Training Ship : Chanakya.
Besides them, there are a number of Government Engineering Colleges, and private engineering colleges offering maritime studies.

Director General of Shipping: Mumbai. Regional Mercantile Departments at Chennai, Kolkatta and Mumbai and some sub offices at different places. The Mercantile Department conducts the examinations for the validation of certificate of the mariners.

IMO - International Maritime Organization - HQ: London; Estt: 1912.

World Maritime University - Established in 1938 - functioning under International Maritime Organization and enjoys the status of an UN institution located at Sweden.

7517 Kms. (inclusive of external territories)

Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.,-- Established on 2.10.1961. It is now a public limited company owning about 84 own vessels and managing another 55 vessels, transporting nearly half of the country's total tonnage. State Governments like Tamilnadu - Poompuhar Shipping Corporation - also have a few shipping companies.

1. The Scindia Steam Navigation Co.Ltd., 2. Great Eastern Shipping Co.Ltd., 4. South India Shipping Corpn.Ltd. 5. Ratnakar Shipping Corporation Ltd., 6. Chowgule Steamship Ltd., 7. Essar Shipping Co.ltd., 8. Varun Shipping Co.Ltd. 9. Tolani Shipping Co., 10. Sanmar Shipping Corporation.

1. Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Ltd., Kolkatta, West Bengal.
2. Mazagaon Dock Ltd., Mormugao, Maharashtra
3. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam, AP
4. Cochin Shipyard Ltd., Kochi, Kerala
5. Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers., Kolkatta.

1. KANDLA - A tidal port situated in the Kandla creek on the Rann of Katch, Gujarat. A duty free port.
2. MUMBAI - Maharashtra - Biggest port and a natural harbour of India.
3. MORMUGAO, GOA - Second largest port in terms of total traffic tonnage.
4. MANGALORE - Karnataka - A tidal port on the western coast.
5. KOCHI - Kerala - A natural harbour on the western coast.
6. TUTICORIN - Tamilnadu - lies on the east coast at the tip of the Indian Peninsula.
7. CHENNAI - Tamilnadu - Artificial port - one of the oldest and largest port of India on the east coast..
8. VISAKHAPATNAM -Andhra Pradesh - Deepest land locked and protected port on the east coast.
9. PARADIP - Odisha - a primary sea port on the east coast.
10.KOLKATTA - West Bengal - A river port on river Hooghly - largest terminal port in south asia.
11.NAVASEVA - Mumbai - Near the Mumbai Harbour - Newly created port in 1988.
12.ENNORE - Tamilnadu - the newest and latest to be added to the country' s list of major ports. Close to Chennai.
13.PORT BLAIR - Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Besides them there are a number of smaller ports around.