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Today the locomotive or engines are either electric or diesel. Steam locomotives

are no longer used, except in heritage trains. Many metro cities are now being
connected by the introduction of Metro Rail which has helped in making travelling

easy and comfortable. A system of Metro Rail can be seen the cities of Kolkata and
Delhi.

Airways: Aeroplanes are the fastest means of
transport, and also the most expensive.The journey

by air from New Delhi to Chennai take only two and a
half hours. However, it takes more than 36 hours by

train. A large number of cities in India are connected
by air.

Aeroplanes can fly over any territory–over high

mountain or vast desert. They are used to transport
mail, perishable food items such as fresh fruits and

vegetables, and other goods quickly to far off places.

Air transport is very useful during times of natural

calamities such as floods, earthquakes and famine, or
when there is a war. Helicopter are very useful in these situations. They can land,

where aeroplane cannot. They are used to transport food, medicines and other
items in these situations.

Air India is India's national air carrier and operates
between India and other countries. It also connect
place within the country. Now, with private airlines

starting operation, the passenger fares have come

down substantially, and more and more people have
started travelling by air.

Waterways: India is surrounded by water on three sides. It has a coastline of about

6100 km with 13 major ports and around 200 minor ports.

There is a wide network of rivers, lakes and canal transportation. It is mostly used for

carrying tonnes of cargo, Petroleum and oil are carried by special ships called tankers.

Ships sail in the oceans and seas, carrying all types of goods, from one part of

the world to another. Rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra and the backwaters of
Kerala are used extensively as an inland means of water transport.

80 Social Studies-4