Public Transport for Newbies

Each city has a local bus network that can be a challenge for newcomers. Even though the fare is cheap, buses get crowd at peak hours and this might not necessarily be the fastest mode of transportation. Destinations might not be displayed in English; but you could ask the conductor where the bus is going before boarding it. Buses only stop at bus stops and do not always come to a complete halt – so be prepared to hop on to a moving bus. Bus passes are also available on the scheduled dates of the month. There is separate reserved seating for women at the front of the bus.

Air-conditioned Volvo buses are introduced in many cities, which offer a more comfortable and faster ride than the older city buses.

In fact the many people even opt for busbooking online when they opt for far distance travel.

Travelling by Auto-rickshaw

The yellow and green (or yellow and black) three-wheeled auto-rickshaws, mostly referred to as either auto or rickshaw generally run on a meter system and are a convenient mode of transport. In Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the drivers are required to use meter and generally comply. In other cities like Delhi and Chennai, the fare tend to be negotiated.

Auto-rickshaws are usually a cheap option good for short, local journeys but hefty and uncomfortable for longer trips. Some smaller cities and some parts of Delhi still have cycle rickshaws, although these aren’t regulated. Kolkata still has some hand-pulled rickshaws.

Travelling by Taxi

Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata have the old-fashioned black, yellow, or black and yellow taxis that run on a meter and can be flagged down in the streets.

There is even an option of the new national taxi companies with modern fleets of air-conditioned cabs running in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderbad and Mumbai, which can be reserved in advance by telephone or online. 

There are many private taxi companies in every city running out of roadside offices. These can be rented for the day or for longer trips out of town. Rates are fixed by the hour or by the day basis.

Many expatriates are not comfortable driving on Indian roads and find public transport inconvenient and uncomfortable. Many use the services of a full-time driver, which is often covered in their expat salary package.

Travelling by Metro and Suburban Trains

Delhi and Kolkata have an extensive metro system, which is the quickest way to get around, especially during the peak hours.

Bangalore metro opened in 2011 and has only 6 stations along a 7 Km stretch, but the next phases are due for completion in 2013, 2014 and 2017.

Whereas Mumbai’s suburban railway system is said to be and is the city’s lifeline, transporting over 7 million passengers a day, and providing the fastest way to travel in the traffic-choked city. These trains are very crowded during peak times and can be a challenge to navigate.

Chennai also has a suburban train system and a metro line is currently in construction.

Whereas when it comes to travelling far distance you should probably opt for a train journey or bus booking online to discover the real India.