| West Bengal Transport |
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Air The state capital Kolkata, is a major gateway to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and South East Asia. Direct flights connect Kolkata with Katmandu, Dhaka, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and London. The city is also well connected by domestic flights to all major cities in India. The Netaji Subhash Chanmdra Bose Airport is 20 km from the city. Pre-paid taxi services are available. Bagdogra airport near Siliguri is another significant airport in the state. Train Kolkata is also the base for two major railways in the country, the Eastern railway and the South-Eastern railway, connected to either Howrah Station or Sealdah Station. There are daily Rajdhani Express services to New Delhi by separate trains from both the stations. The Kolkata metro is the country's first underground railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Road Kolkata is well connected by bus services from almost all parts of the state, as well as Orissa and Bihar. Most long distance buses leave from Esplanade Terminus, just off Chowringhee Road, situated at the heart of the town. Boat Kolkata is a major river-port in eastern India. There is passenger service to Port Blair on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ferry is a principal mode of transport in the southern part of the state, especially in the Sundarbans area. Local Transport Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto rickshaws which often ply specific routes in cities. In most of the state, cycle rickshaws are also used for short-distance travel. Kolkata is also the only city in India to have trams as a mode of transport. |