07 LIFELINE OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

Q1. ‘Efficient mean of transport are pre-requisites for fast development’. Support the statement with
suitable example. OR

Explain reasons why a dense and efficient network of transport and communication in pre-requisites
trade of today.

1. Transport system has facilitated the movement of goods and services from the areas of production to
the area of consumption. It also helps in the mobility of labour force from one place to other.

2. It promotes internal trade as well as international trade.

3. It supplying goods, resources, etc. from the surplus region to deficient regions.

4. It transport raw materials from mining regions and forms to the industries, etc.

5. They have contributed to exchange of ingormation, ideas and technology.

Thus, transportation is a precondition for economic development of every country.

Q2.’ Modern means of transport and communication severs as lifelines of country’. Justify the statement
giving supportive arguments. OR

Why means of transportation and communication known as the Lifeline of nation and its economy?

India is well lined with the rest of the world despite of its vast size and diversities because of efficient
means of transport and communication. They are rightly called the lifeline of national economy because:-

1. Economic development of the country depends on the well developed and efficient means of transport
and communication.

2. They contribute to the socio-economic progress in many ways by connecting far flung areas of the
country.

3. International and national trade has been made possible because of the transport and communication.

4. They link the areas of production to the areas of consumption, i.e. agriculture goods are transported to
the markets and the industries.

5. They plays a very important role at the time of natural calamities, i.e. for providing relief measures.

6. Various means of communication help in interacting with other in different parts of world.
7. Electronic media, i.e. radio, television, Internet, etc. helps in communicating latest news, thoughts,
ideas, events.

Q3. Why do the roadways have an edge over the railways? Explain. OR Explain advantages of road
transport in India? OR

What are the merits and demerits of the road transportation in India?

Merits
1. Construction cost and maintenance of roads is
much lower compared to railways.
2. They are important for transporting goods and
passengers for short and medium distance.
3. It also provides door to door services so the cost of
loading and unloading is much lower.
4. They connect the fields with markets, factories and
farms.
5. Roads are easier to build in the mountainous
regions.
Demerits
1. The road network in India is inadequate to cater
the growing numbers of vehicles.
2. The roads are highly congested in cities leading to
traffic jams.
3. The roadside amenities i.e. telephone, health
services, etc. are poor on National Highways.

Q4. Distinguish between Metalled roads and Unmetalled roads?

Metalled roads Unmetalled roads

1. Metalled roads are built of coal tar, cement or
bituminous coal.
2. They are smooth and polish roads.
3. They are all weather roads.
4. They are maintained by Central govt. and State
govt.
5. For example:- National and State Highways,
Border roads.
1. Unmetalled roads are made of loose soil and
stones.
2. They are rugged and dusty roads.
3. These roads turn into mud during the rainy season.
4. They are maintained and constructed by local
authorities i.e. Village Panchayat or District boards
5. For example:- Village roads

Q5. What is Road density?

The length of roads per 100 sq km of area is known as Road density. The distribution of the roads is not
uniform throughout the country. It varies from 10 km in Jammu and Kashmir to 375 km in Kerala. The
national average is 75km.

Q6. What is the importance of Rail transport? Explain the major problems faced by Indian railways. OR
Describe merits of railways and problem faced by the Indian railways?

The importance of Rail transportation is as follow:-

1. Rail transport is suitable for long distance.

2. It provides links among the major cities of the country.

3. It is ideal for transporting non-perishable, heavy and bulky goods.

4. It has helped in developing country’s economy and national integration.

The major problems faced by the Indian Railways are:-

1. Many passengers travel without tickets.

2. Thefts and damaging of railway properties has not yet stopped completely.

3. The people stop the trains, pull the chain unnecessarily and this causes heavy damages to the railway.

Q7. What are the merits and demerits of the Railways in India?

Merits
1. It is the principal mode of transportation for freight
and passengers.
2. It is useful in conducting business, sightseeing,
pilgrimage along with the transportation of goods
over long distance.
3. It binds the economic life of the country and also
helps in development of Industry and agriculture.
4. It is the largest public sector undertaking and gives
employment to more than 15 lakh people.
Demerits
1. Railways require huge initial investments.
2. The maintenance and construction is also very
costly.
3. Railways are not suitable for mountainous and
uneven terrains.
4. Transportation of perishable goods are not
suitable due to delays in trans-shipments

Q8. How do physiographic and economic factors influence the distribution pattern of Indian railway
network? Explain. OR

“Distribution pattern of Railway network in the country has been largely influenced by physiographic
factors”. Support the statement.

Physiographic factors:-

1. The level land of the Northern plains, with high density of population, rich agriculture and greater
individual activities have favored development of railways.

2. Flood plains of Bihar and Assam, and the rugged terrains of the Himalayas have a very few railways.
3. Sparsely populated sandy deserts of Rajasthan and hilly tracts of Sahyadari are unfavorable for the
development of railways.

Economic factors:-

High level of economic activities means a high density of population. More people would require rail
transport for various reasons. For example:- travelling, movement of heavy goods, raw material, finished
products, etc.

Administrative factors:-

Setting up and running of a rail-network involves huge administration. Therefore, before rail-network is
extended to a region, a well-coordinated administrative network is framed. If it is not possible tp prepare
this network railways cannot be introduced.

Q9. Write a short note on Pipeline transport in India? What are the important networks of pipelines in
India?

1. In the past they were used to transport water to cities and industries. Now they are used to transport
crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer
factories and thermal power plants.

2. Solids can also be transported through pipeline when converted into slurry.

3. It has proved beneficial for the far inland location of refineries like Barauni, Mathura, Panipat and gas
based fertilizer plants.

4. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running cost of the pipeline is minimal.

5. There are no trans-shipment losses or delays.

6. The pipeline can be laid through difficult terrains as well as underwater.

7. There are 3 pipelines networks in India.

The 3 important pipelines networks in India are:-

(i) From oil fields in upper Assam to Kanpur via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad.

(ii)From Salaya, Gujarat to Jallandar, Punjabvia Viramgam , Mathura, Delhi and Sonepat.

(iii)From Hazira, Gujarat to Jagdishpur, Uttar Pradesh via Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh also known as HVJ
pipeline.
Q10. Mention the National waterways of India. What are their importances?

The National waterways of India are:-

1. National Waterway no.-01 : The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia(1620 km).

2. National Waterway no.-02 : The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri(891).

3. National Waterway no.-03 : The West Coast Canal in Kerala(205 km).

The importances of the Waterways in India are:-

1. They are the cheapest means of transportation for heavy and bulky goods over long distance.

2. They are fuel efficient and eco-friendly means of transport.

Q11. Inspite of many rivers, why India’s inland waterways poorly developed? Mention some of the
navigable waterways.

They are poorly developed because of:-

1. Seasonal fluctuation of water level.

2. Reduction of water level due to diversion for irrigation.

3. Floods and swift currents and silting of river beds.

The inland waterways includes Godavari, Krishna, Barak, Sunderban’s , East-West canal and Damodar
Valley Co-corporation.