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Transport
(*) Give two reasons for the “means of transport” being called the life line of a nation’s
economy. (2018)
- A well developed transport system facilitates the movement of raw materials, fuel, machinery,
etc. to the points of production and finished goods to the point of marketing and consumption
and aids in the process of industrialization.
–Transportation helps in the better utilization of the resources of the backward areas by linking
them with the more advanced areas, hence help in development of agriculture.

(*) Give a reason why a well developed transport network is important for industrial
growth. (2019)

(*) Why is it important to have a well developed means of transport in India? (2023)

- A well developed transport system facilitates the movement of raw materials, fuel, machinery,
etc. to the points of production and finished goods to the point of marketing and consumption
and aids in the process of industrialization; /- Helps in easy movement of skilled & unskilled
labourer;./- helps in decentralization of industries; / - agricultural products can be moved easily
and quickly from the rural hinterland to urban areas.

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(*) Give two ways in which rail transport is useful for the people of India. (2018)

-Help in the easy movement of bulky goods; - cheapest mode of transport of heavy and bulky
products; - it has brought the villages close to cities ; -help in reducing sufferings during
natural calamities; -long distance journey is comfortable and safe.

(*) Mention two reasons why more people use railway rather than airways. (2017) &
(2015)

(*) State two reasons why the railway is an important means of transport as compared to
airways. (2019)
It carries more number of passengers at one time; /- It carries bulky raw materials and heavy
goods;/ - It is cheaper than airways ; /-all places are not connected by airways; /- railway is
comfortable for long distance journe

(*) Mention one disadvantage of rail transport (2019)

The flow of goods and passengers are hampered in India as the railway operation is on three
gauges ; / Shifting from one gauge to another is time consuming and expensive ; / Perishable
items cannot stand delay; /- Poor maintenance of tracks and the tracks are not able to carry
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increased loads of passengers and freight traffic hence accidents are becoming frequent; /
- most of the railway bridges are very old and have outlived their lifespan.

(*) Mention any three problems faced by Indian Railways. (2012)

- Indian Railways operate on three different gauges, this poses problems in smooth flow of
goods and passengers. / - The tracks are not suitable to take the increasing heavy loads of
passenger and freight traffic. / - Most of the bridges were constructed long ago and have outlived
their lifespan.

(*) Give reasons to explain the lack of rail transport in some areas of northern India. (2011)

- Presence of a large number of perennial rivers make it necessary to construct bridges which
involves heavy expenditure; / -There are practically no railways in the flood plains of many
rivers in Bihar & Assam .

(*) Why are railways not well developed in the North Eastern states of India? (2022)

 The presence of hills and forest

 Backward economy
 Sparse population
 Rugged terrain
 Presence of numerous streams.

(*) Mention two advantages of using railways as a means of transport. (2023)

- Most efficient and cost effective form of transportation. Help in easy movement of bulky
goods and perishable commodities to distant places.

- Transport raw materials to the production units and finished goods to the market, help in
industrialization and economic development..

- Reduces sufferings during natural calamities.

- Promotes national integration,

- Facilitate easy movement of police, troops and defence equipment.

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(*)State one advantage of inland waterways .(2018)

-It is the cheapest mode of transport ; -it is most suitable for carrying heavy & bulky material ;/
-it is fuel efficient and eco friendly mode of transport.

(*) Why is inland waterways declining in its importance? Give two reasons. (2017) (2012)
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-It provides access to limited areas; - it is much slower than roadways and railways ; - silting of
the river bed reduces the depth of water ; - diversion of water for irrigation purpose reduces the
quantity of water in navigable rivers.

(*) Give a reason why water transport is not as important as land transport. (2019)

Water transport is limited to areas which have navigable water source; /- it is slow and not well
connected.

(*) Mention one advantage and one disadvantage each of inland waterways (2014)

(*)State one disadvantage of water transport.(2018)

(*)Mention two advantages and one disadvantage of waterways. (2016)

(*) Mention 3 disadvantages of waterways. (2022)

Advantages -causes no pollution , hence eco- friendly ; - cheaper & suitable for carrying heavy
& bulky load ; - saves fuel as compared to other modes of transport ; - capital investment is less
as compared to other modes of transport.

Disadvantages – waterways do not connect all places. ; - it is slower than other means of
transport. ; -it depends on weather conditions. ; - Water transport is limited to the areas where
rivers are navigable and oceanic routes exists; -seasonal in character and there is fluctuation in
water level in navigable rivers due to storage of water for irrigation; - reduction of depth of rivers
and navigable canals due to siltation.

(*) Give two reasons why peninsular rivers are not ideal for navigation inland water
transport. (2013)

(*) Why are South Indian rivers not ideal for the inland water transport? (2019) (2023)

South Indian rivers are seasonal in nature and hence they have very little water in summer
season; /- Rivers have rapids and waterfalls along their courses which hinders navigation; /
- Rivers are short and swift flowing.

(*) Mention one advantage of coastal shipping. (2019)

Cheapest means of transport; / Less maintenance cost ;/ Ideal for export and import of bulky
goods ;/ Causes less pollution; / Fuel efficient.

(*)State a reason why the Northern Rivers are more suitable for navigation than the
Deccan Rivers. (2015)
-Northern rivers flow over flat terrain, whereas Deccan rivers flow over uneven plateau land ,
hence presence of cataracts and rapids, waterfalls ; / -Northern rivers are perennial whereas
Deccan rivers are season
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-National waterway No.1 (NW-1) –comprises of Ganga –Bhagirathi- Hoogly River system
connecting Haldia, Kolkata, Munger, Patna, Varanasi, Allahabad.

(*)Name one important waterway of north east India. (2011)

National Waterway No.2 – The river Brahmaputra connecting Dhubri – Pandu (Guwahati) –
Tezpur – Neamati – Dibrugarh – Sadiya.

(*)Name a major port which is not located on the sea coast and is at a distance of 128 km.
from the coast along the bank of a river. (2011) - KOLKATA
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Haldia port is built to relieve pressure on Kolkata port. Paradip (Odisha), Vishakhapatnam
(Andhra Pradesh),Chennai & Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) ports located along the east coast of India
experience cyclone often. Chennai Port is the oldest artificial harbour and second largest port in
terms of volume of traffic.

Ennore Port is located to the north of Chennai Port, is a satellite port meant to decongest and
improve the environmental quality at the busy Chennai Port.

Mumbai is the biggest port on the west coast of India and is a natural harbour. Jawaharlal Nehru
(Nava Sheva) Port is an ultramodern mechanised port off Mumbai. It is built to relieve pressure
on Mumbai port.
Kandla (Gujarat –tidal port), Mormugao (Goa –natural harbour), New Mangalore (Karnataka),
Kochi (Kerala – natural harbour) are on the west coast of India.
Learn the difference between port and harbour from book.
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(*) Give three advantages of roadways. (2022)

(*) Roadways are an important means of transport in India. Give 2 reasons. (2019)

(*) State one advantage of roadway. (2018)

(*) Give two / three reasons why roadways are always considered more important than any
other means of transportation. (2016) (2023)

Roads need less capital for construction than the railways.

 Roads establishes easy contact between farms, fields, factories and markets.
 Provides door to door Service and can reach small villages and hamlets.
 Helpful in bringing perishable commodities from suburban to urban markets, hence
useful for small distance.
 Roads can be built on difficult terrain and is useful for variety of vehicles of any type.
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 Complementary to rail transport/air transport/waterway transport as it offers door to door

service.

(*) State two reasons why road transport in India is considered more useful than rail
transport.(2014)

-Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of the railway line ; - Roads can be
constructed even in areas of difficult terrain and where railway lines do not exist. ; - roads act as
great feeders to railways. Without goods and sufficient roads, railways cannot collect sufficient
produce to make their operation possible; - offer door to door service and help farmers to move
their perishable products quickly to market.
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NHAI has undertaken developmental activities under NHDP in phases.
Phase -1-Golden Quadrilateral; - Phase - 2 –(i) North- South corridor is four/six lane
expressways connecting Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. (ii)
East-west corridor connects Silchar in Assam with the port town of Porbandar in Gujarat .
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(*) What is Golden Quadrilateral? (2012)

It is the largest express highway project in India, comprising national highways connecting Delhi
– Mumbai – Chennai – Kolkata – Delhi by six lane super highways.

(*) State one economic benefit of the Golden Quadrilateral Project. (2015) (2012)

 More choices of location of industries in smaller towns through which it passes.

 Reduced wastage for the agricultural sector by helping in its timely transport from village
to cities and town.
 Decrease in vehicle operating costs and time.
 Provide job opportunities.

(*) What is the purpose of developing the Golden Quadrilateral Project in India? (2022)

- GQ connects major cities and ports and reduce time and distance between mega cities; - it
provides impetus to truck transport; - it enables the industrial growth of the towns through which
it passes; - it provides opportunities for the transportation of agricultural produce from the
hinterland to major cities and port.

(*) Why is NSEW corridor helpful in India? (2022)

 forms a key part of the Indian Highway Network

 Connecting many of its important manufacturing, commerce and cultural centres.
 Connects major cities and industrial areas
 Promotes national integration
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 Gives an impetus to industrial growth

 Reduction of travel time and fuel consumption.

(*) State one difference between an expressway and a highway.(2015)

- There are no traffic lights and speed breakers on expressways unlike highways; - two- wheelers
and three- wheelers are not permitted on expressway.

(*) Name the first expressway constructed in a country (2015)

- Ahmedabad –Vadodara Expressway, first 4 lane, dual carriageway expressway;/ - Mumbai –

Pune Expressway, India’s first 6-lane, concrete, high- speed, tolled expressway.

(*)Why is road transport favoured in the northern plains of India? (2011)

- Level land, / high density of population, / advanced agriculture & industry and urbanisation.

(*) Why are roadways not well developed in the North Eastern states of India? (2011)

The north eastern states of India do not have good network of roads and railways due to difficult
terrain, swift flowing streams, thick forests and backward economy.

What are National Highways? What are Expressways? ------Learn from book.

Disadvantages of roadways –Learn from book.

NH 1 Sher Shah Suri Marg between Delhi and Amritsar. NH 2 –Grand Trunk Road between
Delhi and Kolkata.
NH 7 – longest National Highway between Varanasi and Kanyakumari.
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(*) Give a reason why nearly seventy percent of Indians do not use air transport. (2019)
Air transport is very expensive hence it is not used by many people; /- It can carry limited goods
& freight charges are high. /- Airports are not there in small towns and cities; /- Air transport is
not comfortable for long distance.
(*) Give three reasons as to why airways are becoming a popular means of transport in
modern India. (2018)

(*) Though an expensive mode of transport, Airways is gaining popularity in India. Explain
giving two reasons. (2023)

 It saves a lot of travel time/ fastest and comfortable.

 Can cross natural barriers easily and connects remote areas.
 Provides international service.
 Increase of airports and air services recently.
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 Increase in income and living standard.

 Favourable government policy.
 Cheaper services due to competition.

(*)Give one disadvantage of air transport. Why is it still a popular means of transportation
in India? (2013)
Disadvantages - It is the costliest mode of transport. /- It is not economical for short distance
service. / - It carries small parcels while freight charges are high. / - It depends on weather
conditions.

Popular because - It is the quickest means of transport; / - It can reach inaccessible areas like
mountainous terrains, forests, border areas; /- provides international services; / - important during
natural calamities; /- comfortable.

(*)Mention two advantages and one disadvantage of air transport. (2011)

(*)Name two areas where helicopter services may be used. (2012)

Pawan Hans Limited provide helicopter services to the oil sector in off-shore exploration,
operate in hilly and inaccessible areas and make available charter flights for promotion of
tourism.

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