Test: Lifelines of National Economy - 2 - UPSC MCQ

Golden quadrilateral superhighways are 6 lane roads constructed to connect main Port cities of india. they are constructed to save time and reduce the distance between the main Port cities. they connect the cities like Calcutta, delhi, mumbai,and chennai.

 The Golden Quadrilateral project is managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.

The Centre is making efforts to connect all villages through a road network by next year as part of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav said on Monday.

The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent bridges in the country.

Answer:
To provide door-to-door connectivity, the most suitable mode of transportation is Roadways. Here's a detailed explanation:
Advantages of Roadways:
- Flexibility: Roadways provide the most flexible transportation option as they can reach even the most remote areas. They can be built anywhere, making them accessible to all.
- Door-to-Door Connectivity: Roads connect directly to residential and commercial areas, providing seamless door-to-door connectivity.
- Efficient for Short Distances: Roadways are efficient for transporting goods and people over short distances. They offer quick and direct access to destinations within a city or town.
- Accessibility: Roadways allow easy access to various facilities like hospitals, schools, markets, and other essential services.
- Personal Vehicles: Roadways enable individual transportation through personal vehicles, giving people the freedom to travel at their convenience.
- Cost-Effective: Road transportation is generally more cost-effective compared to other modes like air or rail.
Disadvantages of Roadways:
- Congestion: Increasing traffic can lead to congestion on roads, especially in urban areas during peak hours.
- Environmental Impact: Road transportation contributes to air and noise pollution, as well as the consumption of fossil fuels.
- Maintenance: Roads require regular maintenance and repairs, which can be costly and time-consuming.
- Weather Dependency: Road travel can be affected by adverse weather conditions like heavy rain, snow, or fog.
In conclusion, roadways are the preferred mode of transportation to provide door-to-door connectivity due to their flexibility, accessibility, and efficiency for short distances. However, it is important to address the challenges associated with road transportation, such as congestion and environmental impact, to ensure sustainable and efficient connectivity.

Explanation:
To transport bulk carriers across nations, the most suitable option is Waterways. Here's a detailed explanation:
Advantages of Waterways for Bulk Carrier Transportation:
- Cost-effective: Waterways transportation is typically more cost-effective compared to other modes of transport.
- Large capacity: Waterways can accommodate large vessels, allowing for the transportation of bulk carriers efficiently.
- Accessibility: Waterways provide access to various ports and terminals, enabling the seamless transfer of bulk carriers between nations.
- Reduced congestion: Unlike roadways and railways, waterways are often less congested, ensuring smoother transportation and minimizing delays.
- Environmentally friendly: Waterways transportation has a lower carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport, making it a more sustainable option.
- International connectivity: Waterways provide a global network of interconnected routes, facilitating the transport of bulk carriers across nations.
Other Transportation Modes:
While airways, roadways, and railways are also used for transportation, they are less suitable for bulk carrier transport across nations due to the following reasons:
- Airways: Airways are primarily used for passenger and light cargo transport. They are not practical for bulk carrier transportation due to limited capacity and high costs.
- Roadways: Roadways are suitable for short-distance transportation, but they are not ideal for bulk carriers due to capacity limitations and infrastructure constraints.
- Railways: Railways have higher capacity compared to roadways, but they may not be suitable for bulk carrier transportation across nations due to geographical limitations and the need for transshipment at ports.
Therefore, Waterways are the most feasible and efficient option for transporting bulk carriers across nations.

Answer:
To transport bulk carriers within India, the most suitable mode of transportation is Waterways. Here's a detailed explanation:
Advantages of Waterways for Bulk Carrier Transportation:
- Cost-effective: Water transportation is generally cheaper compared to other modes of transportation, making it a cost-effective option for bulk carrier transportation.
- Capacity: Waterways have the capacity to accommodate large vessels, making them suitable for transporting bulk carriers.
- Access to Ports: India has an extensive network of ports along its coastline and major rivers, providing easy access for bulk carriers to load and unload their cargo.
- Reduced Congestion: Waterways help reduce road and rail congestion by diverting bulk carrier traffic onto the water, resulting in smoother transportation overall.
- Environmentally Friendly: Water transportation has a lower carbon footprint compared to road and rail transportation, making it an environmentally friendly option for bulk carrier transportation.
Other Modes of Transportation and their Limitations:
- Airways: While air transportation is fast, it is not suitable for bulk carrier transportation due to limited cargo capacity and high costs.
- Roadways: Road transportation has limited capacity and can be expensive for long-distance bulk carrier transportation. It is more suitable for short-distance transportation.
- Railways: Rail transportation has higher capacity compared to road transportation, but it may not be suitable for bulk carriers due to limitations in loading and unloading at railway stations.
In conclusion, waterways provide a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation for bulk carriers within India.

Principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India are:
1. Railways: Railways are the most important mode of transportation in India, both for freight and passengers. It is the backbone of the country's transportation system and plays a vital role in connecting different regions and facilitating the movement of goods and people. Key points about railways in India include:
- Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, covering a vast distance and connecting thousands of towns and cities.
- It provides various types of trains, including passenger trains, express trains, and freight trains, catering to the different needs of people and industries.
- Railways offer a cost-effective and efficient means of transportation for both goods and passengers, with well-established routes and schedules.
- Freight trains carry a wide range of commodities, including raw materials, agricultural products, industrial goods, and petroleum products, among others.
- Passenger trains provide affordable and convenient travel options for people across different income groups, with various classes and facilities available.
2. Roadways: While railways dominate long-distance transportation, roadways play a crucial role in last-mile connectivity and transportation within cities and towns. Key points about roadways in India include:
- India has an extensive road network, with national highways, state highways, and local roads connecting various parts of the country.
- Roadways are essential for transporting goods and passengers to remote areas where railways may not be accessible.
- Trucks, buses, and other vehicles are widely used to transport goods and people, offering flexibility and convenience.
- Road transport is essential for the distribution of goods from railway stations to final destinations and for door-to-door delivery services.
- However, road transport is often affected by traffic congestion, road conditions, and other challenges, impacting efficiency and travel time.
3. Waterways: India has a vast network of rivers, canals, and coastal areas, making waterways another significant mode of transportation. Key points about waterways in India include:
- Inland waterways, such as rivers and canals, are used for transporting goods and passengers, especially in regions with extensive water resources.
- Coastal shipping is an important mode for transporting goods along the country's coastline, connecting major ports and facilitating trade.
- Water transport is particularly suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods, such as minerals, coal, and construction materials.
- The government has been working on developing and modernizing waterways to enhance connectivity and promote environmentally friendly transportation options.
4. Airways: While air transport is widely used for passenger travel, it plays a relatively smaller role in freight transportation in India. Key points about airways in India include:
- Air transport is the fastest mode of transportation, suitable for long-distance travel and urgent delivery of goods.
- It is primarily used for carrying high-value and time-sensitive goods, such as perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and electronic equipment.
- Airports are strategically located across the country, connecting major cities and international destinations.
- However, air transport is relatively expensive compared to other modes, making it less accessible for bulk transportation of goods.
Overall, railways are the principal mode of transportation for both freight and passengers in India, followed by roadways, waterways, and airways. These modes work together to ensure efficient connectivity and movement of goods and people across the country.

Broad gauge is also called wide gauge or large line. The distance between the two tracks in these railway gauges is 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in). It would not be wrong to say that any gauge, wider than standard gauge or 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ inches), is called broad gauge.

Mumbai is a natural harbour on the west coast and is also the biggest port of India. The port is situated closer to the general routes from the countries of middle east, Mediterranean countries. North Africa, South Africa, North America and Europe where the major share of country’s overseas trade is carried out. The port is 20km long and 6-10km wide with 54berths and has the country’s largest oil terminal.