NCERT Summary: Transport & Communication - 1 | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Transport & Communication

The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use.

North-South and East-West Corridors: Completed by 2020, the North-South corridor connects Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including Kochi-Salem) with 4,076 km. The East-West Corridor connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat with 3,640 km, enhanced by Bharatmala’s economic corridors like Amritsar-Jamnagar.

Bharatmala Pariyojana: Launched in 2017, this flagship program targets 83,677 km of highways by 2027, including 34,800 km in Phase I (nearing completion by 2025). It focuses on economic corridors, border roads, and expressways like Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, supporting PM Gati Shakti’s multi-modal vision.

• Inception:

  • Indian Railways originated in 1853 with a 34 km line from Bombay to Thane.

• Scale and Importance:

  • Largest government undertaking in India, with a 100% electrified network by 2024.
  • Extensive network spanning 68,000 km as of 2025, including high-speed corridors.

• Management Structure:

  • Divided into eighteen zones, including South Coast Railway Zone (2019), for efficient management.
  • Centralized management system faces challenges due to the vast network, mitigated by IRCTC’s digitalization.

2. Zone-wise Performance:

• Railway Zones:

  • Eighteen zones established to manage and operate the railway network efficiently, with Vande Bharat trains enhancing connectivity.
  • Each zone is responsible for a specific geographic area, integrated with Dedicated Freight Corridors.

• Table Data:

  • Zone-wise performance data provides insights into operational aspects, including freight and passenger traffic growth post-DFC operationalization.

3. Development of Railway Routes:

• Colonial Era Connectivity:

  • Initial railway development focused on connecting areas around towns, raw material producing regions, plantations, hill stations, and cantonment towns during British colonial rule.

• Post-Independence Expansion:

  • After Independence, railway routes extended to other areas, contributing to nationwide connectivity, with 100% electrification by 2024.

• Significant Development - Konkan Railway:

  • Konkan Railway (1998):
    • 760 km track from Roha (Maharashtra) to Mangalore (Karnataka).
    • Connects Mumbai and Mangalore along the western coast, now electrified and upgraded for Vande Bharat services.
    • Remarkable engineering feat with 146 rivers, 2000 bridges, and 91 tunnels, including the longest tunnels in Asia (6.5 km).
    • Joint enterprise of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra governments, a model for PPP in rail infrastructure.

4. Regional Distribution of Railway Network:

• Dense Areas:

  • Railways well-developed in areas around towns, raw material production zones, hill stations, and cantonment towns, enhanced by DFCs.

• Sparse Areas:

  • Relatively less dense network in hill states, northeastern states, central parts of India, and Rajasthan, though Amrit Mahotsav projects improve connectivity.

5. Role of Railways in Mass Transportation:

• Continued Significance:
  • Despite other modes, railways remain the primary means of mass transit, with over 100 Vande Bharat trains and Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train trials by 2025.

6. Rural Roads and Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana:

• Special Impetus:
  • Rural roads received focus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, with Phase IV (2024) targeting 25,000 km of new roads.
  • Aim: Connect every village to a major town with an all-season motorable road, supporting rural e-commerce and mobility.

1. Importance of Waterways:

• Versatility:

  • Essential for both passenger and cargo traffic.
  • Particularly suitable for heavy and bulky materials, with 24 operational National Waterways by 2025.
  • Regarded as the cheapest means of transport, aligned with Sagarmala’s coastal shipping goals.

• Fuel Efficiency and Eco-friendliness:

  • Water transport is fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, supporting India’s Net Zero 2070 target.

2. Types of Waterways:

• Inland Waterways:

  • Traditional mode of transport predating railways.
  • Faced competition from road and rail but revitalized under Sagarmala.
  • Irrigation diversions affected navigability, addressed by IWAI’s dredging efforts.
  • India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, with 111 National Waterways notified, contributing 2% to transportation by 2025.
  • Comprises rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc., with 3,000 km of rivers and 1,200 km of canals operational.

• Inland Waterways Authority:

  • Established in 1986 for the development, maintenance, and regulation of national waterways.
  • 111 inland waterways declared as National Waterways, with 24 operational by 2025 (e.g., NW-1, NW-2, NW-3).
  • Additional waterways like NW-4 (Godavari-Krishna) and NW-5 (Mahanadi-Brahmani) upgraded for cargo and tourism.

• Significance of Kerala's Backwaters:

  • Backwaters (Kadal) in Kerala offer cheap transport and attract tourists, integrated with NW-3.
  • Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Vallankali) held in Kerala's backwaters, boosting tourism economy.

• National Waterways:

  National Waterway	Route
  NW-1	Allahabad to Haldia (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system)
  NW-2	Sadiya to Dhubri (Brahmaputra river)
  NW-3	Kollam to Kottapuram (West Coast Canal, Champakara Canal, and Udyogmandal Canal)

3. Oceanic Waterways:

• Geographical Overview:

  • India has a coastline of approximately 7,517 km, including islands.
  • Thirteen major and 200 minor ports support oceanic routes, with Vadhavan Port under development by 2025.

• Economic Significance:

  • Plays a vital role in India's economy, with 95% of foreign trade volume and 70% by value moving through ocean routes, handling 1,600 million tonnes by 2025.
  • Facilitates transportation between islands and mainland, enhanced by Sagarmala’s port modernization.

• Speed and Efficiency:

  • Fastest means of movement, reducing travel time significantly.
  • Essential for a large country like India with diverse terrain and climatic conditions, supported by UDAN 5.0.

• Distance Reduction:

  • Plays a crucial role in minimizing distances, enhancing connectivity, with over 150 airports by 2025.

2. Development and Management of Air Transport:

• Historical Overview:

  • Initiated in 1911 with airmail operations between Allahabad and Naini.
  • Significant development post-Independence, with privatization of airports (e.g., Adani Group).
  • Airport Authority of India manages 153 airports, including 30 international, domestic, and civil enclaves by 2025.

• Corporations in Air Transport:

  • Nationalization led to the establishment of Air India and Indian Airlines, with Air India privatized in 2022 under Tata Group.
  • Private companies like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air dominate, offering passenger services across 300+ routes.

3. History of Indian Airlines:

• Milestones:

  • 1911: Launch of air transport between Allahabad and Naini.
  • 1947: Major companies like Indian National Airways, Tata Sons Limited, Air Services of India, and Deccan Airways provided air transport.
  • 1951: Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation Limited, Airways India, and Kalinga Airlines joined services.
  • 1953: Nationalization led to the formation of two corporations - Air India International and Indian Airlines (merged into Air India in 2011).

• Current Operations:

  • Air India (Tata Group) offers international and domestic air services, with fleet expansion targeting 300 aircraft by 2027.
  • Domestic movement in 2025 involves 30 million passengers and 25 lakh metric tonnes of cargo, driven by UDAN 5.0.
  • Pawan Hans provides helicopter services in hilly areas and is popular among tourists in the northeastern sector, with eVTOL trials planned.

4. Oil and Gas Pipelines:

• Convenience and Efficiency:

  • Pipelines are efficient for transporting liquids, gases, and even solids converted into slurry over long distances, critical for energy security.

• Oil India Limited (OIL):

  • Engaged in exploration, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas.
  • Constructed Asia's first cross-country pipeline (1,157 km) from Naharkatiya oilfield in Assam to Barauni refinery in Bihar, now part of National Gas Grid.

• Recent Developments:

  • Extensive pipeline network of 22,000 km by 2025, including Urja Ganga (2,655 km) and green hydrogen pipelines under trial.
  • Completed pipelines include Salaya-Mathura (1,256 km) and Numaligarh-Siliguri (660 km).
  • New projects: Ethanol blending pipelines and Chabahar Port-linked networks for regional energy trade.

5. Communication Networks:

• Historical Evolution:

  • Evolution from drum beats, smoke signals, and fast runners to modern means like post office, telegraph, printing press, telephone, satellites, and 5G networks.

• Modes of Communication:

  • Personal Communication System:
    • Internet, with 900 million users and 5G covering 90% of India by 2025, is the most effective and advanced means.
    • Facilitates direct contact through email, access to vast knowledge, and e-commerce via ONDC and UPI.
    • Cost-effective and efficient, with India Post’s digital logistics and Starlink’s rural connectivity trials.

6. Indian Railways - Three Types based on Rail Breadth:

• Broad Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: 1.676 meters (corrected from 1.616 m).
  • Dominates with 86% of total length, used by Vande Bharat and Bullet Trains.

• Meter Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: One meter.
  • Reduced to 10% of total length by 2025 due to gauge conversion to broad gauge.

• Narrow Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: 0.762 meters or 0.610 meters.
  • Accounts for 2% of total length, primarily for heritage routes like Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

7. Emerging Transport Technologies:

• Green and Futuristic Transport:

  • Electric vehicle infrastructure expanded with 10,000 charging stations by 2025 under FAME III.
  • Hyperloop trials (e.g., IIT Madras-Virar) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles align with India’s sustainability goals.
  • PM Gati Shakti integrates transport modes, enhancing logistics efficiency for Vision 2047.