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: North-South corridor aims at connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Kaniyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including Kochi-Salempur) with 4,076 km long road. The East-West Corridor has been planned to connect Silchar in Assam with the port town of Porbandar in Gujarat with 3,640 km of road length.

• Inception:

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

• Scale and Importance:

  • Largest government undertaking in India.
  • Extensive network spanning 63,221 km.

• Management Structure:

  • Divided into sixteen zones due to its immense size.
  • Centralized management system faces challenges due to the vast network.

2. Zone-wise Performance:

• Railway Zones:

  • Sixteen zones established to manage and operate the railway network efficiently.
  • Each zone is responsible for a specific geographic area.

• Table Data:

  • Zone-wise performance data provides insights into the operational aspects of Indian Railways.

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.

• Significant Development - Konkan Railway:

  • Konkan Railway (1998):
    • 760 km track from Roha (Karnataka) to Mangalore.
    • Connects Mumbai and Mangalore along the western coast.
    • 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.

4. Regional Distribution of Railway Network:

• Dense Areas:

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

• Sparse Areas:

  • Relatively less dense network in hill states, northeastern states, central parts of India, and Rajasthan.

5. Role of Railways in Mass Transportation:

• Continued Significance:
  • Despite other modes of transportation, railways remain the primary means of mass transit in the country.

6. Rural Roads and Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana:

• Special Impetus:
  • Rural roads received focus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.
  • Aim: Connect every village to a major town with an all-season motorable road.

1. Importance of Waterways:

• Versatility:

  • Essential for both passenger and cargo traffic.
  • Particularly suitable for heavy and bulky materials.
  • Regarded as the cheapest means of transport.

• Fuel Efficiency and Eco-friendliness:

  • Water transport is fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

2. Types of Waterways:

• Inland Waterways:

  • Traditional mode of transport predating railways.
  • Faced competition from road and rail.
  • Irrigation diversions affected navigability.
  • India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, contributing about 1% to transportation.
  • Comprises rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.
  • Only 2,000 km out of 3,700 km of major rivers navigable, and 900 km out of 4,300 km of navigable canals are used.

• Inland Waterways Authority:

  • Established in 1986 for the development, maintenance, and regulation of national waterways.
  • Three inland waterways declared as National Waterways (details in the table).
  • Ten other inland waterways identified for potential upgrades.

• Significance of Kerala's Backwaters:

  • Backwaters (Kadal) in Kerala offer cheap transport and attract tourists.
  • Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Vallankali) held in Kerala's backwaters.

• 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.
  • Twelve major and 185 minor ports support oceanic routes.

• Economic Significance:

  • Plays a vital role in India's economy, with 95% of foreign trade volume and 70% by value moving through ocean routes.
  • Facilitates transportation between islands and mainland.

Significance of Air Transport:

• Speed and Efficiency:

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

• Distance Reduction:

  • Plays a crucial role in minimizing distances, enhancing connectivity.

2. Development and Management of Air Transport:

• Historical Overview:

  • Initiated in 1911 with airmail operations between Allahabad and Naini.
  • Significant development post-Independence.
  • Airport Authority of India manages 126 airports, including international, domestic, and civil enclaves.

• Corporations in Air Transport:

  • Nationalization led to the establishment of Air India and Indian Airlines.
  • Private companies have entered the sector, offering passenger services.

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 (now known as 'Indian').

• Current Operations:

  • Air India: Offers international air services for passengers and cargo globally.
  • Domestic movement in 2005 involved 24.3 million passengers and 20 lakh metric tonnes of cargo.
  • Pawan Hans provides helicopter services in hilly areas and is popular among tourists in the northeastern sector.

4. Oil and Gas Pipelines:

• Convenience and Efficiency:

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

• 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.

• Recent Developments:

  • Extensive pipeline network in the western region (Ankleshwar-Koyali, Mumbai High-Koyali, Hazira-Vijapur-Jagdishpur).
  • Construction of a 1256 km pipeline from Salaya (Gujarat) to Mathura (U.P.).
  • Ongoing project: 660 km pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri.

5. Communication Networks:

• Historical Evolution:

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

• Modes of Communication:

  • Personal Communication System:
    • Internet stands out as the most effective and advanced means.
    • Facilitates direct contact through email, access to vast knowledge, and e-commerce.
    • Cost-effective and efficient access to information.

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

• Broad Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: 1.616 meters.
  • Total length in India is significant.

• Meter Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: One meter.
  • Accounts for 21.02% of the total length.

• Narrow Gauge:

  • Distance between two rails: 0.762 meters or 0.610 meters.
  • Accounts for 4.49% of the total length.