Page 1 Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Chapter 10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION We use many items in our daily life. From toothpaste to our bed tea, milk, clothes, soaps, food items, etc., are required every day. All these can be purchased from the market. Have you ever thought as to how these items are brought from the site of production? All the production is meant for consumption. From the fields and factory, the produce is brought to the place from where consumers purchase it. It is the transportation of these items from the site of their production to the market which make them available to the consumer. We not only use material things, like fruits, vegetables, books, clothes, etc., but also use ideas, views and messages in our daily life. Do you know we exchange our views, ideas and messages from one place to another or one individual to another while communicating with the help of various means? The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use. Human beings use various methods to move goods, commodities, ideas from one place to another. The following diagram shows the major means of transportation. Land T Land T Land T Land T Land Tr r r r ranspor anspor anspor anspor ansport t t t t The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With the economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move large volume of goods and 2020-21 Page 2 Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Chapter 10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION We use many items in our daily life. From toothpaste to our bed tea, milk, clothes, soaps, food items, etc., are required every day. All these can be purchased from the market. Have you ever thought as to how these items are brought from the site of production? All the production is meant for consumption. From the fields and factory, the produce is brought to the place from where consumers purchase it. It is the transportation of these items from the site of their production to the market which make them available to the consumer. We not only use material things, like fruits, vegetables, books, clothes, etc., but also use ideas, views and messages in our daily life. Do you know we exchange our views, ideas and messages from one place to another or one individual to another while communicating with the help of various means? The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use. Human beings use various methods to move goods, commodities, ideas from one place to another. The following diagram shows the major means of transportation. Land T Land T Land T Land T Land Tr r r r ranspor anspor anspor anspor ansport t t t t The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With the economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move large volume of goods and 2020-21 114 India : People and Economy people from one place to another. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised to cater to the demands of transporting specific goods under special circumstances. Road Transport India has one of the second largest road networks in the world with a total length of about 56 lakh km (morth.nic.in, Annual Report 2017-18). About 85 per cent of passenger and 70 per cent the princely states and British India. After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. However, roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres. Rural and remote areas had the least connectivity by road. For the purpose of construction and maintenance, roads are classified as National Highways (NH), State Highways(SH), Major District Roads and Rural Roads. of freight traffic are carried by roads every year. Road transport is relatively suitable for shorter distance travel. Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. Road transport in modern sense was very limited in India before World War-II. The first serious attempt was made in 1943 when ‘Nagpur Plan’ was drawn. This plan could not be implemented due to lack of coordination among National Highways The main roads which are constructed and maintained by the Central Government are known as the National Highways. These roads are meant for inter-state transport and movement of defence men and material in strategic areas. These also connect the state capitals, major cities, important ports, railway junctions, etc. The length of the National Highways has increased from 19,700 km in 1951 to 101011 km in 2016. The National Highways constitute only about 2 per cent of the total road length but carry 40 per cent of the road traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was operationalised in 1995. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Surface Transport. It is entrusted with the responsibility of development, maintenance and operation of National Highways. This is also the apex body to improve the quality of the roads designated as National Highways. A view of traffic flow in Delhi Rain-soaked : Nomads go about their routine during an early morning downpour in Srinagar. Traffic on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu and 434- km Srinagar-Leh National Highways is suspended as upper reaches of J&K saw heavy snowfall while rain lashed the plains. Fig. 10.1 2020-21 Page 3 Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Chapter 10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION We use many items in our daily life. From toothpaste to our bed tea, milk, clothes, soaps, food items, etc., are required every day. All these can be purchased from the market. Have you ever thought as to how these items are brought from the site of production? All the production is meant for consumption. From the fields and factory, the produce is brought to the place from where consumers purchase it. It is the transportation of these items from the site of their production to the market which make them available to the consumer. We not only use material things, like fruits, vegetables, books, clothes, etc., but also use ideas, views and messages in our daily life. Do you know we exchange our views, ideas and messages from one place to another or one individual to another while communicating with the help of various means? The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use. Human beings use various methods to move goods, commodities, ideas from one place to another. The following diagram shows the major means of transportation. Land T Land T Land T Land T Land Tr r r r ranspor anspor anspor anspor ansport t t t t The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With the economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move large volume of goods and 2020-21 114 India : People and Economy people from one place to another. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised to cater to the demands of transporting specific goods under special circumstances. Road Transport India has one of the second largest road networks in the world with a total length of about 56 lakh km (morth.nic.in, Annual Report 2017-18). About 85 per cent of passenger and 70 per cent the princely states and British India. After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. However, roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres. Rural and remote areas had the least connectivity by road. For the purpose of construction and maintenance, roads are classified as National Highways (NH), State Highways(SH), Major District Roads and Rural Roads. of freight traffic are carried by roads every year. Road transport is relatively suitable for shorter distance travel. Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. Road transport in modern sense was very limited in India before World War-II. The first serious attempt was made in 1943 when ‘Nagpur Plan’ was drawn. This plan could not be implemented due to lack of coordination among National Highways The main roads which are constructed and maintained by the Central Government are known as the National Highways. These roads are meant for inter-state transport and movement of defence men and material in strategic areas. These also connect the state capitals, major cities, important ports, railway junctions, etc. The length of the National Highways has increased from 19,700 km in 1951 to 101011 km in 2016. The National Highways constitute only about 2 per cent of the total road length but carry 40 per cent of the road traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was operationalised in 1995. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Surface Transport. It is entrusted with the responsibility of development, maintenance and operation of National Highways. This is also the apex body to improve the quality of the roads designated as National Highways. A view of traffic flow in Delhi Rain-soaked : Nomads go about their routine during an early morning downpour in Srinagar. Traffic on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu and 434- km Srinagar-Leh National Highways is suspended as upper reaches of J&K saw heavy snowfall while rain lashed the plains. Fig. 10.1 2020-21 Transport and Communication 115 Serial No. Road Category Length in Km 1. National Highways 101011 2. State Highways 176166 3. Major District Roads 561940 4. Rural Roads 3935377 Total 4774454 Table 10.1 : India Road Network 2016 National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects NHAI has taken up some major projects in the country under different phases : Golden Quadrilateral : It comprises construction of 5,846-km long 4/6 lane, high density traffic corridor, to connect India’s four big metro cities of Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai- Kolkata. With the construction of Golden Quadrilateral, the time, distance and cost of movement among the mega cities of India will be considerably minimised. North-South and East-West Corridors : North-South corridor aims at connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including Kochchi-Salem Spur) 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. Rural Roads These roads are vital for providing links in the rural areas. About 80 per cent of the total road length in India are categorised as rural roads. There is regional variation in the density of rural road because these are influenced by the nature of the terrain. State Highways These are constructed and maintained by state governments. They join the state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns. These roads are connected to the National Highways. These constitute 4 per cent of total road length in the country. District Roads These roads are the connecting link between District Headquarters and the other important nodes in the district. They account for 14 per cent of the total road length of the country. Fig. 10.2 : Road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna Why are the rural roads’ density very low in hilly, plateau and forested areas? Why does the quality of rural roads deteriorate away from the urban centres? Source: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Annual Report 2017-18. For latest data see website morth.nic.in Other Roads Other roads include Border Roads and International Highways. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) was established in May 1960 for accelerating economic development and strengthening defence preparedness through rapid and coordinated improvement of strategically important roads along the 2020-21 Page 4 Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Chapter 10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION We use many items in our daily life. From toothpaste to our bed tea, milk, clothes, soaps, food items, etc., are required every day. All these can be purchased from the market. Have you ever thought as to how these items are brought from the site of production? All the production is meant for consumption. From the fields and factory, the produce is brought to the place from where consumers purchase it. It is the transportation of these items from the site of their production to the market which make them available to the consumer. We not only use material things, like fruits, vegetables, books, clothes, etc., but also use ideas, views and messages in our daily life. Do you know we exchange our views, ideas and messages from one place to another or one individual to another while communicating with the help of various means? The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use. Human beings use various methods to move goods, commodities, ideas from one place to another. The following diagram shows the major means of transportation. Land T Land T Land T Land T Land Tr r r r ranspor anspor anspor anspor ansport t t t t The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With the economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move large volume of goods and 2020-21 114 India : People and Economy people from one place to another. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised to cater to the demands of transporting specific goods under special circumstances. Road Transport India has one of the second largest road networks in the world with a total length of about 56 lakh km (morth.nic.in, Annual Report 2017-18). About 85 per cent of passenger and 70 per cent the princely states and British India. After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. However, roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres. Rural and remote areas had the least connectivity by road. For the purpose of construction and maintenance, roads are classified as National Highways (NH), State Highways(SH), Major District Roads and Rural Roads. of freight traffic are carried by roads every year. Road transport is relatively suitable for shorter distance travel. Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. Road transport in modern sense was very limited in India before World War-II. The first serious attempt was made in 1943 when ‘Nagpur Plan’ was drawn. This plan could not be implemented due to lack of coordination among National Highways The main roads which are constructed and maintained by the Central Government are known as the National Highways. These roads are meant for inter-state transport and movement of defence men and material in strategic areas. These also connect the state capitals, major cities, important ports, railway junctions, etc. The length of the National Highways has increased from 19,700 km in 1951 to 101011 km in 2016. The National Highways constitute only about 2 per cent of the total road length but carry 40 per cent of the road traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was operationalised in 1995. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Surface Transport. It is entrusted with the responsibility of development, maintenance and operation of National Highways. This is also the apex body to improve the quality of the roads designated as National Highways. A view of traffic flow in Delhi Rain-soaked : Nomads go about their routine during an early morning downpour in Srinagar. Traffic on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu and 434- km Srinagar-Leh National Highways is suspended as upper reaches of J&K saw heavy snowfall while rain lashed the plains. Fig. 10.1 2020-21 Transport and Communication 115 Serial No. Road Category Length in Km 1. National Highways 101011 2. State Highways 176166 3. Major District Roads 561940 4. Rural Roads 3935377 Total 4774454 Table 10.1 : India Road Network 2016 National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects NHAI has taken up some major projects in the country under different phases : Golden Quadrilateral : It comprises construction of 5,846-km long 4/6 lane, high density traffic corridor, to connect India’s four big metro cities of Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai- Kolkata. With the construction of Golden Quadrilateral, the time, distance and cost of movement among the mega cities of India will be considerably minimised. North-South and East-West Corridors : North-South corridor aims at connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including Kochchi-Salem Spur) 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. Rural Roads These roads are vital for providing links in the rural areas. About 80 per cent of the total road length in India are categorised as rural roads. There is regional variation in the density of rural road because these are influenced by the nature of the terrain. State Highways These are constructed and maintained by state governments. They join the state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns. These roads are connected to the National Highways. These constitute 4 per cent of total road length in the country. District Roads These roads are the connecting link between District Headquarters and the other important nodes in the district. They account for 14 per cent of the total road length of the country. Fig. 10.2 : Road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna Why are the rural roads’ density very low in hilly, plateau and forested areas? Why does the quality of rural roads deteriorate away from the urban centres? Source: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Annual Report 2017-18. For latest data see website morth.nic.in Other Roads Other roads include Border Roads and International Highways. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) was established in May 1960 for accelerating economic development and strengthening defence preparedness through rapid and coordinated improvement of strategically important roads along the 2020-21 116 India : People and Economy northern and north-eastern boundary of the country. It is a premier multifaceted construction agency. It has constructed roads in high altitude mountainous terrain joining Chandigarh with Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and Leh (Ladakh). This road runs at an average altitude of 4,270 metres above the mean sea level. Fig. 10.4 : A Bus from Lahore to Delhi at Wagah Border Fig. 10.5 : Aman Setu between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad Delhi-Lahore Bus Fig. 10.3 : Khardung La Pass in Jammu & Kashmir Apart from the construction and maintenance of roads in strategically sensitive areas, the BRO also undertakes snow clearance in high altitude areas. The international highways are meant to promote the harmonious relationship with the neighbouring countries by providing effective links with India. (Fig. 10.4 and 10.5) 2020-21 Page 5 Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Unit IV Chapter 10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION We use many items in our daily life. From toothpaste to our bed tea, milk, clothes, soaps, food items, etc., are required every day. All these can be purchased from the market. Have you ever thought as to how these items are brought from the site of production? All the production is meant for consumption. From the fields and factory, the produce is brought to the place from where consumers purchase it. It is the transportation of these items from the site of their production to the market which make them available to the consumer. We not only use material things, like fruits, vegetables, books, clothes, etc., but also use ideas, views and messages in our daily life. Do you know we exchange our views, ideas and messages from one place to another or one individual to another while communicating with the help of various means? The use of transport and communication depends upon our need to move things from place of their availability to the place of their use. Human beings use various methods to move goods, commodities, ideas from one place to another. The following diagram shows the major means of transportation. Land T Land T Land T Land T Land Tr r r r ranspor anspor anspor anspor ansport t t t t The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With the economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move large volume of goods and 2020-21 114 India : People and Economy people from one place to another. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised to cater to the demands of transporting specific goods under special circumstances. Road Transport India has one of the second largest road networks in the world with a total length of about 56 lakh km (morth.nic.in, Annual Report 2017-18). About 85 per cent of passenger and 70 per cent the princely states and British India. After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. However, roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres. Rural and remote areas had the least connectivity by road. For the purpose of construction and maintenance, roads are classified as National Highways (NH), State Highways(SH), Major District Roads and Rural Roads. of freight traffic are carried by roads every year. Road transport is relatively suitable for shorter distance travel. Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi Shahi (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his road to strengthen and consolidate his empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed Valley in Bengal. This road was renamed the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand T the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the runk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Peshawar. At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 2 segments : (a) National Highway(NH)-1 from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to from Delhi to Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 , and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. from Delhi to Kolkata. Road transport in modern sense was very limited in India before World War-II. The first serious attempt was made in 1943 when ‘Nagpur Plan’ was drawn. This plan could not be implemented due to lack of coordination among National Highways The main roads which are constructed and maintained by the Central Government are known as the National Highways. These roads are meant for inter-state transport and movement of defence men and material in strategic areas. These also connect the state capitals, major cities, important ports, railway junctions, etc. The length of the National Highways has increased from 19,700 km in 1951 to 101011 km in 2016. The National Highways constitute only about 2 per cent of the total road length but carry 40 per cent of the road traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was operationalised in 1995. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Surface Transport. It is entrusted with the responsibility of development, maintenance and operation of National Highways. This is also the apex body to improve the quality of the roads designated as National Highways. A view of traffic flow in Delhi Rain-soaked : Nomads go about their routine during an early morning downpour in Srinagar. Traffic on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu and 434- km Srinagar-Leh National Highways is suspended as upper reaches of J&K saw heavy snowfall while rain lashed the plains. Fig. 10.1 2020-21 Transport and Communication 115 Serial No. Road Category Length in Km 1. National Highways 101011 2. State Highways 176166 3. Major District Roads 561940 4. Rural Roads 3935377 Total 4774454 Table 10.1 : India Road Network 2016 National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways National Highways Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects Development Projects NHAI has taken up some major projects in the country under different phases : Golden Quadrilateral : It comprises construction of 5,846-km long 4/6 lane, high density traffic corridor, to connect India’s four big metro cities of Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai- Kolkata. With the construction of Golden Quadrilateral, the time, distance and cost of movement among the mega cities of India will be considerably minimised. North-South and East-West Corridors : North-South corridor aims at connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including Kochchi-Salem Spur) 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. Rural Roads These roads are vital for providing links in the rural areas. About 80 per cent of the total road length in India are categorised as rural roads. There is regional variation in the density of rural road because these are influenced by the nature of the terrain. State Highways These are constructed and maintained by state governments. They join the state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns. These roads are connected to the National Highways. These constitute 4 per cent of total road length in the country. District Roads These roads are the connecting link between District Headquarters and the other important nodes in the district. They account for 14 per cent of the total road length of the country. Fig. 10.2 : Road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna Why are the rural roads’ density very low in hilly, plateau and forested areas? Why does the quality of rural roads deteriorate away from the urban centres? Source: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Annual Report 2017-18. For latest data see website morth.nic.in Other Roads Other roads include Border Roads and International Highways. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) was established in May 1960 for accelerating economic development and strengthening defence preparedness through rapid and coordinated improvement of strategically important roads along the 2020-21 116 India : People and Economy northern and north-eastern boundary of the country. It is a premier multifaceted construction agency. It has constructed roads in high altitude mountainous terrain joining Chandigarh with Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and Leh (Ladakh). This road runs at an average altitude of 4,270 metres above the mean sea level. Fig. 10.4 : A Bus from Lahore to Delhi at Wagah Border Fig. 10.5 : Aman Setu between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad Delhi-Lahore Bus Fig. 10.3 : Khardung La Pass in Jammu & Kashmir Apart from the construction and maintenance of roads in strategically sensitive areas, the BRO also undertakes snow clearance in high altitude areas. The international highways are meant to promote the harmonious relationship with the neighbouring countries by providing effective links with India. (Fig. 10.4 and 10.5) 2020-21 Transport and Communication 117 Table 10.2 : Indian Railways: Railway Zones and Headquarters Railway Zone Headquarters Central Mumbai CST Eastern Kolkata East Central Hajipur East Coast Bhubaneswar Northern New Delhi North Central Allahabad North Eastern Gorakhpur North East Frontier Maligaon (Guwahati) North Western Jaipur Southern Chennai South Central Secunderabad South Eastern Kolkata South East Central Bilaspur South Western Hubli Western Mumbai (Church Gate) West Central Jabalpur Why have Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the South and Delhi, Kanpur and Patna in north India have emerged as important nodes? Bharatmala is a proposed umbrella scheme for: (i) Development of State roads along coastal border areas, including connectivity of non- major ports; (ii) Backward areas religious and tourist places connectivity programme; (iii) Setubharatam Pariyojana, which is for the consruction of about 1500 major bridges and 200 rail over bridges rail under bridges; District Headquarters connectivity Scheme for the development of about 9000 km newly declared National Highways. The programme is targeted for completion by 2022. Source: Economic Survey 2015-16 pp.146. Rail Transport Indian Railways, network is one of the longest in the world. It facilitates the movement of both freight and passengers and contributes to the growth of the economy. Mahatma Gandhi said, the Indian railways “...brought people of diverse cultures together to contribute to India’s freedom struggle”. Indian Railway was introduced in 1853, when a line was constructed from Bombay to Thane covering a distance of 34 km. Indian Railways is the largest government undertaking in the country. The length of Indian Railways network was 66,030 km as on 31 March 2015. Its very large size puts a lot of pressure on a centralised railway management system. Thus, in India, the railway system has been divided into 16 zones. On the basis of the width of track of the Indian Railways, three categories have been made: Broad gauge: The distance between rails in broad gauge is 1.676 metre. The total length of broad gauge lines was 60510 km in March 2016. Metre gauge: The distance between rails is one metre. Its total length was 3880 km in March 2016. Narrow gauge: The distance between the rails in this case is 0.762 metre or 0.610 metre. The total length of narrow guage was 2297 km in March 2016. It is generally confined to hilly areas. 2020-21Read More
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