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Chapter 7 Transport And Communication
Transport and Communication
In our daily lives, we use numerous items that are produced elsewhere. These goods, from basic necessities to manufactured products, need to be moved from their production sites to markets where consumers can access them. This movement of material things, along with the exchange of ideas, views, and messages, is facilitated by transport and communication.
These are essential components connecting places of availability with places of use, enabling the complex system of mass production and consumption. Over time, transport and communication have evolved into distinct and highly specialized services.
The primary means of transportation are broadly categorised based on the medium they operate on.
Land Transport
Land transport is the most common mode of movement within a country, utilizing pathways, roads, and railways. As economies develop and technology advances, traditional pathways have been supplemented by more structured and efficient systems to move large volumes of goods and people.
Road Transport
India boasts one of the largest road networks globally, spanning over 62.16 lakh km (as per 2020-21 data). Road transport is a dominant mode, carrying approximately 85% of passenger traffic and 70% of freight traffic annually. It is particularly suitable for shorter distances and offers flexible door-to-door service.
Modern road development in India has roots in attempts like the 'Nagpur Plan' (1943) during the British era and continued efforts post-Independence (e.g., the twenty-year road plan in 1961). Historically, road networks concentrated around urban centers, leaving rural and remote areas less connected, although this is changing with targeted rural road development programs.
For administrative purposes related to construction and maintenance, roads are classified based on their importance:
- National Highways (NH): Main roads maintained by the Central Government for inter-state transport, strategic defense movement, and connecting major cities, state capitals, important ports, and railway junctions. While constituting only about 2% of the total road length, they carry a significant 40% of road traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), established in 1995, is responsible for their development and maintenance. The total length of NH has grown substantially over the years.
- State Highways (SH): Main roads within a state, constructed and maintained by state governments. They connect state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns and are linked to National Highways.
- Major District Roads: Important roads within a district, connecting the district headquarters with other significant locations within the district.
- Rural Roads: Vital roads that provide connectivity within rural areas. They constitute the largest proportion (around 80%) of total road length in India. The density and quality of rural roads vary regionally depending on terrain and proximity to urban centers. Programs like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) aim to improve rural connectivity.
National Highways Development Projects
NHAI undertakes major development projects to upgrade and expand the national highway network:
- Golden Quadrilateral (GQ): A 5,846 km high-density traffic corridor connecting India's four metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. It consists of 4/6 lane expressways aimed at minimizing travel time, distance, and cost between these mega-cities.
- North-South and East-West Corridors: Aims to connect the extreme points of India. The North-South corridor links Srinagar (J&K) with Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu), including a spur to Kochi-Salem (4,076 km). The East-West Corridor connects Silchar (Assam) with Porbandar (Gujarat) (3,640 km).
Other Roads
This category includes specialized road networks:
- Border Roads: Constructed and maintained by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), established in 1960. BRO focuses on developing strategically important roads along India's northern and north-eastern borders to enhance economic development and defense preparedness in remote areas. They build roads in challenging high-altitude mountainous terrain and are involved in snow clearance. The Atal Tunnel, built by BRO, is a notable example, connecting Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year.
- International Highways: Roads intended to foster better relationships with neighboring countries by providing effective transport links with India.
Rail Transport
Indian Railways boasts one of the world's most extensive networks, playing a crucial role in freight and passenger movement and contributing to economic growth. Introduced in 1853 (Bombay to Thane), it is the largest government undertaking in India.
The vast network (67,956 km in 2019-20) is managed centrally, divided into 17 zones for operational efficiency. Indian Railways uses three categories of track gauges:
- Broad gauge: Distance between rails is 1.676 meters (63,950 km in 2019-20).
- Metre gauge: Distance is one meter (2,402 km in 2019-20).
- Narrow gauge: Distance is 0.762 or 0.610 meters (1,604 km in 2019-20). Primarily used in hilly areas.
Indian Railways is undertaking a large-scale project to convert metre and narrow gauges to broad gauge. Steam engines have been replaced by diesel and electric engines, increasing speed and hauling capacity and improving environmental conditions at stations.
The Metro rail system has significantly transformed urban transport in major Indian cities, providing a fast and efficient mode for daily commuters. The introduction of CNG-run vehicles and Metro systems are positive steps towards controlling air pollution in urban centers.
Historically, the British developed railway routes to connect areas with raw materials, plantations, hill stations, and cantonment towns, largely for resource exploitation. Post-Independence, the network has expanded to other regions. A significant achievement is the construction of the Konkan Railway (760 km, completed in 1998) along the western coast, providing a direct link between Mumbai and Mangaluru, considered an engineering marvel due to challenging terrain.
Railways remain a primary transport mode for the majority. The network is less dense in hill states, North-eastern states, central India, and Rajasthan compared to other regions.
| 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 |
| Metro Railway | Kolkata |
The Bharatmala Pariyojana is an ambitious government program aimed at developing a comprehensive network of highways and bridges across the country, including economic corridors, feeder roads, coastal roads, and improving connectivity to backward areas, religious places, and tourist spots. It also includes projects for bridge construction and railway over/under bridges.
Water Transport
Water transport is a cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and eco-friendly mode for both passengers and cargo, especially for carrying heavy and bulky materials. It is classified into inland waterways and oceanic routes.
Inland Waterways
Inland waterways (rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks) were historically the primary mode of transport before railways. They faced competition from road and rail and their navigability has been affected by diversion of river water for irrigation. India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, contributing about 1% to the country's transportation. Currently, over 5,685 km of major rivers are navigable by mechanised vessels.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India, established in 1986, is responsible for developing and regulating national waterways. Several waterways have been declared as National Waterways by the government.
| Waterways | Stretch | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| NW 1 | Allahabad-Haldia (1,620 km) | One of India's most important waterways, navigable by mechanical boats up to Patna, ordinary boats up to Haridwar. Divided into three parts for development. |
| NW 2 | Sadiya-Dhubri (891 km) | Brahmaputra is navigable by steamers up to Dibrugarh. Shared by India and Bangladesh. |
| NW 3 | Kottapuram-Kollam (205 km) | Includes west coast canal, Champakara canal, and Udyogmandal canal. |
| NW 4 | Specified stretches of Godavari and Krishna rivers along with Kakinada-Puducherry stretch of canals (1078 km) | |
| NW 5 | Specified stretches of river Brahmani along with Matai river, delta channels of Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers and East Coast canals (588 km) |
The Inland Waterways Authority has identified additional waterways for potential upgrade. The backwaters of Kerala are particularly significant for both transport and attracting tourism. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a famous event held in the backwaters.
Oceanic Routes
India's long coastline (approx. 7,517 km) is supported by 12 major and 200 minor ports. Oceanic routes are vital for India's economy, facilitating about 95% of foreign trade volume and 70% by value. They are also used for transport between the mainland and islands.
Air Transportation
Air transport is the fastest mode, crucial for reducing travel time over long distances and essential in a vast country like India with diverse geography and climate.
Development Of Air Transport
Air transport in India began with an airmail operation in 1911 (Allahabad-Naini). Real development occurred post-Independence. The Airport Authority of India manages air traffic services and infrastructure. Construction of airports is costly, developing more in industrialized regions with high traffic.
Udan And Pawan Hans
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) is a scheme launched to stimulate the regional aviation market, making flying affordable by connecting regional and remote routes through policy support and incentives for airlines. Pawan Hans Limited provides helicopter services, mainly to the petroleum sector and for tourism, particularly in hilly areas and the North-eastern sector.
Oil And Gas Pipelines
Pipelines offer an efficient and convenient way to transport liquids and gases continuously over long distances. Solids can also be transported as slurry.
Significance Of Pipelines
Pipelines ensure uninterrupted flow of materials like crude oil, natural gas, and water. They are less affected by weather and terrain once constructed and are more environmentally friendly compared to transporting these substances by road or rail over long distances.
Development Of Pipeline Network
Oil India Limited (OIL) is involved in the exploration, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Asia's first cross-country pipeline (1,157 km) was built by OIL from Naharkatiya (Assam) to Barauni refinery (Bihar), later extended to Kanpur. GAIL (India) Ltd., a public sector undertaking (established in 1984), focuses on transporting, processing, and marketing natural gas. The Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline was a significant early project connecting gas fields to industrial complexes. India's gas pipeline infrastructure has expanded considerably, aiming to create a national gas grid connecting sources and markets across the country, including the North East.
Communication Networks
Human beings have developed various methods for long-distance communication, evolving from traditional methods like drums or smoke signals to modern electronic systems.
Evolution Of Communication
Early communication methods were often linked to transport (messages carried by runners, animals, vehicles). Inventions like the post office, telegraph, printing press, and telephone significantly accelerated communication. Further advancements in science and technology have revolutionized communication, making it faster and easier.
Communication modes can be classified into personal and mass communication systems.
Personal Communication System
Personal communication allows direct interaction between individuals. The Internet is currently the most effective and advanced system for personal communication, enabling email contact and access to vast amounts of information and knowledge. It is widely used in urban areas for e-commerce and financial transactions. The Internet network provides efficient, relatively low-cost access to information and facilitates direct communication globally.
Mass Communication System
Mass communication disseminates information, education, and entertainment to large audiences simultaneously. Key mass media include radio, television, and satellite communication.
Radio
Radio broadcasting started in India in 1923 (Bombay). It gained immense popularity, becoming a significant socio-cultural influence. The government took control, leading to the Indian Broadcasting System (1930), which became All India Radio (AIR) in 1936 and Akashwani in 1957. AIR broadcasts diverse programs, including news bulletins, information, education, and entertainment.
Television (T.V.)
Television broadcasting is a powerful audio-visual medium for disseminating information and educating masses. TV services started in Delhi in 1959 and expanded to other centers after 1972. In 1976, TV was separated from AIR and named Doordarshan (DD). With the operationalisation of INSAT-IA, national programs were broadcast across the network, extending services to remote rural areas.
Satellite Communication
Satellites are both communication tools and regulators of other communication means. They provide continuous, wide-area coverage, crucial for economic and strategic reasons. Satellite images are used for weather forecasting, disaster monitoring, and border surveillance. India has its own satellite systems:
- Indian National Satellite System (INSAT): Established in 1983, a multi-purpose system for telecommunication, meteorological observation, and data/programs.
- Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS): Became operational in 1988. These satellites collect data in various spectral bands, transmitted to ground stations (like NRSC, Hyderabad) for processing and use in managing natural resources. India also developed its own launch vehicle, PSLV.
Pipelines
Pipelines are used extensively to transport liquids and gases such as water, petroleum and natural gas for an uninterrupted flow. Even solids can also be transported by pipelines after converting them into slurry. Oil India Limited (OIL) under the administrative set up of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is engaged in the exploration, production and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. It was incorporated in 1959 as a company. Asia’s first cross country pipeline covering a distance of 1,157 km was constructed by OIL from Naharkatiya oilfield in Assam to Barauni refinery in Bihar. It was further extended up to Kanpur in 1966. GAIL (India) Ltd. was set up in 1984 as a public sector undertaking to transport, process and market natural gas for its economic use. The first 1,700 km long Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) cross country gas pipeline, constructed by GAIL (India), linked Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields with various fertiliser, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India. This artery provided impetus to Indian gas market development. Overall, India’s gas infrastructure has expanded over ten times from 1,700 km to 18,500 km of cross-country pipelines and is expected to soon reach over 34,000 km as Gas Grid by linking all the gas sources and consuming markets across the country including North Eastern States.
Communication Networks
Human beings have evolved different methods of long-distance communications of which the telegraph and the telephone were important. The telegraph was instrumental in the colonisation of the American West. During the early and mid-twentieth century, the American Telegraph and Telephone Company (AT&T) enjoyed a monopoly over U.S.A.’s telephone industry. In fact, the telephone became a critical factor in the urbanisation of America. Firms centralised their functioning at cityheadquarters and located their branch offices in smaller towns. Even today, the telephone is the most commonly used mode. In developing countries, the use of cell phones, made possible by satellites, is important for rural connectivity.
Today there is a phenomenal pace of development. The first major breakthrough is the use of optic fiber cables (OFC). Faced with mounting competition, telephone companies all over the world soon upgraded their copper cable systems to include optic fiber cables. These allow large quantities of data to be transmitted rapidly, securely, and are virtually error-free. With the digitisation of information in the 1990s, telecommunication slowly merged with computers to form integrated networks termed as Internet.
Personal Communication System
Among all the personal communication system internet is the most effective and advanced one. It is widely used in urban areas. It enables the user to establish direct contact through e-mail to get access to the world of knowledge and information. It is increasingly used for ecommerce and carrying out money transactions. The internet is like a huge central warehouse of data, with detailed information on various items. The network through internet and e-mail provides an efficient access to information at a comparatively low cost. It enables us with the basic facilities of direct communication.
Mass Communication System
Radio, television and satellite communication are means of mass communication. They are used to disseminate information, education and entertainment to a large population. All India Radio (AIR) broadcasts a variety of programmes related to information, education and entertainment. Special news bulletins are also broadcast at specific occasions. Television (T.V.) broadcasting has emerged as the most effective audio-visual medium for disseminating information and educating masses. Doordarshan (DD) provides services to both backward and remote rural areas. Satellites are mode of communication in themselves as well as they regulate the use of other means of communication.
Radio
Radio broadcasting started in India in 1923 by the Radio Club of Bombay. Since then, it gained immense popularity and changed the socio-cultural life of people. Within no time, it made a place in every household of the country. Government took this opportunity and brought this popular mode of communication under its control in 1930 under the Indian Broadcasting System. It was changed to All India Radio in 1936 and to Akashwani in 1957.
All India Radio broadcasts a variety of programmes related to information, education and entertainment. Special news bulletins are also broadcast at specific occasions like session of parliament and state legislatures.
Television (T.V.)
Television broadcasting has emerged as the most effective audio-visual medium for disseminating information and educating masses. Initially, the T.V. services were limited only to the National Capital where it began in 1959. After 1972, several other centres became operational. In 1976, TV was delinked from All India Radio (AIR) and got a separate identity as Doordarshan (DD). After INSAT-IA (National Television-DD1) became operational, Common National Programmes (CNP) were started for the entire network and its services were extended to the backward and remote rural areas.
Satellite Communication
Satellites are mode of communication in themselves as well as they regulate the use of other means of communication. However, use of satellite in getting a continuous and synoptic view of larger area has made satellite communication very vital for the country due to the economic and strategic reasons. Satellite images can be used for the weather forecast, monitoring of natural calamities, surveillance of border areas, etc.
On the basis of configuration and purposes, satellite system in India can be grouped into two: Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS). The INSAT, which was established in 1983,is a multi-purpose satellite system for telecommunication, meteorological observation and for various other data and programmes.
The IRS satellite system became operational with the launching of IRS-IA in March 1988 from Vaikanour in Russia. India has also developed her own Launching Vehicle PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). These satellites collect data in several spectral bands and transmit them to the ground stations for various uses. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) at Hyderabad provides facilities for acquisition of data and its processing. These are very useful in the management of natural resources.