Chapter 10 Transport And Communication

Our daily lives rely on a wide variety of goods and services. These items are produced in various locations and need to be transported to markets where consumers can access them. The movement of goods from production sites to consumption points is facilitated by transportation.

Beyond material goods, we also exchange ideas, views, and messages. This is done through communication, using various means to transmit information between individuals or places.

The need to move things (goods, commodities, ideas) from where they are available to where they are needed drives the use of transport and communication systems.

Humans have developed diverse methods to achieve this movement and information exchange.

Land Transport

Land transport involves the movement of people and goods over land surfaces. Historically, simple pathways and unmetalled roads were used.

With economic and technological progress, more advanced forms of land transport, such as metalled roads and railways, were developed to handle larger volumes of traffic.

Specialized modes like ropeways, cableways (often for difficult terrain), and pipelines (for liquids/gases) were devised for transporting specific goods under particular circumstances.

Road Transport

India has one of the largest road networks globally, with a total length of approximately 56 lakh km (as per 2017-18 data). Roads are crucial for transporting a large proportion of both passenger (about 85%) and freight (about 70%) traffic annually.

Road transport is particularly suitable for shorter distances and provides door-to-door service.

Historically, major road development occurred during earlier empires (e.g., Sher Shah Suri's Shahi road, later the Grand Trunk Road by the British, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar/Amritsar-Kolkata today).

Modern road development efforts gained momentum after World War II with the 'Nagpur Plan' (1943), although implementation was initially hindered. After Independence, the twenty-year road plan (1961) aimed to improve road conditions nationwide.

Road networks tend to be more concentrated around urban areas, with rural and remote regions historically having less connectivity.

For administrative purposes related to construction and maintenance, roads in India are classified into several categories:

• National Highways (NH)
• State Highways (SH)
• Major District Roads
• Rural Roads

National Highways

These are the principal roads connecting major cities, state capitals, important ports, and railway junctions across different states. They are constructed and maintained by the Central Government and are crucial for inter-state transport and strategic defense movement.

Despite constituting only about 2% of the total road length, National Highways carry approximately 40% of the road traffic.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), operationalized in 1995 under the Ministry of Surface Transport, is the autonomous body responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of National Highways, aiming to improve their quality.

National Highways Development Projects (NHDP):

NHAI has undertaken major projects under NHDP:

• Golden Quadrilateral (GQ): A 5,846-km network of 4/6 lane high-traffic corridors connecting India's four major metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. It significantly reduces travel time, distance, and cost between these hubs.
• North-South and East-West Corridors: The North-South corridor (4,076 km) links Srinagar (J&K) with Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu). The East-West Corridor (3,640 km) connects Silchar (Assam) with Porbandar (Gujarat).

State Highways

These roads are managed by state governments. They connect state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns within the state, linking to the National Highways network. State Highways constitute about 4% of the total road length.

District Roads

District roads provide connectivity between District Headquarters and other key locations within a specific district. They are managed by the respective district administrations and account for about 14% of the total road length.

Rural Roads

These roads form the vital network providing connectivity within and between rural areas. They make up the largest proportion of India's road network (about 80% of the total road length).

The density of rural roads varies regionally, influenced by the terrain; hilly, plateau, and forested areas tend to have lower densities. The quality of rural roads generally decreases further away from urban centres.

Other Roads

This category includes Border Roads and International Highways.

• Border Roads: Constructed and maintained by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), established in 1960. BRO's mandate is to develop and improve strategically important roads along India's northern and northeastern borders to facilitate economic development and strengthen defense preparedness. BRO has built roads in challenging high-altitude areas, such as the route connecting Chandigarh with Manali and Leh. BRO also undertakes crucial snow clearance operations in high mountainous regions.
• International Highways: Designed to improve connectivity and promote harmonious relationships with neighboring countries (e.g., Delhi-Lahore bus service, Aman Setu bridge connecting Srinagar and Muzaffarabad).

Bharatmala: A proposed umbrella scheme by the government targeting comprehensive road development, including coastal and border roads, connectivity to non-major ports, roads to religious/tourist places, construction of major bridges/overpasses, and connecting District Headquarters via newly declared National Highways. The program is aimed for completion by 2022.

Water Transport

Waterways are an important and economical mode of transport in India for both passengers and cargo, especially suited for carrying heavy and bulky materials. Water transport is fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Water transport in India is categorized into inland waterways and oceanic waterways.

Inland Waterways

Inland waterways (rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks) were a primary mode of transport in India before railways. However, they faced significant competition from road and rail, and diversion of river water for irrigation also reduced navigability in many areas.

India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways, contributing a small percentage (about 1%) to the country's total transportation traffic.

Currently, about 5,685 km of major rivers are navigable by mechanized vessels.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India, established in 1986, is responsible for developing, maintaining, and regulating national waterways.

The government has declared several waterways as National Waterways (NWs):

The Inland Waterways Authority has identified additional potential waterways for upgrade. The backwaters of Kerala are particularly significant, serving as cheap transport routes and attracting tourists (e.g., Nehru Trophy Boat Race).

Oceanic Routes

India's long coastline (approx. 7,517 km, including islands) supports extensive oceanic transport routes. Infrastructure includes 12 major ports and 185 minor ports.

Oceanic routes are vital for India's economy, handling roughly 95% of foreign trade by volume and 70% by value.

These routes are also used for transportation between the mainland and island territories.

Air Transportation

Air transport is the fastest mode of movement, drastically reducing travel time and effectively shortening distances, especially crucial for a large country like India with diverse terrain and climate.

Air transport in India began modestly in 1911 with airmail service (Allahabad to Naini) but saw significant development post-Independence.

The Airport Authority of India is responsible for air traffic control and aeronautical communication services, managing 125 airports.

Air transport is managed by Air India (formerly Air India International and Indian Airlines after nationalization in 1953), which provides international passenger and cargo services connecting India globally. Numerous private airlines now also operate domestic and international passenger services.

Pawan Hans Limited provides helicopter services, particularly important for accessing hilly areas, supporting tourism in the northeast, and serving the petroleum sector.

History of Indian Airlines:

• 1911: First airmail operation (Allahabad-Naini).
• 1947: Air transport provided by four major companies.
• 1951: Four more companies joined services.
• 1953: Air transport nationalized; Air India International and Indian Airlines formed.

Oil And Gas Pipelines

Pipelines are considered the most convenient and efficient method for transporting liquids and gases over long distances, providing an uninterrupted flow. Solids can also be transported after being converted into a slurry.

Oil India Limited (OIL), a public sector undertaking, 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 in 1959, connecting the Naharkatiya oilfield (Assam) to the Barauni refinery (Bihar), later extended to Kanpur (1966).

An extensive pipeline network exists in western India, including the Ankleshwar-Koyali, Mumbai High-Koyali, and the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipelines (transporting gas).

Recent projects include a 1256 km pipeline from Salaya (Gujarat) to Mathura (U.P.), extended to Jalandhar (Punjab), supplying crude oil. OIL is also constructing a pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri.

Communication Networks

Human beings have developed diverse methods for transmitting information (communication) over distances throughout history.

Early methods were basic, involving sounds (drums), visual signals (smoke, fire), or human/animal runners (horses, camels, pigeons). Initially, the means of communication were often the same as the means of transportation.

Inventions like the post office, telegraph, printing press, telephone, and satellite technology significantly increased the speed and ease of communication.

Advancements in science and technology have revolutionized communication, creating faster and more efficient ways to convey messages.

Communication modes can be categorized based on their scale and quality:

Personal Communication System

Personal communication involves direct exchange of information between individuals. Among modern systems, the internet is the most effective and advanced.

The internet is widely used, particularly in urban areas, enabling direct contact through email, access to vast information resources, e-commerce, and online financial transactions.

The internet network provides efficient and relatively low-cost access to information and facilities for direct communication.

Mass Communication System

Mass communication involves transmitting information to a large audience simultaneously using various media.

• Radio: Broadcasting began in India in 1923 (Radio Club of Bombay). It gained immense popularity, becoming a significant part of socio-cultural life and reaching many households. The government took control in 1930 (Indian Broadcasting System), later renamed All India Radio (AIR) and Akashwani. AIR broadcasts diverse programs (information, education, entertainment) and news bulletins.
• Television (T.V.): Television broadcasting is a powerful audio-visual medium for informing and educating masses. TV services started in Delhi in 1959, expanding to other centres after 1972. In 1976, TV (Doordarshan - DD) became separate from AIR. With satellite support (INSAT-IA), national programs began, extending services to rural and remote areas.

Satellite Communication

Satellites serve both as a means of communication themselves and as a tool for managing other communication systems.

Utilizing satellites provides a continuous, broad view of large areas, making satellite communication strategically and economically vital for a country.

Satellite images are used for weather forecasting, monitoring natural disasters, and surveillance.

India's satellite system has two main groups based on purpose and design:

• Indian National Satellite System (INSAT): Established in 1983, it is a multi-purpose system for telecommunication, meteorological observations, and other data and programs.
• Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System (IRS): Operational since the launch of IRS-IA in 1988 (from Russia). India has developed its own launch vehicles (PSLV - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). IRS satellites collect data for various uses, transmitted to ground stations for processing by organizations like the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) at Hyderabad, useful for natural resource management.

Exercises

This section provides exercises designed to help students review and assess their understanding of transport and communication systems in India, including different modes, their development, and importance.

Choose The Right Answers Of The Following From The Given Options

Multiple-choice questions testing recall of specific facts and numbers related to India's transport and communication infrastructure.

Answer The Following Questions In About 30 Words

Short answer questions requiring brief definitions and discussions of key concepts and advantages/disadvantages of specific transport or communication methods.

Answer The Following Questions In About 150 Words.

Longer answer questions prompting detailed explanations and discussions on the main means of transport and factors affecting their development, the history and importance of railways, and the role of roads in economic development in India.

Project

Suggestions for student projects, such as researching passenger facilities provided by Indian Railways, to enhance learning through practical investigation.