5.Chapter 11.S.St.Advancement in Transport

Chapter 11

Advancement in Transport

Transport plays an important role in our day to day life.  It helps us to come in contact with people from different parts of the world.  We learn about their thoughts, ideas, languages, customs, traditions, etc.  The means of transport help in the movement of raw materials to the factories and finished goods to the markets.  A well developed transport system helps the distribution of goods and services to the Means of transport local, national and international markets.  Transport system is an indicator of the development of a country.  That is why, the means of transport are known as the lifelines of a country's economy.  Since Independence, India has made great advancement in the transport system.  The development in science and technology replaced the earlier steam engines with petrol and electric engines.  Now efforts are being made to reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel and increase the use of solar power and 72

other sources of energy that can be renewed easily.  The speed and the comfort of modern vehicles have increased manifolds with new inventions, Roadways One of the main factors of the advancement in the means of transport is the development of thousands of kilometres of world class roads in India.  They stretch across the length and breadth of our country and help in the movement of people and goods.  In India we have Expressways, National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, Village Roads and Border Roads.  The National Highways act as the main road network in the country by linking all major parts of India.  Roads have encouraged national unity and the socio - economic development of India.  They also lend support to other means of transport like railways, waterways, airways, etc.  Expressway Do you know?  The establishment of Border Roads Organization has improved the security, mobility and supply of food, medicines and weapons to the armed forces at our borders.  India has made great progress in terms of quality of roads, road density, flyovers and multiple lanes for the fast movement of traffic.  Roads have helped in improving necessary goods and services to those areas where these might be needed.  Flyover 73

But, unfortunately, the unrestricted increase in the number of vehicles has created the problems of traffic jams, road accidents and pollution.  Activity suggest ways to overcome the problems of traffic jams, road accidents and pollution: problem suggestions  off from Mumbai to Thane in Do you know?  1853. The journey lasted for the total distance covered by the 12 thousand one hour and fifteen minutes trains of Indian Railways every day equals three and covered a distance of and a half times the distance to the moon!  34 kilometres.  Today Indian Railways contribute to various activities like business, industry, agriculture, tourism, etc.  They have brought the people from different parts of the country closer.  The variety in Indian Railways is unlimited.  It has beautiful trains on narrow gauge for hilly parts.  Trains like Do you know?  Indian Railways is the biggest government department with nearly 16 lakhs regular employees and over two lakh casual workers.  74

Rajdhanis and Shatabdis are running at a speed of 145 kilometres per hour and providing all modern amenities and comfort.  The earlier railway stations were simple sheds but now the railway stations provide all facilities like restaurants, retiring rooms and telephone facility.  Indian Railways also provide computerized reservations, container services, etc.  The local trains play an important role in transporting thousands of people to their places of work in Mumbai, Kolkata, etc.  Delhi and Kolkata metros have provided a comfortable mode of transport and reduced the pressure on roadways.  Delhi Metro Railways are more important for our national economy than all other means of transport put together.  But railways suffer from certain problems like passengers traveling without ticket, pulling chain to stop the train, attacks by terrorists, thefts and damage to railway property, etc.  Waterways Waterways are the oldest means of transport.  Since ancient times Indian sailors have sailed to far away countries to spread their trade and culture.  There are two types of waterways - Inland and Overseas.  India has a wide network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals and backwaters (Kerala).  The Do you know?  total length of inland waterways is 14,500 Ganga River covers a distance kilometres but we lack well - developed of 1,620 kilometres from system of transportation over the total length.  Allahabad to Haldia.  Overseas water transport is mainly for trade and tourism.  India has a 7,617 kilometres long coastline with 12 major and 185 minor ports.  75

Activity 12.10 Find out the names of five major ports and the states they are located in, State Port 1.  Haldia 2. Poradnik 3. Chennar 4. Nagapattinam 15. Sanola West Bengal puisse Kaminadur Jamil nudu Gujarat Waterways are the cheapest means of transport.  They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.  Moreover, water transport is a fuel - efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.  India already owns some latest technology ships, steamers and latest equipment for defense, trade and fisheries.  In addition, we also need a good water transport system to safeguard our long coastline, the islands in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.  Pipelines Pipeline transport network is quite new Do you know?  in India.  Earlier the pipelines were only used Bombay High oil field is in the for water transportation to cities and sea about 115 kilometres from industries now they are used for the coast.  transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants.  Pipeline transportation is environment friendly and pipes can be laid on any type of surface without the fear of damage from storms, rain, snow, etc.  Pipelines cut the transportation cost and reduce possibilities of delay or loss which might occur with roadways or railways.  76

Do you know?  Pipelines made possible to set up the Mathura Oil Refinery (UP) far away from the oil fields of Assam.  Mathura Oll Rofinory Airways Since early times, man has had the desire to fly like a bird in the open skies.  He fulfilled his desire by flying in the hot air balloon.  But it was only in 1908 that the Wright Brothers made the first successful flight in an aeroplane.  Aeroplanos at the airport Now the world seems to have become a smaller place.  Airways have shrunk distances in an amazing manner.  Today it takes 17 hours to reach Delhi from Mumbai by Rajdhani Express but only two hours by an aeroplane.  Mumbai - Delhi air route is the busiest in the country.  Do you know?  When Charles Lindbergh claimed that he could fly from New York to Paris, across the Atlantic Ocean, people laughed at him.  But he completed the flight successfully!  Air travel is the fastest and most comfortable but costly mode of transport.  The chief advantage of air travel is that it can cover difficult landforms like mountains, deserts, forests and water bodies without any problem.  In the beginning, the aircrafts were small and could fly over short distances only but now one aeroplane can carry hundreds of passengers and tonnes of 77

cargo over great distances.  The airports provide various services like duty free shops, restaurants, telephone and even free internet service.  Helicopters are used rapidly for surveys, media reporting and emergency services.  They are useful for transporting the injured to hospital and for providing relief to the victims of earthquakes, landslides, floods, cyclones, etc.  Activits Find out the names of major international airports and the states they are loacted in: International Airport State 1. Hyderabad I: AP Andhra Pradesh 2. Kochi IAP Kerala 3. Mumbai I AP usharastra 4. Kolkata I AP 5. Redded IAP Delhi West  Bengal, Petrol and Diesel We are, all the time, worried about increase in the prices of petrol and diesel.  The prices of fuel affect the prices of all commodities like fruits, vegetables, pulses, clothes, etc.  Increase in transportation cost is added to the cost of the items.  Auto and taxi drivers also demand higher fares.  Let us follow some rules to conserve fuels.  Use CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as fuel as it can help to control pollution.  Get your vehicles serviced and pollution checked at regular intervals.  Use public transport system to reduce traffic on roads.  Do you know?  All means of transport have some advantages and some disadvantages.  But the best means of transport are walking and cycling!  Why?  Because they do not depend upon fuel!  78