Geography Chapter-7 Lifelines of National Economy

Geography Chapter-7
Lifelines of National Economy

I. Roadways :

India has one of the largest road networks in the world. Its importance can be viewed.

(i) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines
(ii) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography.
(iii) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.
(iv) It is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.
(v) It provides door to door services.
(vi) It is used as feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.

Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways :

• The Govt. has launched a major road development project linking Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai and Delhi by six-lane super highways.
• The North-South corridors linking Srinagar [Jammu & Kashmir] &Kanyakumari [T.N.] & East-West Corridor Connecting silcher (Assam) &Porbander (Gujarat).
• The major objective of these superhighways is to reduce time and distance.

These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

• National Highways: National Highways link extreme parts of the country and are laid and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
• State Highways: State Highways link a state capital with different district headquarters and are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in State and Union Territories.
• District Roads: These roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district and  are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
• Other Roads:Rural roads, which link rural areas and villages with towns. These   roads received special impetus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.
• Border Roads :Border Roads Organisation a Government of India undertaking constructs and   maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country.

II. Road Density

• The length of road per 100 sq. km of area is known as density of roads.
• Density of  all roads varies from only 10 km in Jammu & Kashmir to 375 km in Kerala with the national average of 75 km (1996-97).

III. Railways :

• The distribution pattern of the railway network in the country has been largely influence by physiographic, economic and administrative factors.
• The Himalyan mountains regions are unfavorable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population & each of economic opportunities.
• The northern plains having high population density, provide most favourable condition for their growth
• Rivers requiring construction of bridges across their wide beds posed some obstacles for the construction of railway lines.

IV.Pipelines :

• Pipelines transport network is a new arrival on the transportation map of India.
• Its initial cost is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
• It is used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products & natural gas.
• It rules out trans-shipment losses and delays

Important Networks

1. Oil field in Assam to Kanpur (U.P.), via Guwahati, Barauni& Allahabad.
2. From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar. In Punjab via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi & Sonipat.
3. Gas pipelines from Hazira in Gujarat connects Jagdishpur in UP via Vijaypur in Madhya Pradesh.

V. Waterways

• Waterways are the cheapest means of transport. They are most suitable for  carrying heavy and bulky goods.
• It is a fuel-efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.

VI. Major Sea Ports

• With a long coastline of 7,516.6 km, India is dotted with 12 major and 181 medium   and minor ports. Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon  after Independence.
• Kandla is a tidal port. It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt Mumbai is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour.
• Marmagao port (Goa) is the premier iron ore exporting port of the country.New Mangalore port, located in Karnataka caters to the export of iron ore concentrates from Kudremukh mines. Kochi is the extreme south-western port, located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour.

VII. Air Ways:

• It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountains, dreary deserts, dense forests and also long oceanic stretches with great ease.
• The air transport was  nationalised in 1953.
• Air India provides international air services.
• Pawanhans Helicopters Ltd. provides helicopter services to Oil and Natural Gas  Commission in its off- shore operations, to inaccessible areas and difficult terrains like the north-eastern states and the interior parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

VIII. Communication:

• Personal communication and mass communication including television, radio,   press, films, etc. are the major means of communication in the country.
• The Indian postal network is the largest in the world.Cards and envelopes are considered  first–class mail.
• The second–class mail includes book packets, registered newspapers and  periodicals.
• To facilitate quick delivery of mails in large towns and cities, six mail channels have been introduced recently.
• They are called Rajdhani Channel, Metro Channel, Green Channel, Business  Channel, Bulk Mail Channel and Periodical Channel. India has one of the largest telecom networks in Asia.

IX. International Trade :

• The exchange of goods among people, states & countries is referred to as trade. Trade between two countries is called International Trade.
• Exports and imports are the components of trade. The balance of a trade of a country is the difference between its export and import.
• When the value of exports exceeds the value of imports, it is called favourable balance of trades.

X. Tourism as a Trade :

• Tourism has proved itself as one of the most important aspect of trade.
• Tourism in India has grown substantially.
• It helps as promotion of National Integration.
• Provide support to local handicrafts.
• Provides support to cultural pursuits.
• Development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.