class 12 notes

Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 10 (Transport and communication) – India - People and Economy Book

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Philoid

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India - People and Economy
Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 10, 'Transport and Communication' from your 'India - People and Economy' book. This chapter is crucial not just for your board exams but also forms a significant part of the syllabus for various government exams. These networks are rightly called the 'lifelines of the nation and its economy' as they connect people, resources, and markets, facilitating socio-economic development.

Chapter 10: Transport and Communication - Detailed Notes

Introduction:
Transport and communication systems are indispensable for India's vast size, diverse terrain, and large population. They facilitate the movement of goods and people, link production centres with markets, connect rural areas with urban centres, and are vital for national integration, defence, and disaster management.

I. Transport

Transport involves the movement of goods, services, and passengers from one place to another. India has a diverse and dense network comprising land, water, and air transport.

A. Land Transport

  1. Road Transport:

    • Significance: Crucial for short to medium distances, provides door-to-door service, acts as a feeder to other modes (railways, ports, airports), suitable for perishable goods, vital for rural connectivity. India has one of the largest road networks in the world.
    • Classification of Roads (based on construction & maintenance):
      • National Highways (NH): Main arterial roads connecting state capitals, major cities, ports, and important towns. Constructed and maintained by the Central Government (primarily through NHAI - National Highways Authority of India, established in 1995). Constitute only about 2% of the total road length but carry about 40% of the road traffic.
      • State Highways (SH): Link state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns within the state. Constructed and maintained by State Public Works Departments (PWD).
      • District Roads: Connect district headquarters with other important nodes within the district. Maintained by Zila Parishads.
      • Rural Roads: Vital for rural connectivity, linking villages with nearby towns. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations.
      • Other Roads: Include Border Roads and International Highways.
    • Key Projects:
      • Golden Quadrilateral: A major highway network connecting India's four largest metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Aims to reduce time and distance.
      • North-South Corridor: Links Srinagar (J&K) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
      • East-West Corridor: Links Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat).
      • These corridors often intersect at Jhansi (UP).
    • Border Roads Organisation (BRO): Established in 1960. Constructs and maintains roads in strategically important northern and northeastern border areas. These roads enhance defence preparedness and facilitate economic development in difficult terrains.
    • Road Density: Varies significantly across states. Highest in states like Kerala and Punjab (plains, high development), lowest in states like Jammu & Kashmir (mountainous terrain).

  2. Rail Transport:

    • Significance: Principal mode for long-distance freight and passenger traffic. Economical for bulky goods. Promotes national integration. Indian Railways is one of the world's largest networks under single management.
    • History: First train ran in 1853 between Bombay (Mumbai) and Thane.
    • Gauge Types:
      • Broad Gauge: (1.676 metres) - Predominant gauge, being converted to standard across major routes.
      • Metre Gauge: (1.000 metre) - Being phased out or converted.
      • Narrow Gauge: (0.762 m & 0.610 m) - Mostly confined to hilly areas (e.g., Kalka-Shimla, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway).
    • Railway Zones: Indian Railways is divided into several zones (currently 18 zones, including Kolkata Metro) for administrative efficiency. (Knowing HQs of major zones can be useful).
    • Konkan Railway: An engineering marvel along the western coast (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka), overcoming challenging terrain with numerous tunnels and bridges.
    • Challenges: Congestion on trunk routes, safety concerns, need for modernization, financial constraints.

  3. Pipelines:

    • Significance: Efficient mode for transporting liquids (crude oil, petroleum products) and gases (natural gas) over long distances. Reduces trans-shipment losses and delays. Can be laid through difficult terrain and underwater. Initial cost is high, but running costs are low. Also used for transporting iron ore slurry.
    • Key Networks:
      • Upper Assam to Kanpur: (Via Guwahati, Barauni, Allahabad). Branches to Haldia, Rajbandh, Maurigram.
      • Salaya (Gujarat) to Jalandhar (Punjab): (Via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi, Sonipat). Branches connect Koyali, Chakshu, etc.
      • Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) Pipeline: First major cross-country gas pipeline. Connects Hazira (Gujarat) to Jagdishpur (UP), supplying gas to fertilizer plants and industries in MP, Rajasthan, UP. Has been extended.
      • Other important pipelines connect Mumbai High, refineries, and consumption centres.

B. Water Transport

  • Significance: Cheapest mode for transporting heavy and bulky goods. Fuel-efficient and environment-friendly. Minimal infrastructure cost for natural waterways (rivers, oceans).
  • Types:

    1. Inland Waterways:

      • Utilizes rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks. India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways, but only a portion is currently utilized effectively.
      • Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Established in 1986 for development and regulation.
      • Declared National Waterways (NW):
        • NW-1: Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system (1620 km).
        • NW-2: Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river (891 km).
        • NW-3: West Coast Canal (Kottapuram-Kollam) along with Udyogamandal and Champakara canals (205 km) in Kerala.
        • NW-4: Kakinada-Puducherry canals and Kaluvelly tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada stretch of Krishna river (1078 km).
        • NW-5: Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Brahmani river, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi delta rivers (588 km).
          (Note: Many more have been declared since the initial ones).
      • Challenges: Seasonal variations in water flow, siltation, lack of navigability depth, competition from other modes.

    2. Oceanic Transport:

      • Vital for India's foreign trade (handles about 95% by volume and 70% by value). Long coastline (~7517 km).
      • Major Ports: India has 12 major ports handling bulk of foreign trade. Managed by Port Trusts under the Central Government.
        • West Coast:
          • Kandla (Deendayal Port): Gujarat. Tidal port. Developed after partition to compensate for Karachi port loss. Handles petroleum, fertilizers, food grains, salt, cotton. Free Trade Zone.
          • Mumbai: Maharashtra. Largest natural harbour. Busiest port. Handles diverse cargo. Highly congested.
          • Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT): Maharashtra. Near Mumbai, developed to ease congestion. Modern container handling facilities.
          • Marmagao: Goa. Natural harbour. Major iron ore exporting port.
          • New Mangalore: Karnataka. Exports iron ore (Kudremukh mines), fertilizers, petroleum products.
          • Kochi: Kerala. Natural harbour located near Vembanad Kayal (lagoon). Handles spices, tea, coffee, petroleum products.
        • East Coast:
          • Tuticorin (V.O. Chidambaranar Port): Tamil Nadu. Natural harbour. Handles coal, salt, petroleum, fertilizers. Trades with Sri Lanka.
          • Chennai: Tamil Nadu. Oldest artificial port. Ranks second in traffic after Mumbai (often competes closely with JNPT). Handles petroleum, fertilizers, iron ore, general cargo.
          • Ennore (Kamarajar Port): Tamil Nadu. North of Chennai. Developed to reduce pressure on Chennai. First corporatized major port. Handles coal (for TN thermal plants), POL.
          • Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh. Deepest land-locked and well-protected port. Handles iron ore (exports to Japan), coal, oil, general cargo. Ship building facility.
          • Paradip: Odisha. Deep-water port. Handles large vessels. Primarily exports iron ore, coal.
          • Kolkata: West Bengal. Riverine port on Hooghly river, 128 km inland. Requires constant dredging due to siltation. Handles diverse cargo from Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. Faces issues due to shallow draft.
          • Haldia: West Bengal. Developed downstream from Kolkata to relieve pressure. Handles bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, POL.
      • Minor Ports: Numerous minor ports managed by State Governments handle coastal shipping and some international trade.

C. Air Transport

  • Significance: Fastest mode. Connects remote, inaccessible, and hostile terrains (mountains, deserts, forests). Crucial during natural calamities for rescue and relief. Carries high-value, low-bulk, perishable goods. Enhances national security and defence.
  • Management: Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages most civil airports.
  • Airlines:
    • Air India: National carrier (now privatized), handles international and major domestic routes.
    • Private Airlines: Several private companies operate on domestic and some international routes (e.g., IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara).
  • Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd.: Provides helicopter services, especially to inaccessible areas (like NE states, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand) and for petroleum sector operations (offshore exploration).
  • Major Airports: Delhi (IGI), Mumbai (CSMIA), Bengaluru (Kempegowda), Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi), Chennai, Kolkata (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose) are major international gateways. Many other cities have domestic and international airports.
  • Challenges: High cost, capacity constraints at major airports, weather dependency.

II. Communication

Communication involves conveying messages, ideas, and information. Networks have expanded rapidly, shrinking time and space.

A. Personal Communication

  • Includes letters, telephone (landline, mobile), email, internet chat, etc.
  • Indian Postal Network: One of the largest in the world. Handles parcels, letters, financial services (savings accounts, money orders - India Post Payments Bank). Provides basic connectivity, especially in rural areas. First-class mail (cards, envelopes) airlifted; Second-class mail (book packets, newspapers) surface transported. Six mail channels introduced for quick delivery (Rajdhani Channel, Metro Channel, etc.).
  • Telecommunications:
    • Telecom Revolution: Rapid growth, especially in mobile telephony. One of the highest teledensities globally.
    • Mobile Phones: Ubiquitous, providing voice and data services. Enabled digital payments, e-commerce, access to information.
    • Internet: Growing penetration, bridging the digital divide (though gaps remain). Facilitates email, e-commerce, e-learning, telemedicine, entertainment.
    • STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling): Enabled direct dialing across cities.
    • Regulator: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

B. Mass Communication

  • Provides information and entertainment to large audiences simultaneously. Creates awareness on policies, programs, social issues.
  • Radio:
    • All India Radio (AIR) / Akashvani: Broadcasts in numerous languages and dialects. Covers almost the entire population. News, entertainment, educational programs. FM radio has gained popularity.
  • Television (TV):
    • Doordarshan (DD): National broadcaster. Terrestrial and satellite channels. Provides news, educational, entertainment programs.
    • Private Channels: Numerous satellite channels offering diverse content. Significant impact on culture and society.
  • Print Media:
    • Newspapers: Published in about 100 languages/dialects. Largest circulation in Hindi, followed by English and Urdu. Play a vital role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion.
    • Magazines/Periodicals: Cover various interests.
  • Films:
    • India is the largest producer of feature films globally.
    • Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC): Authority to certify films for public exhibition.
    • Films are a powerful medium of entertainment and cultural expression.
  • Internet: Also functions as a mass communication medium through websites, blogs, social media, streaming services.

C. Satellite Communication:

  • Satellites provide a continuous and synoptic view over large areas, overcoming terrestrial obstacles.
  • INSAT System (Indian National Satellite System): Multi-purpose system established in 1983. Used for telecommunication, meteorological observation, weather forecasting, disaster warning, TV and radio broadcasting, search and rescue operations.
  • IRS System (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System): Used for resource monitoring and management (land use, agriculture, forestry, water resources, geology). Data crucial for planning.

Conclusion:
Transport and communication networks are dynamic and constantly evolving with technological advancements. They are fundamental to India's economic growth, social integration, and strategic security. Continuous investment and modernization are essential to meet the growing demands of the nation.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Practice:

  1. The Golden Quadrilateral project connects which set of major cities?
    (a) Srinagar, Kanyakumari, Silchar, Porbandar
    (b) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
    (c) Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam
    (d) Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai

  2. Which organization is primarily responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads in India's border areas?
    (a) National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
    (b) State Public Works Department (PWD)
    (c) Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
    (d) Central Public Works Department (CPWD)

  3. National Waterway No. 1 (NW-1) is located on which river system?
    (a) Brahmaputra River
    (b) Godavari River
    (c) Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River
    (d) West Coast Canal

  4. Which of the following is a major tidal port located on the West Coast of India?
    (a) Mumbai
    (b) Marmagao
    (c) Kandla (Deendayal Port)
    (d) New Mangalore

  5. The Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline is primarily known for transporting:
    (a) Crude Oil
    (b) Natural Gas
    (c) Iron Ore Slurry
    (d) Water

  6. Konkan Railway, known for overcoming challenging terrain, connects Roha in Maharashtra to which station in Karnataka?
    (a) Bengaluru
    (b) Mangaluru (Mangalore)
    (c) Hubli
    (d) Mysuru

  7. Which body regulates the telecommunication sector in India?
    (a) Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
    (b) BSNL
    (c) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
    (d) Airports Authority of India (AAI)

  8. Akashvani is the broadcasting name for which mass communication medium in India?
    (a) Doordarshan
    (b) All India Radio
    (c) Press Trust of India
    (d) Films Division

  9. Which mode of transport is most suitable for transporting heavy and bulky goods over long distances within India at the lowest cost?
    (a) Road Transport
    (b) Rail Transport
    (c) Air Transport
    (d) Water Transport (Inland/Oceanic)

  10. The INSAT satellite system serves multiple purposes EXCEPT:
    (a) Telecommunication
    (b) Meteorological Observation
    (c) High-resolution land mapping for urban planning
    (d) Television Broadcasting

Answer Key for MCQs:

  1. (b)
  2. (c)
  3. (c)
  4. (c)
  5. (b)
  6. (b)
  7. (c)
  8. (b)
  9. (d) (Note: Railways are also cost-effective for bulky goods, but waterways are generally considered the cheapest, especially for non-time-sensitive bulk cargo.)
  10. (c) (High-resolution land mapping is primarily the domain of Remote Sensing satellites like the IRS series, though INSAT might have some imaging capabilities, its primary roles are listed in a, b, d).

Study these notes thoroughly. Remember to correlate this information with maps provided in your NCERT book, especially for locations of ports, corridors, and waterways. Good luck with your preparation!

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