NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography India: People and Economy Chapter 7: Transport and Communication

Chapter at a glance

Exercise Questions

Question 1 (i)

In how many zones has the Indian Railways system been divided?
(a) 9 (b) 12 (c) 17 (d) 14

Answer

As stated in the textbook, the Indian Railway system has been divided into 17 zones (an 18th zone, South Coast Railway, has since been announced).

3. 17

Question 1 (ii)

On which river and between which two places does the National Water Way No. 1 lie?
(a) The Brahmaputra, Sadiya–Dhubri (b) The Ganga, Haldia–Prayagraj (c) West Coast Canal, Kottapuram to Kollam (d) Godavari–Kakinada Puducherry

Answer

National Waterway No. 1 lies on the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hugli river system between Haldia and Prayagraj (1,620 km). (Sadiya–Dhubri is NW 2; Kottapuram–Kollam is NW 3.)

2. The Ganga, Haldia–Prayagraj

Question 1 (iii)

In which of the following year, the first radio programme was broadcast?
(a) 1911 (b) 1936 (c) 1927 (d) 1923

Answer

Radio broadcasting started in India in 1923 by the Radio Club of Bombay.

4. 1923

Question 2 (i)

Which activity does transportation convey? Name three major modes of transportation.

Answer

Transportation conveys the movement of people and goods from one place to another — it links areas of production with areas of consumption and supports trade and economic activities. The three major modes are land transport (roads, railways, pipelines), water transport (inland and oceanic) and air transport.

Transport conveys the movement of people and goods from one place to another, linking production and consumption; the major modes are land (roads, railways, pipelines), water (inland and oceanic) and air transport.

Question 2 (ii)

Discuss advantages and disadvantages of pipeline transportation.

Answer

Advantages: 1. Most convenient and efficient mode of transporting liquids and gases (crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, water) over long distances. 2. Continuous flow, low running cost, less energy, minimal loss and less transshipment. 3. Can be laid through difficult terrain and under water; not affected by weather; less pollution and congestion. 4. Supplies refineries and fertiliser and power plants located far from oil and gas fields (e.g. HVJ pipeline).

Disadvantages: 1. High initial cost of laying pipelines. 2. Not flexible — cannot carry solids easily; capacity cannot be changed easily; once laid, the route is fixed. 3. Leakages are difficult to detect and repair; risk of fire and explosion; can be targets of sabotage. 4. Can be used only for specific products.

Pipelines efficiently carry liquids and gases continuously over long distances at low running cost and energy, through difficult terrain and unaffected by weather, supplying distant refineries and plants. But they are costly to lay, inflexible (fixed routes and products), and leakages are hard to detect and repair, with risks of fire and sabotage.

Question 2 (iii)

What do you mean by ‘communication’?

Answer

Communication is the process of conveying messages, information, ideas and thoughts from one person or place to another. It can be personal (letters/post, telephone, mobile phones, e-mail, internet) or mass communication (radio, television, newspapers, satellites, internet) reaching large numbers of people simultaneously. Modern communication has made the world a “global village”.

Communication is the process of conveying messages, information and ideas from one person or place to another — through personal means (post, telephone, mobile, e-mail) or mass means (radio, television, newspapers, satellites, internet).

Question 3 (i)

Which are the chief means of transportation in India? Discuss the factors affecting their development.

Answer

Chief means of transportation in India: 1. Road transport – India has one of the largest road networks in the world (about 63 lakh km); roads carry most passengers and goods over short and medium distances; national highways, state highways, district roads, rural roads, border roads. 2. Rail transport – the principal mode for long-distance freight and passenger traffic; one of the largest railway networks (about 68,000 km route length), divided into 17 zones. 3. Water transport – inland waterways (about 14,500 km navigable; national waterways) and oceanic routes (12 major ports and many minor ports carrying most foreign trade). 4. Air transport – fastest; domestic and international services; important for remote and hilly areas. 5. Pipelines – for oil, gas and water.

Factors affecting their development: 1. Physical factors – relief: plains (Ganga plains) favour dense road and rail networks; mountains (Himalayas), plateaus, forests and deserts make construction difficult and costly (sparse networks in the north-east, Himalayan states, Rajasthan desert); rivers – wide rivers need costly bridges; climate – heavy rainfall, floods, landslides and snow damage routes. 2. Economic factors – level of economic development, agriculture, industries and mineral resources create demand for transport; availability of capital and technology. 3. Population – density and distribution of population; densely populated areas need dense networks. 4. Political and strategic factors – defence needs (border roads), national integration, government policies and planning (Golden Quadrilateral, North–South and East–West corridors, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, UDAN). 5. Historical factors – the colonial network was oriented to ports and administrative centres. 6. Technological factors – new technologies (electric traction, high-speed trains, tunnelling) enable development in difficult areas (e.g. Konkan Railway).

India’s chief means of transport are roads (one of the largest networks), railways (main long-distance carrier, 17 zones), water transport (inland waterways and ports carrying most foreign trade), air transport and pipelines. Their development depends on physical factors (relief, rivers, climate — dense in plains, sparse in mountains, forests and deserts), economic development and resources, population density, political and strategic needs and government policy, historical (colonial) patterns, and technology.

Question 3 (ii)

Give a detailed account of the development of railways in India and highlight their importance.

Answer

Development: 1. Introduction – the first train ran in 1853 from Bombay (Mumbai) to Thane, a distance of 34 km. 2. Colonial period – the British developed railways mainly to transport raw materials from the interior to ports and manufactured goods to the interior, and for administrative and military control; by 1947 there was a large network, but partition divided it. 3. After independence – railway lines were extended to new areas; gauge conversion from metre and narrow gauge to broad gauge (1.676 m) under Project Unigauge; electrification and diesel traction replaced steam engines; the Konkan Railway (1998), 760 km from Roha (Maharashtra) to Mangaluru (Karnataka), through difficult terrain of the Western Ghats — an engineering marvel. 4. Size – route length of about 67,956 km (2019–20); among the largest networks in the world under single management; divided into 17 zones for management. 5. Gauges – broad gauge (1.676 m), metre gauge (1 m), narrow gauge (0.762 m and 0.610 m — mostly in hilly areas, e.g. Darjeeling, Shimla, Nilgiri mountain railways). 6. Modernisation – metro rail in many cities (Kolkata — first metro, 1984; Delhi), high-speed trains (Vande Bharat), dedicated freight corridors, bullet train project, computerised reservation. 7. Distribution – dense network in the northern plains (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, West Bengal); sparse in the Himalayan region, north-east, Rajasthan desert, central India’s forests and hilly areas.

Importance: 1. Principal mode of transport for freight (bulky goods like coal, iron ore, foodgrains, fertilisers, cement) and passengers over long distances at low cost. 2. Integration of the nation – connects different parts of the country, promotes national unity and cultural exchange. 3. Economic development – supports agriculture, industries and trade; facilitates the movement of raw materials and finished goods; helps in the growth of towns and markets. 4. Employment – one of the largest employers in the world. 5. Disaster relief and defence – transport of relief materials and troops. 6. Tourism – heritage trains, tourist trains (Palace on Wheels).

Railways began in India in 1853 (Bombay–Thane, 34 km), were expanded by the British for raw materials, trade and control, and after independence were extended, converted to broad gauge, electrified and modernised (Konkan Railway 1998, metros, Vande Bharat, freight corridors). Today about 68,000 km long and divided into 17 zones, densest in the northern plains, they carry bulk freight and passengers cheaply over long distances, integrate the nation, support agriculture, industry and trade, employ millions, and aid defence, disaster relief and tourism.

Question 3 (iii)

Describe the role of roads in the economic development of India.

Answer

India has one of the largest road networks in the world (about 63 lakh km). Roads play a vital role in economic development:

1. Door-to-door service – roads provide door-to-door service, and are the most economical for short distances; they carry goods from farms and factories to markets and railway stations.
2. Rural development – rural roads (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 2000) connect villages to towns and markets, enabling farmers to sell produce, get inputs, and access schools, hospitals and services.
3. Agriculture – transport of seeds, fertilisers and produce; perishable goods (fruits, vegetables, milk) reach markets quickly.
4. Industry and trade – supply raw materials and distribute finished goods; support small industries; the Golden Quadrilateral (linking Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata) and North–South and East–West corridors (Srinagar to Kanyakumari; Silchar to Porbandar) boost trade and industry; Bharatmala Pariyojana.
5. Feeder to other modes – roads link railways, ports and airports.
6. Reach difficult areas – roads can be built in hilly, mountainous and remote areas where railways cannot reach; Border Roads Organisation (1960) builds roads in strategic border areas, aiding defence and development.
7. Employment – in construction, transport (trucks, buses, taxis), dhabas, repair shops.
8. Tourism – access to tourist places.
9. National integration – connect different regions and promote unity.

Problems: inadequate road density in some areas, poor quality and maintenance, congestion and accidents, need for more all-weather roads.

Roads give door-to-door service and are economical for short distances; rural roads (PMGSY) link villages to markets and services; they move farm inputs, perishable produce, raw materials and goods; highways like the Golden Quadrilateral and the North–South and East–West corridors boost trade and industry; they feed railways, ports and airports; border roads reach remote strategic areas; and they create jobs, aid tourism and integrate the nation.

Question Project

Find out the facilities that Indian Railways provide to the passengers.

Answer

Facilities provided by Indian Railways to passengers: 1. Reservation and ticketing – computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS), online booking through IRCTC website and app, UTS app for unreserved tickets, Tatkal booking, ticket vending machines, concessions for senior citizens, students, persons with disabilities, patients. 2. Enquiry and information – NTES (train running status), helpline numbers (139), Rail Madad app for complaints, display boards and announcements. 3. At stations – waiting rooms and retiring rooms, cloak rooms, foot over-bridges, escalators and lifts, ramps for the differently abled, drinking water, toilets, Wi-Fi at many stations, food stalls and food plazas, book stalls, ATMs, medical facilities, porters/battery cars, CCTV and security (RPF). 4. On trains – sleeper and AC classes, bedrolls in AC coaches, pantry cars and e-catering, charging points, bio-toilets, LHB coaches, Vande Bharat and Shatabdi/Rajdhani trains with meals, reserved berths for women, senior citizens and the differently abled. 5. Safety and security – Railway Protection Force, GRP, women’s safety (Meri Saheli), fire safety, accident relief. 6. Special services – tourist trains (Palace on Wheels, Bharat Gaurav), rail tourism packages, special festival trains, insurance for e-ticket passengers.

Indian Railways provides computerised and online reservation (IRCTC, UTS, Tatkal) with concessions; enquiry services (139, NTES, Rail Madad); station facilities such as waiting and retiring rooms, cloak rooms, escalators, ramps, drinking water, toilets, Wi-Fi, food plazas and medical aid; on-train facilities like AC and sleeper classes, bedrolls, pantry and e-catering, charging points and bio-toilets; security (RPF); and tourist and special trains.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Modes of transport and factors (Q 2 (i), 3 (i))
• ☒ Railways and roads (Q 1 (i), 3 (ii), 3 (iii), project)
• ☒ Water transport and pipelines (Q 1 (ii), 2 (ii))
• ☒ Communication (Q 1 (iii), 2 (iii))

Total questions answered: 10 of 10