Transport in India ICSE Class 10 Geography Important Questions

Students of ICSE Class 10 should refer to Transport in India ICSE Class 10 Geography Questions below which have come in past board exams. You should always go through questions that have come in previous years. This will help you to understand the pattern of questions in ICSE Class 10 Geography and prepare accordingly. This will help you to get better marks in ICSE Class 10 Board Exams

ICSE Class 10 Geography Transport in India Important Questions

Students should learn the important questions and answers given below for Chapter Transport in India in Geography for ICSE Class 10. These board questions are expected to come in the upcoming exams. Students of ICSE Class 10th should go through the Important questions and answers ICSE Class 10 Geography which will help them to get more marks in exams.

Board Exam Questions Transport in India Maps ICSE Class 10 Geography

Transport in India ICSE Class 10 Geography Important Questions

State or name

a. Department responsible for the development of highways in India

b. Project aimed at creating world class roadways in India

c. First phase of NHDP

d. Highways built to facilitate transport at > 120 kmph

e. Total length of the Golden Quadrilateral

f. Two terminals of the North-South corridor (Phase 2 of NHDP)

g. Two terminals of the East-West Corridor (Phase 2 of NHDP)

h. Three types of railways in India

j. Two modern rail routes which still run on narrow gauge

k. Project aimed at converting all railways in India into broad gauge

l. Department responsible for development of inland waterways in India

m. Department responsible for development of marine waterways in India

n. Two important ports in Gujarat

o. Four important ports along the west coast

p. Name of port in Navi Mumbai

q. Five important ports along the east coast

r. Organisation responsible for development of airports in India

s. India’s international airline

t. India’s domestic airline

Question. Appreciate the role of transport in the development of a country.
Answer: The development of a country is made possible through transport in the following ways.
i. Transport plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a country by facilitating exchange of commodities and commutation of people.
ii. Transport also plays a key role in the social and cultural integration of a country by facilitating movement of people from one place to another.
iii. Additionally, transport can contribute to the economy through tourism.

Road Transport

Question. List 4 advantages of road transport.
Answer: Road transport has the following advantages.
i. It can be used by a wide variety of vehicles.
ii. Unlike other modes of transport which provide service from terminal to terminal and have to be supported by road transport, road transport provides a single mode of transport from source to destination
iii. It is possible to have road transport in hilly and inaccessible regions.
iv. Road transport is cheap and easy to establish.

Question. List 4 disadvantages of road transport.
Answer: Road transport has the following disadvantages.
i. It is not economical over long distances.
ii. It is not suited for transport bulk goods.
iii. Road transport if the largest contributor to air pollution.
iv. The probability of traffic jams and accidents is higher in road transport.

Question. In what ways does road transport score over rail transport?
Answer: Road transport scores over rail transport in the following ways.
i. Unlike railways, road transport is an independent mode of transport, i.e., people have a choice of vehicle and schedule.
ii. Unlike railways, it is possible to have road transport in hilly and inaccessible regions.
iii. Unlike railways, road transport provides a single mode of transport from source to destination.

Question. Mention 4 types of roadways in India.
Answer: Four types of roadways in India are.
i. Expressways
ii. National Highways
iii. State Highways
iv. District Roads

Question. What are expressways?
Answer: Expressways are those national highways which have the following features.
i. They usually have 6 or 8 tracks
ii. They are meant to handle speeds of 120 kmph or more.
iii. Access to expressways is controlled through levy of toll tax.

Question. List a few features of NHDP.
Answer: NHDP (National Highways Development Project) has the following features.
i. It was initiated by NHAI in 1998.
ii. The objective of NHDP is to set up 45000 km of world class roadways.
iii. The project will be carried out in 7 phases.
iv. The cost of the project would be Rs. 2,25,000 crore.
v. ‘Golden Quadrilateral’, the first phase of the project has already been completed.

Answer the following questions about ‘Golden Quadrilateral’.

a. What is ‘Golden Quadrilateral’?
Answer: ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ is the first phase of NHDP.

b. What is the objective of the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’?
Answer: The objective of the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ is to set up world class highways connecting the 4 metros of India.

c. Which roads have been used in the Golden Quadrilateral?
Answer: Only National Highways have been used in the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’

d. Mention the 4 terminals of the Golden Quadrilateral.
Answer: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata

e. How many cities will be benefited by the Golden Quadrilateral?
Answer: 66 cities will be benefited by the Golden Quadrilateral.

f. How many states does the Golden Quadrilateral pass through?
Answer: The ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ passes through 13 states.

g. What is the current status of development of the Golden Quadrilateral?
Answer: As on June 2010, the project has already been completed.

h. What are the economic benefits of the Golden Quadrilateral?
Answer: Following are the economic benefits of the Golden Quadrilateral.
i. Better and faster transport between major cities and ports
ii. This results in benefit to industry and trade, agriculture and employment.
iii. Increase demand for labour, cement, steel and construction material

Question. List a few problems of roadways in India.
Answer: Following are the problems associated with roadways in India.
i. Most roads in India are not well built using state-of-the art technology.
ii. Unstable government policies regarding building and maintenance of roads causes delay in repairs and poor quality of roads.
iii. Lack of order leads to traffic jams and delays.
iv. Too many toll booths and check posts along the roads.
v. Lack of roadside amenities such as petrol pumps, repair shops, motels, etc.

Rail Transport

Question. List 4 advantages of rail transport.
Answer: Rail transport has the following advantages.
i. In the absence of water bodies connecting two places, rail transport becomes the cheapest mode of transport between those places.
ii. Rail transport is well suited for transportation of bulky goods over long distances
iii. Rail transport can be used by a large number of people at the same time.
iv. Travel through rail transport is very comfortable.

Question. List 4 disadvantages of rail transport.
Answer: Rail transport has the following disadvantages.
i. Rail transport is not able to cater to hill regions effectively.
ii. Since rail transport is possible only from one terminal to another, it has to be supported by a good network of roads.
iii. The initial investment required to set up rail transport is very high.
iv. It is very difficult to maintain railway facilities.

Question. Why is rail transport more comfortable and popular in India?
Answer: Rail transport is preferred by people because there are lesser cities and more villages. Due to this reason, travel to cities involves long distances and railways are very comfortable over long distances. India is a developing country. most people cannot afford private vehicles due to which they prefer railways as rail transport is very cheap.

Question. Mention the three types or railways in India along with their dimensions and network.
Answer: Following are the types of railways in India.
Gauge           Spacing between tracks       Network in India
Broad            1.67 m                                    51082 km
Metre            1 m                                         9442 km
Narrow          0.76 / 0.61 m                          2749 km

Question. What is the rationale behind having different gauges of rail tracks?
Answer: Following are the factors considered while deciding different gauges of tracks.
i. Initial investment
ii. Demand for exchange of commodities
iii. Average number of commuters per day
iv. Flexibility, particularly in hilly regions

Question. Mention two favourable conditions for the development of railways in the Northern plains of India.
Answer: Two conditions which have favoured the development of railways in the Northern plains of India are
i. The northern plains are a flat expanse of land. Building railways in these plains is very easy.
ii. These plains are densely populated. Therefore, the demand for rail transport is very high.

Question. Discuss the importance of railways for the economic development of India with reference to trade and commerce, urbanization, cultural integration and agricultural development.
Answer: Railways are known as the lifelines of a country. This is true in the context of India due to the following reasons.
i. Railways are ideal for transportation of bulky goods over long distances due to this reason,
a. Exchange of commodities even over places very far apart has facilitated trade and commerce.
b. It has become possible to transport food grains and agricultural produce over very long distances boosting agricultural growth.
ii. Rail transport is very cheap. It has become possible for villagers have jobs in cities ultimately leading to urbanisation.
iii. Rail transport is very comfortable over long distances. Due to this reason, people have been able to travel to far off places and effect cultural exchange and integration.

Question. List the problems associated with railways in India.
Answer: Following are the problems associated with railways in India.
i. India is a developing country. As such, it does not have sufficient funds to provide railway service to such a large population.
ii. Because of a varied relief, it is not possible to set up railways everywhere.
iii. Maintenance of railways involves huge costs, large amount of skilled workforce and good management which is a problem.
iv. Since railways have not been able to reap substantial profits, not enough investment has been made on machinery, tracks and procuring latest technology.
v. Due to the rising population, the gap between the demand for rail transport and supply is increasing.
vi. Railways are facing a tough competition with other modes of transport such as roadways and airways.
vii. Heavy consumption of electricity
viii. Because of the above reasons, Indian Railways has earned an image of being inefficient.

Question. Mention three advances made by Indian Railways in the recent years.
Answer: Three advances made by Indian Railways in the recent years are
i. Fast ‘Duronto’ trains between a few stations.
ii. E ticketing and reservation
iii. Dedicated Freight Corridor and Dedicated Passenger Corridor (DPC)
The dedicated passenger corridor is called the ‘Golden Corridor’
iv. 51082 km of track has been converted to broad gauge.
v. 20059 km of the network has been electrified.

Water Transport

Question. In what way do waterways score over other means of transport?
Answer: Waterways score over other means of transport in the following ways.
i. Waterways are the cheapest mode of transport.
ii. Waterways are environment friendly.

Question. Mention one drawback associated with waterways compared to roadways, railways or airways.
Answer: Compared to roadways, railways or airways, waterways are the slowest mode of transport.

Question. Give two reasons why inland waterways are not well developed in India.
Answer: Two reasons why inland waterways are not well developed in India are
i. Most rivers in India are non perennial
ii. Most rivers in India flow through a very rough terrain making them non-navigable.

Question. What is NWAI? What are its functions?
Answer: NWAI stands for National Waterways Authority of India. Its functions include
i. Development of inland water bodies as national waterways
ii. Developing infrastructure for floating and fixed terminals along these waterways

Question. List the five national waterways of India along with associated water bodies and end terminals.
Answer: Route   Water body                 End Terminals                      Length
              NW 1    Ganga                      Allahabad and Haldia            1620 km
              NW 2    Brahmaputra            Sadiya and Dhubri                 891 km
              NW 3    West Coast Canal     Kollam and Kottapuram          205 km
              NW 4    Buckingham Canal    Kakinada and Puducherry       1095 km
              NW 5    East Coast Canal      Talcher and Dhamra               623 km

Question. Why are railways and roadways preferred over waterways in India despite the fact that waterways are cheaper?
Answer: Railways and roadways are preferred over waterways in India despite the fact that waterways are cheaper due to the following reasons.
i. Unlike waterways which require the presence of navigable water bodies, roadways and railways can be developed anywhere on land and as such have a wider network.
ii. Unlike waterways, railways and roadways are not dependent on rainfall for their effective utility.
iii. Roadways and railways are able to overcome the issue of uneven terrain much more effectively than water transport.
iv. During floods, water transport is risky.

Question. Why is the western coastal region in Kerala suitable for development of inland waterways?
Answer: The western coastal region in Kerala is suitable for development of inland waterways due to the following reasons
i. Presence of a large number of backwaters
ii. The water bodies are filled with water because of abundant rainfall in this region

Question. Which factors have reduced the importance of inland water transport?
Answer: The following factors have reduced the importance of inland water transport.
i. Water transport is not reliable since it depends on discharge of water bodies which may not be uniform throughout the year.
ii. Far lesser reach compared to roadways and railways.
iii. Lack of development of infrastructure essential for navigation.

Question. Mention 4 advantages of inland water transport.
Answer: Inland water transport has the following advantages.
i. It is the cheapest mode of transport.
ii. It is environment friendly
iii. It requires less capital to establish
iv. It is ideal for transportation of bulk goods

Question. Mention 4 disadvantages of inland water transport.
Answer: Inland water transport has the following disadvantages.
i. It has a limited network.
ii. It requires good and uniform discharge throughout the year
iii. It can transport men and material only from terminal to terminal, so it has to be supported by a network of roadways and railways.
iv. It involves the risk of floods

Question. Why is inland navigation more popular in the north than in the south?
Answer: Inland navigation is more popular in the north than in the south because
i. Rivers in Northern India are perennial.
ii. Rivers in Northern India flow through a smooth terrain.

Question. State the importance of national waterways in North East India?
Answer: North East India is a hilly region and hence it is not feasible to build railways which can transport bulk goods. Due to this reason, it is essential that bulk goods are transported along water routes. Additionally, these people in these states are poorer compared to the rest of India, so water transport is able to provide a cheap mode of transport.

Question. Appreciate the importance of sea transport.
Answer: Sea transport has all the advantages of water transport such as cost-effectiveness, environment friendliness and suitability for transportation of bulk goods. For this reason, it is the most suitable mode of transport when it comes to exchange of commodities for international trade, or trade within a country.

Question. What was the objective of setting up the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust?
Answer: The objective of setting up the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust at Navi Mumbai, South of Mumbai port was to reduce the pressure of traffic at the Mumbai Port.

Question. Mention 4 advantages of sea transport.
Answer: Inland water transport has the following advantages.
i. It is the cheapest mode of transport.
ii. It is environment friendly
iii. It promotes coastal industries
iv. It is ideal for transportation of bulk goods
v. Without sea transport, international trade would become very negligible

Question. Appreciate the importance of sea transport in international trade.
Answer: Natural resources are not equally distributed amongst all countries. For this reason, there arises a need for exchange of these resources as well as the finished goods obtained from them. Most natural resources are bulky in nature. Sea transport provides the most economical mode of transportation for these goods between countries and hence facilitates international trade.

Question. List a few problems faced by ports in India.
Answer: Following are the problems faced by ports in India.
i. India does not have natural harbours. Due to this reason, it takes a substantial capital to develop the infrastructure required for ports.
ii. Indian ports are not well connected to their hinterland.
iii. There is a lack of co-ordination amongst different ports causing frequent delays in the entire logistic plan.
iv. Indian ports lack facilities and are very congested.
v. A number of Indian ports are affected by silting and hence require frequent dredging.

Answer the following questions.

a. Which port is known as tidal port?
Answer: Kandla Port

b. Why is it called so?
Answer: A non tidal port is usually located at the mouth of a river. Hence the water levels in the port are fairly uniform. In contrast, the water levels in a tidal port are subject to the level of tides. Kandla is as such a tidal port.

c. Why was it developed?
Answer: After partition, Karachi port fell in Pakistan. There was a need to develop a port proximal to Delhi and the Western Industrial Belt of Gujarat and Maharashtra. For this reason, Kandla port was developed in the 1950s.

d. What is its importance?
Answer: Kandla port is the only free trade zone in India.

Air Transport

Question. Mention 3 advantages of airways.
Answer: Air transport has the following advantages.
i. It is the fastest mode of transport.
ii. It is possible to reach remote and inaccessible parts of the world using air transport.
iii. It becomes indispensable for business travel and defence purposes.

Question. Mention 4 disadvantages of airways.
Answer: Air transport has the following disadvantages.
i. It is very expensive and cannot be afforded by a large number of people.
ii. It has a limited carrying capacity and therefore, is not suitable for transporting bulk goods.
iii. It depends on weather conditions.

Question. How can air transport promote tourism at the international level?
Ans. Airways have a far wider reach compared to any mode of transport. For this reason, they can promote tourism.

Question. Which organization is responsible for regulating civil aviation in India? What are its major functions and responsibilities?
Answer: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for regulating civil aviation in India.
Its functions include
i. Regulation of air transport services to/from/within India;
ii. Registration of civil aircraft in India;
iii. Licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and flight engineers;
iv. Licensing of aerodromes in India;
v. Investigation into air accidents and incidents;
vi. Implementation of bilateral air services agreements

Question. How are airports classified? Which are the two types of airports in India?
Answer: Airports are classified on the basis of the type of traffic they handle. In accordance, the two types of airports in India are international airports and domestic airports.

Question. Name the major airline carriers in India.
Answer: The major international airline carriers in India are
i. Air India
ii. Indian Airlines
iii. Jet Airways
iv. Kingfisher Airlines
v. Air Sahara
The major domestic airline carriers in India are
i. Indian Airlines
ii. Jet Airways
iii. Kingfisher Airlines
iv. Air Sahara
v. Go Air
vi. Spice Jet
vii. Indigo

Question. ‘Airlines have a great future ahead.’ Support this statement.
Answer: Today the world has become a global village. Fast travel from one place to another has become increasingly important for business, defence and tourism. Airways offer the best alternative for this purpose. The field of airways is still in an infant stage. Therefore it is right to say that airlines have a great future ahead.

Question. On which river and between which two places does the National Waterway No.2 lie?
Answer: Dhubri-Pandu (Guwahati)-Tezpur-Neamati-Dibrugarh-Sadiya on river Brahmaputra.

Question. Discuss the contribution of Air India in the air transport of India.
Answer: (i) Air India manages the entire air transport in India.
(ii) It serves 50 domestic destinations, 39 internationals routes and serves over 100 cities

Question. State the features of Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Answer: (i) Six-lane concrete highway with 7m-wide divider. An extra lane provided on each side as a hard shoulder;
(ii) Separate tunnels for traffic in each direction;
(iii) Complete fencing to avoid humans/animals crossing the expressway;
(iv) No two-wheelers, three-wheelers, or tractor vehicles allowed; and
(v) Provision of petrol pumps, hotels, workshops, toilets, emergency phones, first aid, breakdown vans, etc.

Question. What is the significance of an efficient transport system?
Answer: (i) Transportation helps in the better utilisation of the resources of the backward areas by linking them with the more advanced areas.
(ii) It aids in the process of industrialisation and urbanisation.
(iii) It removes scarcity of goods during any crisis.
(iv) It helps in minimising the effects of natural disasters.
(v) It brings in homogeneity and national integration in thought and culture through easy movement of people and bringing them in contact with one another.

Question. The deltas on the east coast are not suitable for harbours.
Answer: A harbours requires deep and indented coastline. The Eastern Coastal Plains are wide and have gentle slopes so the deltas on the east coast are not suitable for harbours.

Question. State the features of Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway.
Answer: This expressway was India’s first 4-lane and dual carriageway expressway project and includes minor bridges and canal crossing and interchanges at Nadiad and Anand.

Question. What is an Expressway?
Answer: (i) Express Highways constitute the most significant features of land transportation.
(ii) These highways are cemented six-lane roads, designed to provide smooth high- speed movement without any on-road obstacles like traffic or speed breakers.

Question. Give three economic benefits of the Golden Quadrilateral Project.
Answer: The main economic benefits of the Golden Quadrilateral Project are the following:
(i) This highway interconnects many major cities and ports.
(ii) It provides an impetus to truck transport throughout India.
(iii) It enables the industrial growth of all small towns through which it passes.
(iv) It provides vast opportunities for transport of agricultural produce from the hinterland to major cities and ports for export.

Question. When and where did the air transport begin in India?
Answer: The air transport began in India between Allahabad and Naini in 1911.

Question. Give the advantages of railways.
Answer: Railways constitute one of the most efficient and cost-effective forms of transportation. It has the following advantages:
(i) Railways help in the easy movement of bulky goods and perishable commodities to distant places.
(ii) Railways transport raw materials to the production units and finished goods to the markets.
(iii) Railways have brought the villages closer to the cities and have helped to transfer new ideas and innovations to the rural areas.
(iv) Railways help in reducing sufferings during natural calamities.
(v) Railways act as an integrating force, knitting the whole country into one whole with its huge network running throughout the country.
(vi) Railways facilitate easy movement of police, troops and defence equipment.
(vii) Railways provide comfortable journey as the trains have enough space to stretch legs and move in the corridors. At night, one can sleep comfortably on the berths provided in the trains.
(viii) Rail travel is safer and comfortable for families with babies and elders.

Question. What are the government initiatives taken to maintain hindrance-free traffic on National Highways?
Answer: (i) The traffi con Nationa l Hi ghwaysh as been growing due to industrialisation in the country. The Government is taking steps to utilise latest technologies and improved management techniques to provide hindrance-free traffic movement.
(ii) This is being done by widening roads. Grade separation, construction of bypasses, bridges, rail-road crossings, etc.

Question. What is the importance of transport ?
Answer: (i) Transportation helps in the better utilisation of the resources of the backward areas by linking them with the more advanced areas.
(ii) It aids in the process of industrialisation and urbanisation.
(iii) It removes scarcity of goods during any crisis.
(iv) It helps in minimising the effects of natural disasters.
(v) It brings in homogeneity and national integration in thought and culture through easy movement of people and bringing them in contact with one another.

Question. State the role of Border Roads.
Answer: (i) The Border Road Organisation (BRO) was setup in 1960 for strengthening defence preparedness and accelerating economic development through improvement of roads along the northern and north-eastern boundary of the country.
(ii) Apart from the construction and maintenance of roads in strategically sensitive areas, the BRO undertakes snow clearance in high altitude areas and construction of airfields, buildings and permanent bridges.

Question. Explain the role of oceanic waterways in the transport sector of India’s economy.
Answer: (i) India has a long coastline of 7517 km. forming one of the biggest peninsulas in the world. It has 12 major ports and 187 minor and intermediate ports.
(ii) Ocean routes handle 95 percent of India’s foreign trade by volume and about 70 percent by value.
(iii) Besides international trade , the seroutes are alsoused for transportation between the islands and the rest of the country.
(iv) This oceanic waterways constitute an important role in the transport sector of India’s economy.

Question. Explain the role of roads in the economic development of the country.
Answer: (i) Roads offer door to door service and thereby, reduce the cost of loading and unloading. Roads also help farmers to move their perishable products quickly to the markets.
(ii) The movement of goods is safer through road transport as the chances of pilferage are lesser than in the railways.
(iii) Roads transport supplements the other modes of transportation. It provides link between railway stations and ports and their hinterlands.

Question. Name the following :
(i) The riverline port in India.
(ii) The deppest landlocked port.
(iii) The oldest artificial port on the east coast.
(iv) Port which is a free trade zone.
(v) Port which is a public limited company
Answer: (i) The riverline port in India – Kolkata
(ii) The deppest landlocked port – Vishakhapatnam
(iii) The oldest artificial port on the east coast – Chennai
(iv) Kandla Port
(v) Ennore Port

Question. List the advantages of roadways.
Answer: (i) It is through the roads that every village and hamlet can be reached.
(ii) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of the railway line.
(iii) Roads can be constructed even in the areas of difficult terrain and where railways lines do not exist
(iv) Roads offer door to door service and thereby, reduce the cost of loading and unloading. Roads also help farmers to move their perishable products quickly to the markets.
(v) The movement of goods is safer through road transport as the chances of pilferage are lesser than in the railways.
(vi) Roads transport supplements the other modes of transportation. It provides link between railway stations and ports and their hinterlands.

Question. A Port and a Harbour.
Answer:

Question. State the disadvantages of roadways.
Answer: (i) Many roads are unsurfaced and therefore, not suitable for regular vehicular traffic.
(ii) Roads are not properly maintained. Poor roads surfaces cause heavy loss in wear and tear of vehicles.
(iii) There are multiple check-posts, toll tax and octroi duties collection points on the roads which bring down the speed of the traffic, waste time and cause irritation to the commuters.
(iv) Many roads have inadequate capacity, weak payment, unbridged level crossings and lack of waysides amenities and safety measures.
(v) The traffic on Indian roads, especially in cities, is too high. Further, same road is used by all types of vehicles – high speed cars, trucks, twowheelers,
animal driven carts, cyclists and even by animals. This increases traffic tie and causes congestion. Pollution and road accidents.

Question. The Peninsular rivers are not navigable.
Answer: Peninsular rivers are seasonal as they are rain-fed. Second, these are comparetively shorter than the rivers of north India. Third, these rivers are marked by a number of waterfalls.

Question. With reference to Railways, answer the following questions:
(i) Explain how the Indian rail networks is one of the largest and busiest network in the world.
(ii) Describe the three categories of track system followed in India. (c)
(iii) Railways binds the economic and cultural life of the country. Justify this statement giving examples.
Answer: (i) By 1947, the year of India’s independence, there were forty-two rail systems. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unit, becoming one of the largest networks in the world. Indian Railways operate both long distance and suburban rail system.
(ii) Based on the width of the track, the Indian Railways are divided into three categories :
Broad Gauge : The distance between rails is 1.676 metre. The total route length of broad gauge lines is 49,820 km which accounts for 74.14 per cent of the total length of rail route in the country. Almost all the main routes are broad gauge. Broad gauge system links major ports of India with the interior towns and Industrial centres and handles 85 per cent of the total goods traffic in terms of tonnes-km. Broad gauge railway line on the west coastal lowland known as the Konkan Railway Line, is an engineering marvel of the Indian Railways. It is 760 km long rail route connecting Roha in Maharashtra to Mangalore in Karnataka. It crosses 146 rivers, streams, nearly 2000 bridges and 91 tunnels. It also passes through 6.5 km long tunnel which is Asia’s largest tunnel. The States of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa are partners in this project.
Metre Gauge : The distance between rails is one metre. It covers 10,621 km and accounts for 21.02 per cent of the total route length.
Narrow Gauge : The distance between rails is 0.76 metre and 0.610 metre. It covers 2,886 km and accoun for 4.94 per cent of the total route length. It is main] confined to the hilly areas.
(iii) Role of railways cannot be neglected in the economic and social development of the nation and the Government was focussing to improve the standard of railway system. Railways have brought the villages closer to the cities and have helped to transfer new ideas and innovations to the rural areas. It acts as an integrating force, knitting the whole country into one whole with its huge network running throughout the country.

Question. How are railways beneficial to man ?
Answer: (i) The railways constitute the principal mode of transportation for freight and passenger.
(ii) It brings together people from the farthest corners of the country for conducting business, sightseeing, pilgrimage, education, etc.

Question. Why are district roads important ?
Answer: (i) District roads are important roads within a district connecting areas of production with markets.
(ii) They also connect small towns with one another or with the State Highways and National Highways.
(iii) It also connects Taluka headquarters and rural areas to District headquarters within the state.

Question. What is the role of NHAI ?
Answer: (i) NHAI is currently undertaking the developmental activities under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) in phases.
(ii) NHAI is also responsible for implementing other projects on National Highways, primarily roads connectivity to major ports in India.

Question. State the disadvantages of railways.
Answer: Rail transport has the following disadvantages :
(i) Rail transport lacks flexibility of routes. Train tracks cannot be laid in every region of the country like in the hilly areas or remote forested areas.
(ii) Train travel can be very long and tedious, especially when compared to air travel.
(iii) Train tracks cannot be laid in every industrial region and trains have to travel to a station, where the cargo is loaded from one form of transportation to another. Most industrial locations have roads leading to them, but not all of them have train tracks leading to them.
(iv) The trains which run on coal produce lot of air and noise pollution.
(v) Trains cannot cross the oceans They are limited to land travel and cannot normally haul products from one continent to another.

Question. Give the width of broad gauge, metre gauge and narrow gauge.
Answer: Broad gauge – 1.676 m., Metre gauge – 1m and Narrow gauge – 0.762 m.

Question. Explain how the Indian rail network is one of the largest and busiest
networks in the world.
Answer: (i) At present, Indian rail network is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 18 million passengers and more than 2 million tonnes of freight daily.
(ii) It is world’s largest employer, with more than 1.4 million employees.
(iii) The railways traverse the length and breadth of the country, covering 7,030 stations over a total route length of more than 63,974 kilometres.

Question. Mention any three problems being faced by the Indian Railways.
Answer: (i) Train tracks cannot be laid in every industrial region and trains have to travel to a station, where the cargo is loaded from one form of transportation to another. Most industrial locations have roads leading to them, but not all of them have train tracks leading to them.
(ii) The trains which run on coal produce lot of air and noise pollution. 
(iii) Trains cannot cross the oceAnswer: They are limited to land travel and cannot normally haul products from one continent to another.

Question. State the features of Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.
Answer: Some special features of this highway are SOS telephones at every 1.5 km. CCTV surveillance, has reduced travel time between Gurgaon and Delhi from 60 mins to approx 20 mins.

Question. Mumbai is a harbour and a port.
Answer: Mumbai is a natural harbour and it has all the facilities of a port such as warehouse for storing goods, well built transport system etc. Hence Mumbai is a harbour and a port.

Question. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of air transport.
Answer: The advantages of airways are the following:
(i) It is the fastest and comfortable mode of transport. It connects the far flung and remote areas of the country.
(ii) The speed and ease with which aeroplanes can across mountain barriers, sandy deserts, large expanses of water or forests make the air transport indispensable.
(iii) Air transport is of particular importance during natural calamities. It is used to airlift people from the affected areas and to air-drop food, medicines and other necessary things to calamity affected people.
The main disadvantages of airways are the following :
(i) Air transport is costly.
(ii) It depends on weather conditions. Flights are often delayed due to bad weather.
(iii) Air transport is run on petroleum which is a non-renewable source of energy.
(iv) Air transport can carry small tonnage but it has high freight charges.

Question. State the importance of State Highways.
Answer: (i) The State Highways are constructed and maintained by the State governments.
(ii) These highways provide linkages with the National Highways, district, headquarter, important towns, tourist centres and minor ports within the state.
(iii) Besides, these arterial routes provide connectivity to important towns and cities as well as with National Highways or State Highways of the neighbouring states.

Question. Give any three features of the Yamuna Expressway.
Answer: (i) It provides a fast moving corridor to minimise the travel time and connects with main townships and commercial centres on the eastern side of Yamuna river.
(ii) It can reduce the travel time between Delhi and Agra to two hours.
(iii) It enables farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh to move their agricultural, horticulture and dairy products to major cities.

Question. Name the cities connected by Golden Quadrilateral.
Answer: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai cities connected by Golden Quadrilateral.