NCERT Book Class 12 Geography Transport and Communication

Transport and Communication

Natural resources, economic activities and markets are rarely found in one place. Transport, communication and trade establish links between producing centres and consuming centres. The system of mass production and exchange is complex. Each region produces the items for which it is best suited. Trade or the exchange of such commodities relies on transportation and communication. Likewise, the high living standards and quality of life depend on efficient transportation, communications and trade. In earlier days, the means of transport and communication were the same. But today both have acquired distinct and specialised forms. Transport provides the network of links and carriers through which trade takes place.

TRANSPORT

Transport is a service or facility for the carriage of persons and goods from one place to the other using humans, animals and different kinds of vehicles. Such movements take place over land, water and air. Roads and railways form part of land transport; while shipping and waterways and airways are the other two modes. Pipelines carry materials like petroleum, natural gas, and ores in liquidified form.

Moreover, transportation is an organised service industry created to satisfy the basic needs of society. It includes transport arteries, vehicles to carry people and goods, and the organisation to maintain arteries, and to handle loading, unloading and delivery. Every nation has developed various kinds of transportation for defence purposes. Assured and speedy transportation, along with efficient communication, promote cooperation and unity among scattered peoples.

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

The principal modes of world transportation, as already mentioned are land, water, air and pipelines. These are used for inter-regional and intra-regional transport, and each one (except pipelines) carries both passengers and freight. The significance of a mode depends on the type of goods and services to be transported, costs of transport and the mode available.

International movement of goods is handled by ocean freighters. Road transport is cheaper and faster over short distances and for door-todoor services. Railways are most suited for large volumes of bulky materials over long distances within a country. High-value, light and perishable goods are best moved by airways. In a well-managed transport system, these various modes complement each other.

Land Transport

Most of the movement of goods and services takes place over land. In early days, humans themselves were carriers. Have you ever seen a bride being carried on a palanquin (palki/doli) by four persons (Kahars in north India). Later animals were used as beasts of burden. Have you seen mules, horses and camels, carrying loads of cargo in rural areas? With the invention of the wheel, the use of carts and wagons became important. The revolution in transport came about only after the invention of the steam engine in the eighteenth century. Perhaps the first public railway line was opened in 1825 between Stockton and Darlington in northern England and then onwards, railways became the most popular and fastest form of transport in the nineteenth century. It opened up continental interiors for commercial grain farming, mining and manufacturing in U.S.A. The invention of the internal combustion engine revolutionised road transport in terms of road quality and vehicles (motor cars and trucks) plying over them. Among the newer developments in land transportation are pipelines, ropeways and cableways. Liquids like mineral oil, water, sludge and sewers are transported by pipelines. The great freight carriers are the railways, ocean vessels, barges, boats and motor trucks and pipelines.

Roads

Road transport is the most economical for short distances compared to railways. Freight transport by road is gaining importance because it offers door-to-door service. But unmetalled roads, though simple in construction, are not effective and serviceable for all seasons. During the rainy season these become unmotorable and even the metalled ones are seriously handicapped during heavy rains and floods. In such conditions, the high embankment of rail-tracks and the efficient maintenance of railway transport service, is an effective solution. But the rail kilometrage being small cannot serve the needs of vast and developing countries at a low cost. Roads, therefore, play a vital role in a nation’s trade and commerce and for promoting tourism.

EXERCISES

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

    (i) The Trans–Continental Stuart Highway runs between

           (a) Darwin and Melbourne

           (b) Edmonton and Anchorage

           (c) Vancouver and St. John’s City

           (d) Chengdu and Lhasa

    (ii) Which country has the highest density of railway network?

           (a) Brazil                                   (c) Canada

           (b) U.S.A                                   (d) Russia

    (iii) The Big Trunk Route runs through

           (a) The Mediterranean – Indian ocean

           (b) The North Atlantic Ocean

           (c) The South Atlantic Ocean

           (d) The North Pacific Ocean

    (iv) The Big Inch pipeline transports

           (a) Milk                                      (c) Water

           (b) Liquid petroleum gas (LGP)     (d) Petroleum

     (v) Which one pair of the following places is linked by Channel Tunnel?

           (a) London – Berlin                      (c) Berlin – Paris

           (b) Paris – London                       (d) Barcelona – Berlin

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

     (i) What are the problems of road transport in mountainous, desert and flood prone regions?

     (ii) What is a trans–continental railway?

     (iii) What are the advantages of water transport?

3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.

     (i) Elucidate the statement– “In a well managed transport system, various modes complement each other”.

    (ii) Which are the major regions of the world having a dense network of airways.

  (iii) What are the modes by which cyber space will expand the contemporary economic and social space of humans.

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 12 Geography Transport and Communication