GEOGRAPHY (CLASS X)

CHAPTER. 7 –LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY– IMP. POINTS.

NOTE: STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE TEXT BOOK THOROUGHLY BASED ON THESE
POINTS)
7.1 Introduction: We use different materials and services in everyday life.
• Movement of these goods and services from their supply location to demand
locations necessitates transportation.
• Efficient means of transport is the pre-requisite for the fast development of
the country due to the following reasons.
a) Economic development of the country is largely depends upon the dense
network of transport and communication.
b) They link areas of production with consumption, agriculture with industry and
village with towns and cities.
c) They help the industry by providing raw- materials and distribution of finished
products.
d) They help in the development of all three sectors: primary, secondary and
tertiary.
e) They help in the balanced regional development.

• Sufficient means of transportation are the pre-requisites for fast development

of trade, industry etc. due to the following reasons.
a) The world has been converted in to a global village where efficient means of
transport and communication is essential.
b) Transport, communication and trade are complementary to each other.
c) India is well linked with the rest of the world due to the efficient means of
transport and communication.
d) Railways, water ways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet
facilitates the socioeconomic development of the country.
e) Efficient means of transport and communication has enriched our life and has
improved the standard of life.

• Transport is classified in to land, water and air.

• Land transport consists roadways, railways and pipelines.
• Water transport consists inland and overseas transport.
• Air transport consists domestic and international airways.

7.2 ROADWAYS.
• India has one of the largest road networks in the world covering around 2.3
million km.
• Roadways have an edge over railways in India due to the following reasons.
a) Cost of road construction is lower than that of railway.
b) Road ways can be constructed on all types of topographical features and can
negotiate height and slopes.
 c) Its convenient for short and medium distance travel.
d) It provides door to door serrvices and act as a link between railways

e) It’s a convenient mode of carrying perishable commodities.

CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS.

Golden quadrilateral super highway: Indian govt. has launched a super highway
linking DelhiKolkatha- Chennai- Mumbai- Delhi by six lane.
• North-south corridors links Srinagar and Kanyakumari.
• East –west corridor connects Silcher (Assam) and Porbhandher (Gujarath)
• The major objective of this super highway is to reduce distance between mega
cities.
• It is implemented by NHAI (National Highway Authority of India)

.… 2. National Highways. It links extreme parts of the country.

• They are developed by CPWP ( Central Public Works Department)
• There are a number of national highways run North-South and East- West
directions.
• National highway 7 is the longest one that covers a distance of 2369 km between
Varanasi to Kanyakumari.
• Delhi and Mumbai are connected with NH-8 while National Highway 15 covers
most of Rajasthan.
3. State Highways: Roads linking state capital with different district head quarters
are known as state highways.
• They are constructed and maintained by PWD (Public Works Department)

4. District Roads: They connect district headquarters with other places of districts.

5. Rural roads: These roads link villages and towns. They are maintained under
Pradhanmatri Grameen Sadak Yojana.

6. Border Roads: These roads are constructed and maintained by Border Roads
Organisation.
• This organization was established in 1960 for improving roads of strategic areas of
northern and North-Eastern areas.

7.Roads can also be classified as metalled and unmetalled roads. Metel roads
are made of cement, concrete & coal etc.
* Unmetalled roads become worse during rainy .
b) Road Density.
 • The length of road per 100 square km of area is known as the density of roads.
• Density of roads vary one state to another.
• Density of roads vary from 10.04 km in Jammu & Kashmeer to 532.27 km in
UP(2007-08)
• Road transportation faces the following problems in India.
a) Inadequate network of roads.
b) Half of the roads are unmetalled.
c) National Highways are inadequate.
d) Roadways are highly congested in cities.
e) Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.

7.3 RAILWAYS
• It’s the largest public sector undertaking in India.
• Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers.
• Railways also facilitates activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage etc.
• Since 150 years, railway is accelerating the development of industry and agriculture
in India.
• Indian railway have a network of more than 7000 stations spread over a route length
morethan 65000 km.
• Indian railway is divided in to16 zones.
• The first train ran in India was from Mumbai to Thane in 1853 covering 34 km.

a) The distribution pattern of railway network in India has been largely

influenced by the following factors.
b) As Northern plains of India are vast and level land, construction of railway track
is and cheap in these plains.
c) In hilly terrains of peninsular region, rail tracks are laid through low hills and
tunnels.
d) Himalayan mountain regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway
lines due to high relief and sparse population.

e.In sandy plains of western Rajasthan, construction of railway lines is also

difficult.
f) Swampy areas of Gujarath does not permit tol ay down tracks.
g) Forest areas of the country is also unfavourable.
b) The major problems that Indian railway faces are the following.
a) Many passengers travel without tickets.
b) Theft and damaging of railway property.
c) People pull the chain and stop train unnecessarily.
d) Not following the time schedule.
e) Repeated accidents in level crosses and on the track.

7.4 PIPELINES.
• Pipeline transport network is a new arrival in the transportation map of India.
• These are used to transport crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas.
• Initial cost of laying pipeline is so high but subsequent charges are less.
• It also rules out trans-shipment loss and delay.

The three important pipeline network of pipeline transportation in India.

a) From the oil field of upper Assam to Kanpur in Up.

b) From Salaya in Gujarath to Jalandhar in Punjab via Delhi.
c) Pipeline from Hazira in Gujarath to Jagadishpur in UP.

7.5 WATERWAYS.
• It’s the cheapest means of transportation.
• Its more useful and suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
• Its fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
• India has inland waterways of 14500km. Three important inland water ways are:
a) The inland waterway in Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia cover 1620
km.
b) In Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri covering 891 km.
c) The west cost canal in Kerala covering 205 km
• India’s trade with foreign countries is carried through different ports. 95% of
country’s trade volume is moved by sea. A) Major Seaports.
• Having 7516 km cost line, India has 12 major and 187 minor ports. • 95% of India’s
foreign trade is handled by these major ports.
1. Kandla Port in Kuchchh
• It is the first port developed after independence.
• It’s a tidal port.
• It reduces the volume of traffic in Mumbai port.
• It’s a free trade zone.
2. Mumbai Port.
• It’s the biggest port with a spacious natural and a well sheltered harbor.
3. MarmaGoa port.
• It’s the premier iron ore exporting port of the country. • 50% of India’s iron ore export
is handled by this port.
4. Kochi port.
• It’s the extreme south-western port with a natural harbor.
5. Tuticorin in tamilnadu is the extreme south-eastern port of the country.
6. Chennai port.
• It’s the oldest artificial port of the country.
• Its ranked second after Mumbai in terms of trade.
7. Vishakhapattanam is the deepest land locked and well protected port.
• Earlier it was meant for iron ore export.
8. Paradeep is located in Odisha is specializes in the export of iron ore.
9. Kolkatha is an inland reverine port. Beeing a tidal port, it requiresconstant
dredging of Hoogly.
10. Haldia port is introduced to support Kolkatha port.

7.6 AIRWAYS.
• Air travel is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
• It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountains, deserts, dense forest or oceanic
stretches.
• Air transport in India was nationalized in1953.
• Indian Airlines provides domestic service while Air India provides international
services.
7.7 Communication.
• Personnel communication and mass communication including television, radio,
press, films, newspapers, magazines, mobile phones, internet, social media etc.
• Indian portal network is the largest in the world.
• To facilitate quick delivery of mailsin large towns and cities, six mail channels have
been introduced.
a) Rajadhani channel. b) Metro Channel. c)Green Channel.
d) Business Channel. e) Bulk mail Channel. f) Periodical Channel.
• Govt. has introduced 24 hours STD facility in every village in India.
• radio, television, newspapers, films, books etc. facilitates regionally and naturally
providing information and entertainment.
• Dooradarshan- the national television channel of India is one of the largest network
of television channels in the world.
• Newspapers are published around100 languages and dialects.
• Largest number of news papers are published in Hindi followed by English and
Urudu.
• India is the largest producer of featured movies in the world.

7.8. International Trade.

• The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is referred as trade.
• Trade between two countries is called international trade.
• Local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages.
• State level trade is carried between states.
• Trade is considered as the economic barometer of a country as it’s the index of
economic prosperity.
• The balance of trade of a country is the difference between exports and imports.
• When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, its called favourable balance
of trade.
• On the contrary, if the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, its unfavourable
balance of trade.
• In 2010-11, the share of India’s export was as given hereunder.
Agriculture & allied products : 9.9%
Ores & Minerals : 4.0%
Gems & jewellery : 14.7%
Petrolium products : 16.8%

• In 2010-11 the share of imports of India is as follows.

Petrolium and its products : 28.6%
Perls and precious stones : 9.4%
Chemicals :5.2%
Coal, coke,briquetters :2.7%
Machinery : 6.4%

7.9 Tourism as a trade.

• Tourism has grown tremendously since last three decades.

• During the year 2010, foreign tourist arrival increased 11.8% against 2009.
• In 2010, tourism brought around 64,889 crore foreign exchange.
• More than 15 million people are engaged in tourism industry in India.
a) Tourism promotes national integration.
b) Tourism provides support to local handicraft and cultural persuits.
c) It also helps in the development of international understanding about culture
and heritage.
d) Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism, eco-tourism, adventure

tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism and business tourism.

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