Ch 07 - Lifelines of National Economy10th Geography

Prerequisites for Economic Development

• Movement: Goods and services require transport to move from supply areas to demand locales.
• Linkage: They create active, necessary links between production centers and consumer markets.
• Global Integration: Efficient transport, aided by modern communication, has converted the world into a massive, integrated global village.
• Complementarity: Transport, Communication, and Trade are highly complementary to each other; one cannot thrive without the others.

Advantages of Roadways

1. Cost Efficiency: Significantly lower construction and maintenance costs compared to railways.
2. Topographical Adaptability: Roads can traverse dissected, undulating, and high-gradient slopes (like the Himalayas) where laying rail tracks is impossible.
3. Micro-Economy: Highly economical for transporting fewer persons and smaller amounts of goods over short distances.
4. Door-to-Door Service: Drastically reduces loading and unloading costs compared to rail freight.
5. Feeder Function: Acts as a vital feeder to other transport modes, physically linking railway stations, airports, and sea ports.

Material Classification

1. Metalled Roads: Constructed using cement, concrete, or bitumen of coal. These are highly durable all-weather roads usable throughout the entire year.
2. Unmetalled Roads: Constructed primarily of mud and gravel. They are highly susceptible to damage and generally go out of use during the rainy/monsoon season.