Notes Class 10 Geography Chapter 7 Lifelines of National Economy

Notes For All Chapters Geography Class 10 CBSE

Importance of Transport, Communication, and Trade

Goods and services do not move on their own; they require transport.
Traders facilitate this movement, connecting supply areas to demand areas.
Development of a country depends on production of goods/services and their movement over space.
Efficient transport is essential for fast development.
Transport works in three domains: land, water, air.
Communication systems help in connecting people and spreading information.
Together, transport, communication, and trade are complementary and act as lifelines of the economy.
India is well-linked globally through railways, airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, TV, cinema, and internet.
Trade at local, national, and international levels adds vitality to the economy.

ROADWAYS

India has the second-largest road network in the world (62.16 lakh km in 2020–21).
Roads preceded railways and still have an edge due to:

1. Lower construction cost.
2. Ability to cross dissected terrain and slopes.
3. Useful for short distances and small goods.
4. Provides door-to-door service.
5. Acts as feeder to other transport modes (railways, ports, airports).

Classification of Roads:

1. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways

Links Delhi–Kolkata–Chennai–Mumbai by six-lane super highways.
North–South Corridor: Srinagar to Kanniyakumari.
East–West Corridor: Silchar to Porbandar.
Objective: Reduce travel time and distance.
Implemented by NHAI.

2. National Highways – Link extreme parts of the country.

3. State Highways – Connect state capitals with district headquarters.

4. District Roads – Connect district headquarters with other places of the district.

5. Other Roads – Rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana for all-season village connectivity.

6. Border Roads – Built and maintained by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) (since 1960).

Strategically important in northern and northeastern borders.
Improved accessibility and economic development.

Types of Roads:

Metalled roads (cement, concrete, bitumen).
Unmetalled roads (mud, gravel).

RAILWAYS

Principal mode for freight and passenger transport.
First train: Mumbai to Thane (1853, 34 km).
Bind economic life of the country, integrate regions, promote agriculture and industry.
16 railway zones in India.

Factors Affecting Distribution:

Favourable: Northern plains (flat land, dense population, agriculture).
Difficult:
- Rivers requiring bridges.
- Hilly terrain (Peninsular India, Himalayas).
- Sandy deserts (Rajasthan).
- Forested areas (Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand).

Developments:

Konkan Railway along west coast (facing landslides and sinking tracks).
Atal Tunnel (9.02 km) – Manali to Lahul-Spiti (BRO).

Problems:

Overcrowding, ticketless travel, theft, property damage, chain pulling.

PIPELINES

New mode for transporting crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas.
Also used for slurry (solid mixed in water).
Advantages: No trans-shipment losses, economical after installation.

Major Pipeline Networks:

Assam to Kanpur – via Guwahati, Barauni, Allahabad; branches to Haldia, Rajbandh, Maurigram, Siliguri.
Salaya (Gujarat) to Jalandhar (Punjab) – via Viramgam, Delhi, Sonipat.
HVJ Gas Pipeline (Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur) – links Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields to fertilizer and power plants.
India’s gas pipelines expanded from 1,700 km to 18,500 km.

WATERWAYS

Cheapest means, fuel-efficient, eco-friendly, suited for bulky goods.
India has 14,500 km of navigable waterways (5685 km navigable by mechanised vessels).

National Waterways:

NW-1: Ganga (Allahabad–Haldia, 1620 km).
NW-2: Brahmaputra (Sadiya–Dhubri, 891 km).
NW-3: West Coast Canal (Kerala, 205 km).
NW-4: Godavari–Krishna rivers, Kakinada–Puducherry canals (1078 km).
NW-5: Brahmani, Mahanadi delta, East Coast Canal (588 km).

Other waterways: Mandavi, Zuari, Sunderbans, Barak, Kerala backwaters.

Sea Transport:

95% of India’s trade volume (68% value) by sea.
India has 12 major ports, 200 minor ports.

Major Ports:

Kandla: First port after Independence; handles grain, industrial goods.
Mumbai: Largest natural harbour.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port: To decongest Mumbai.
Marmagao (Goa): Premier iron ore exporting port (50% of iron ore exports).
New Mangalore: Exports Kudremukh iron ore.
Kochchi: South-western natural lagoon port.
Tuticorin: South-eastern, handles diverse cargo.
Chennai: Oldest artificial port.
Vishakhapatnam: Deepest landlocked port.
Paradwip: Exports iron ore.
Kolkata: Riverine port, requires dredging.
Haldia: Subsidiary to Kolkata.

AIRWAYS

Fastest, most comfortable, prestigious.
Useful in difficult terrain: mountains, deserts, forests, floods.
Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. – services to ONGC, NE states, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand.
Not affordable for common people except NE (subsidised).

COMMUNICATION

Means of sending and receiving messages.
Personal communication: letters, phones, internet.
Mass communication: TV, radio, films, newspapers, magazines.

Indian Postal Network:

Largest in the world.
First-class mail (cards, envelopes) airlifted.
Second-class mail (newspapers, parcels) by surface mail.
Six new mail channels: Rajdhani, Metro, Green, Business, Bulk Mail, Periodical.

Telecom:

India has one of the largest telecom networks in Asia.
Over two-thirds villages connected by STD.

Broadcasting:

All India Radio (Akashvani) – national, regional, local broadcasts.
Doordarshan – national TV channel, largest terrestrial network.
India publishes newspapers in ~100 languages.
Largest number in Hindi, followed by English and Urdu.
India: largest producer of films; certified by Central Board of Film Certification.

Digital India:

Focus on knowledge-based economy:
IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow).

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Exchange of goods among people, states, and countries.
Types of trade:
- Local (within towns/villages).
- State-level (between states).
- International (between countries).
Exports: gems, jewellery, chemicals, agriculture.
Imports: petroleum, machinery, electronics, base metals.
Balance of trade = exports – imports.
- Exports > imports = favourable.
- Imports > exports = unfavourable.
India has global trade links; emerged as software exporter.

TOURISM AS A TRADE

Employs >15 million people.
Promotes handicrafts, culture, and national integration.
Types: heritage, eco, adventure, cultural, medical, business tourism.
Has vast potential across India.