Geography, asked by poorvith2007, 10 months ago

Comparison and contrast the types merits and demerita of roadways and water ways

Answers

Answered by hariveshsingh33

Merits of Road Transport:

1. Less Investment:

Roads need less capital than the railways. Laying of railway line needs much capital than road. So it is cheaper.

2. Door to Door Service:

Railways have the drawback that they cannot go to each village while road transport provides door to door service. So it is more beneficial.

3. Flexibility in Service:

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Unlike railways, the road transport provides flexible service to men and materials.

4. Employment:

Road transport provides emplo3mient to many persons directly and indirectly.

5. Useful for Small Distances:

While railways are useful in long distances, road transport is useful in small distance.

2) Dimerits of Road Transport:

1. Frequent Accidents: Road transport system is dotted with frequent accidents. According to an estimate, there are large number of deaths due to road accidents. So it is not safer mode of transport.

2. Inadequate Roads:

Most of the roads are in bad shape and are inadequate. There are only 34 km long roads per 100 sq. km area in India while in Japan 270 km roads per 100 sq. km.

3. Heavy Taxes:

There is heavy tax burden on motor transport in India. Tax burden per motor vehicle in India is Rs. 3500 while in America it is Rs. 860.

4. Poor Maintenance of Roads:

Roads are not maintained properly in India. Less than 0.1 percent of national income is spent on the maintenance of roads in India, while in Japan it is 3 percent of the national income.

5. Rising Cost of Petrol and Diesel:

Merits of waterways-

1. Less Maintenance Cost:

Maintenance cost in rail and road transport is quite high but maintenance cost of water transport is quite less.

2. Cheap:

The transport channel is quite cheap as compared rail and road Transport.

3. Useful for Bulky Goods:

Heavy and bulky goods can be transported easily at little cost through water transport.

4. Useful During Natural Calamities:

During natural calamities like flood and rains, when rail and road transport is disrupted, relief operations can be operated through water transport.

5. Helpful in Defence:

Development of shipping is essential for the defence of the country also. It is also called second line of defence.

6. Important for Foreign Trade:

Water transport plays important role in foreign trade. India’s foreign trade is mainly dependent on water transport.

Dimerits of Water Transport:

1. Slow Speed:

It is a slow means of transport. Failure of monsoon results into fall in the water level of rivers making navigation difficult.

2. More Risky:

Water transport is more risky as compared to other means because there is always danger of sinking ships or boats.

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