How railways and roadways are lifelines of our economy??
Answers
Roadways in India
India has one of the largest road networks in the world, aggregating to about 2.3 million km at present. Hence, the growing importance of road transport vis-à-vis rail transport is rooted in the following reasons;
The construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines,
Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography,
Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas,
Road transport is economical in the transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances,
It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower,
Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air, and seaports.
Railways in India
The Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India. They also make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage. Therefore, they play a major role in the transportation of goods over longer distances. Railways in India bind the economic life of the country as well as accelerate the development of the industry and agriculture.