Page 1 - LN-Sub Topic2

SAI International School
Grade-X, Sub: Geography

Ch7- Lifelines of National Economy
Sub Topic2-Transport-Roadways, Railways

Sub-topics Lesson Notes

Transport- Classification of roads on the basis of the material used for construction:
Roadways(
Contd.), Roads are classified on the basis of the type of material used for their construction:
Railways- → Metalled roads: These roads may be made of cement, concrete or even
page no- 84, bitumen of coal.
85 → Unmetalled roads: Roads made up of mud and gravel which are generally
found in the rural areas.
Road Density
• The length of road per 100 sq. km of area is known as Road Density.
• Density of all roads varies from only 10.04 km in Jammu and Kashmir to 532.27
km in Uttar Pradesh.
• The national average of 125.02 km.

• Problems of Road Transportation:
→Keeping in view the volume of traffic and passengers, the road network is
inadequate.
→ About half of the roads are unmetalled which limits their usage during the rainy
season.
→ The National Highways are inadequate too.
→ The roadways are highly congested in cities.
→ Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
Railways
• Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in
India.
• The railways have become more important in our national economy than all other
means of transport put together.
• It makes possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, and
pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over longer distances.
• The Indian Railway network runs on multiple gauge operations such as broad
gauge (1.676mt), gauge(1mt), narrow gauge (0.762mt. and 0.610mt.), extending
over 64460 km.
• The Indian Railway is now reorganised into 16 zones.
• The distribution pattern of the Railway network in the country has been largely
influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors.

Problems in Railway Transportation:
→ Many passengers travel without tickets.