Chapter 7: Lifelines of National Economy (Geography)

(b) Silchar and Porbandar

Pipelines carry liquids and gases directly from the source to the destination, without loading and unloading on the way.

(c) Pipeline

The Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur pipeline runs from Hazira (Gujarat) through Vijaipur (Madhya Pradesh) to Jagdishpur (Uttar Pradesh).

(b) Maharashtra

(d) Visakhapatnam

Railways are the principal mode for carrying freight and passengers in India and are more important in the national economy than all other means of transport put together.

(b) Railways

(b) International trade

• Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines.
• Roads can traverse more dissected and undulating topography and negotiate higher gradients, so they can cross mountains such as the Himalayas.
• Road transport is economical for a few persons and smaller amounts of goods over short distances, and it provides door-to-door service, so the cost of loading and unloading is much lower. It also acts as a feeder to other modes of transport, linking railway stations, air and sea ports.

Roads are cheaper to build, can cross rough and hilly terrain, and give economical door-to-door service over short distances.

Rail transport is most convenient in the northern plains, with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources, which make it easy and profitable to build and run railways. It is the best way to carry bulky goods and large numbers of passengers over long distances. (In hilly, desert, marshy or forested areas, such as the Himalayas, Rajasthan and the north-east, building railways is difficult and costly.)

On the level, densely populated northern plains, where railways are easy to build and carry bulky goods and many passengers cheaply over long distances.

The Border Roads Organisation (established in 1960), a Government of India undertaking, builds and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country, especially in the northern and north-eastern border areas. These roads are of strategic importance for defence; they have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and helped in the economic development of these areas.

They are strategically important for defence, connect remote areas with difficult terrain, and help their economic development.

The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is called trade; the market is the place where such exchanges take place.

• Local trade is carried on within cities, towns and villages.
• International trade is trade between two or more countries, through sea, air or land routes. Its advancement is an index of a country's economic prosperity.

Trade is the exchange of goods; local trade happens within towns and villages, while international trade happens between countries.

• Goods and services do not move by themselves: transport carries raw materials to factories and finished goods from producers to consumers. Without it, production and trade would stop.
• An efficient transport network allows specialised production in different areas, which can then be exchanged.
• It links remote areas with the rest of the country and so helps in their development; it promotes national integration and helps in times of emergencies and for defence.
• Communication (post, telephones, internet, radio, television, newspapers) spreads information quickly, connects people and markets, and supports administration, education and business.
• Transport and communication together make trade possible, both within the country and with the world. A dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a prerequisite for local, national and global trade and for the rapid development of a country.

Just as lifelines carry blood through the body, transport and communication carry goods, people and information through the economy, so they are called its lifelines.

Because they move raw materials, goods, people and information, which makes production, trade, development and national integration possible.

• India has trade relations with all the major trading blocs and all geographical regions of the world.
• The composition of exports has changed: along with agricultural and allied products, India now exports more gems and jewellery, chemicals and related products, engineering goods, ores and minerals, and petroleum products.
• Imports include petroleum and crude products, gems and precious stones, chemicals, coal, coke and machinery, fertilisers and edible oils.
• Over the years, international trade has grown with globalisation. Services, such as information technology (software) and tourism, have become important sources of foreign exchange; India is seen as a software giant.
• Trade has become faster because of better ports, airports, containerisation and digital communication, and it increasingly depends on the exchange of knowledge and technology.
• India mostly has an unfavourable balance of trade, as its imports (especially of oil) exceed its exports.

India's trade has grown and diversified: exports of gems and jewellery, chemicals, engineering goods and IT services have risen, while imports, especially of petroleum, remain high.

1. Srinagar 2. Chennai 3. Broad gauge 4. Kolkata 5. Mughal Sarai (now Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction)