Transport and Communication (Part 2) — NCERT Solutions

A trans-continental railway is a railway line that runs across a continent and connects its two ends. The chapter explains that such railways were built for economic and political reasons to allow long runs in different directions.

Water transport has several advantages. It does not require route construction, so there are no heavy building costs for roads or rail tracks. It is cheaper because the friction of water is much less than that of land, so the energy cost is low. It is especially useful for carrying bulky goods over long distances by sea. Inland waterways can also carry very heavy cargo such as coal, timber and ores.

In a well-managed transport system, the different modes support one another. Roads provide door-to-door service and connect places to railway stations, airports and ports. Railways are best for bulky goods over long distances, while waterways are cheapest for heavy cargo across seas and on navigable rivers. Airways move high-value, light and perishable goods quickly. Pipelines carry liquids and gases continuously. Thus, each mode has its own advantages, and together they create an efficient transport network.

The chapter says that a distinct east-west belt of inter-continental air routes exists in the Northern Hemisphere. The dense network is found in Eastern U.S.A., Western Europe and Southeast Asia. These are the major regions having dense airways.

Cyberspace expands the economic and social space of humans mainly through e-mail, e-commerce, e-learning and e-governance. It also works with the Internet, fax, television and radio, making communication and access to information faster and wider across place and time.