Means of Transport and Choosing a Route
To reach Bhopal from Nagpur urgently, would you choose bus, train or plane? We decide the means looking at time, money and convenience.
Carrying people and goods from one place to another is transport. The five routes are roadways, railways, waterways, airways and pipelines.
Key idea 1 : Five routes — Roads: rickshaw, bus, truck; rail: passenger and goods trains, metro; waterways: boats, ships; airways: aeroplane, helicopter; pipelines: to carry oil, gas and water.
Key idea 2 : What to consider when choosing — Distance, duration, cost, physiography, climate, market and nature of the goods: these seven are considered. Time and money are saved and goods arrive safely.
Key idea 3 : Price and transport cost — The selling price for the customer is not decided only by production cost; transport cost adds to it. If transport is affordable the price can be kept low.
- Easy : Konkan mangoes to Arab countries; most suitable? — Air or sea (perishable goods).
- Medium : Carrying crude oil abroad? — Waterway / pipeline.
- Exam-type : An urgent 1,000 km trip? — Plane or train.
In the figure: Main routes of transport (pipeline separate).
Seven factors: distance, time, cost, relief, climate, market, goods.
The fastest means is not always the best; cost and type of goods must also be seen.
Memory clue: Distance, time, cost, relief, climate, market, goods. Memory clue: "Distance-time-cost; relief-weather-market-goods".
Spot the difference
| Route | Advantage | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Roads | Door-to-door | Costly for long distance |
| Rail | Heavy goods, cheaper | Only up to stations |
| Air | Fast | Costly |
Practice questions
- 1Which are the main routes of transport?
- 2What should be considered when choosing a route?
- 3How does transport cost affect the price of goods?
- 4State the uses of pipeline transport.
- 5Which route suits perishable goods and why?
- 6Which route suits a walker going to Kanyakumari and why?
- 7Compare roads and railways.
- 8Write four ways to go from your village to the nearest town.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Roads, rail, water, air, pipelines.
- 2Distance, time, cost, relief, climate, market, goods.
- 3When transport cost rises price rises.
- 4To carry oil, gas and water.
- 5A fast route (air), because the goods spoil.
- 6On foot; no time limit and a message to give.
- 7Roads = door-to-door; rail = heavy goods and cheaper.
- 8The student lists bus, train, private vehicle, bicycle.
Transport, Physiography and Importance
In hilly areas the road is winding and on a flat plain it is straight and quickly built. So the form of land decides transport routes.
Physiography (hills, valleys, rivers) of a region affects its transport routes. Transport is basic infrastructure and its growth indicates development of the region.
Key idea 1 : Example of Satara district — In the west of Satara district the Sahyadris make elevation high and the transport network sparse. In the central part a national highway and railway pass so the network is dense. In the east it is of medium density.
Key idea 2 : Importance of transport — Expanding trade, rapid industrialisation, job opportunities, regional connectivity, tourism development and lowering regional imbalance are key roles of transport. Better transport helps raise per capita income and GDP.
Key idea 3 : RoRo and Green Corridor — In RoRo (roll-on roll-off) loaded trucks are carried on railway wagons up to a station; this lowers fuel use and pollution. In a green corridor the route is cleared so a donated organ reaches quickly.
- Easy : Why is the network sparse in hills? — Slopes and higher cost.
- Medium : Why is it dense on plains? — Roads are easy to build.
- Exam-type : Putting trucks on a train? — RoRo.
In the figure: Density of transport network changes with relief.
Konkan Railway began the first RoRo service in India on 26 January 1999 (Kolad to Verna, Goa). (Check with the book)
Hills = sparse; plain = dense.
The network does not depend only on relief; population, industry and trade matter too.
Memory clue: Relief → network. Memory clue: "Plenty of roads on plains, few in hills".
Spot the difference
| Area | Relief | Network |
|---|---|---|
| West Satara | Sahyadris, high | Sparse |
| Central Satara | Medium, highway-rail | Dense |
| East Satara | Low-medium | Medium |
Practice questions
- 1How does relief affect transport?
- 2Why is the network sparse in west Satara?
- 3State the importance of transport.
- 4Why is transport considered infrastructure?
- 5What is RoRo transport and its advantages?
- 6What is a green corridor?
- 7How does better transport reduce regional imbalance?
- 8Suggest three measures to improve transport in your area.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Fewer routes in hills; more on plains.
- 2Height and slopes of the Sahyadris.
- 3Trade, industry, jobs, connectivity, tourism.
- 4Because other development depends on it.
- 5Trucks carried on trains; less fuel and pollution.
- 6Clearing the road to deliver an organ quickly.
- 7By connecting remote areas to markets and services.
- 8Repair of roads, bus service, bridges.
Means of Communication
Reading a newspaper in the morning, speaking on the phone at home and watching news on TV in the evening; every day we exchange information through many means.
Exchange of information is communication. Like transport, communication is basic infrastructure.
Key idea 1 : Conventional means — Postal service, telegraph, newspapers, radio and TV are conventional means. Newspapers carry news and advertisements to everyone. TV gives news, education and entertainment at low cost.
Key idea 2 : Modern means — Mobile, internet, e-mail, video calling and video conferencing are modern means. We can talk to many people at once and messages reach in a moment.
Key idea 3 : Artificial satellites — Through artificial satellites mobile messages, TV programmes and weather information come together. Satellite images from remote sensing help study earth’s resources and plan regions.
- Easy : Sending a note by letter? — Postal (conventional).
- Medium : Talking to many at once? — Video conferencing.
- Exam-type : Images that help forecast rain? — Satellite.
In the figure: Conventional, modern and satellite.
Conventional = post-paper-TV; modern = mobile-net.
Modern means do not end conventional ones; newspapers and TV are still useful in rural areas.
Memory clue: Old and new means. Memory clue: "Post-Paper-Pictures(TV); Phone-File-Frame(net)".
Spot the difference
| Point | Conventional | Modern |
|---|---|---|
| Example | Post, newspaper | Mobile, internet |
| Speed | Comparatively slow | In a moment |
| Reach | Limited | Worldwide |
Practice questions
- 1What is communication?
- 2State the difference between transport and communication.
- 3Compare conventional and modern means.
- 4How is TV a cheap means?
- 5How is a newspaper a means of communication?
- 6State two uses of artificial satellites.
- 7Write four services available at a post office.
- 8Write the communication means you use daily and their use.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Exchange of information.
- 2Transport = people and goods; communication = information.
- 3Conventional = slow, limited reach; modern = fast, worldwide.
- 4News, education and entertainment at low cost.
- 5It takes news and advertisements to everyone.
- 6Weather information, mobile messages, study of resources.
- 7Letters, parcels, money order, speed post.
- 8The student writes uses of phone, TV and internet.
Internet Age: Uses and Safety
Paying an electricity bill or buying vegetables by mobile now takes seconds. But an unknown link on the same mobile can bring a risk of fraud.
Internet and social media have made online trading, bill payment and money transfer easy. But risks of cyber crime have also grown.
Key idea 1 : Uses of the internet — Online buying-selling, money transfer and bill payment can be done through mobile apps. The textbook mentions apps like BHIM and SBI Anywhere as examples. The Government of India encourages online transactions.
Key idea 2 : Cyber risks — Risks include hacking of websites or e-mail, fraud, theft of information and attacks on important websites. Sometimes money is demanded to return files.
Key idea 3 : Safety rules — Do not put personal or sensitive information on social media. Do not give information without being sure it is safe, never share passwords and do not open unknown links.
- Easy : A message asks you to click an unknown link; what to do? — Do not click; tell elders.
- Medium : Paying a bill by mobile? — Online transaction.
- Exam-type : Telling your password to friends? — Wrong.
In the figure: Steps to stay safe from unknown links.
No link, no password, no info.
The internet is not bad; used with care it is very useful.
Memory clue: Three rules: no link, no password, no info. Memory clue: "Link-Password-Info".
Spot the difference
| Use | Risk | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Online payment | Fraud | Use official app |
| Hacking | Strong password | |
| Social media | Info theft | Do not post private info |
Practice questions
- 1State four uses of the internet.
- 2What are cyber crimes? Name two types.
- 3What precautions are needed in online transactions?
- 4What information should not be posted on social media?
- 5Why does the government encourage online transactions?
- 6Write an e-mail to a friend about the school trip, copy to the class teacher.
- 7An unknown caller asks for an OTP; what will you do?
- 8Make a poster of five rules for safe internet.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Buying-selling, money transfer, bill payment, e-mail.
- 2Crimes through the internet; hacking, fraud.
- 3Official app, strong password, avoid unknown links.
- 4Personal and sensitive information.
- 5Because transactions are easy, quick and transparent.
- 6The student uses date, place, time and CC.
- 7End the call without giving info and tell elders.
- 8The student writes five rules attractively.