Ask a Teacher

Mention the significance of roads in India and explain problems faced by road transportation ?

    (i)  Roads are important for transport of goods and passengers for short and medium distances. 

   (ii)  They are relatively cheap and easy,both in construction and maintenance.

   (iii) They connect fields with markets,factories and farms.

  (iv)  They provide door to door service.

  (v)   Roads can be built even at high altitudes or mountainous regions.

  (vi)  For perishable goods, roads provide better services than railways.

   II.  Problems in Road Transportation:

   (i)   The road network is inadequate.

   (ii)  About half of the roads are in poor condition.

   (iii) The National Highways are inadequate.

   (iv) The roads are highly congested in cities and their bridges and culverts are narrow leading to traffic jam.

   (v)  The roadside amenities like telephone,health services,police protection are poor on National Highways.

   (vi) Cost of maintenance is high as roads need repair very often.

   (vii)  Increasing number of  vehicles contribute to the  pollution of environment.