Question

“Road transport in India is not competitive but complementary to rail transport.” Explain this statement by giving suitable arguments in its support.

Answer 1

1. Vital for Short and Medium Travel: Roads play a crucial role in moving passengers and goods over short and medium distances.
2. Low Cost and Easy Maintenance: Compared to other transport systems, roads are relatively inexpensive and simpler to build and maintain.
3. Direct Connectivity: Roads help link farms, factories, fields, and markets, offering door-to-door services.
4. Suitability in Hilly Areas: Roads can handle steep slopes and sharp bends, unlike railways, making them ideal for construction in mountainous regions.
5. Support to Railways: Roads serve as important feeder routes for railways. Without efficient road access, collecting agricultural and industrial produce for railway transport becomes difficult.
6. Greater Flexibility: Road transport is more adaptable than railways. Vehicles like trucks and buses can stop anywhere and anytime for loading or unloading, unlike trains, which only halt at fixed stations.
7. Faster Transport of Perishables: Items like milk, fruits, and vegetables can be moved more quickly and easily by road than by train.