(a) 'Efficient means of Transport are pre-requisite for fast development. ' Justify the statement.

(i)Movement of goods and services can be over three important domains of our Earth i.e. Land, Water, and Air. Based on these, transport can also be classified into water and air transport.

(ii)Today, the world has been converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast-moving transport.

(iii)Transport helps us in interacting with others in all the parts of the world

(iv)Transport like railways help us in conducting various activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage and transportation of goods over longer distances.

(v)Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.

(vi)Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.

(vii)Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.

OR “Roadways have an edge over Railways”. Justify the statement.

(i) Construction cost of roads is much lower than of railway lines.

(ii)Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography.

(iii)Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas

(iv)Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances

(v)It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower

(vi)Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway station, air and sea ports.