Transport and Communication | Class 10 Social Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 5 min read
Transport and Communication – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Transport and Communication from Class 10 Social Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Roadways
India has the second largest road network in the world, totaling about 62.16 lakh kilometers as of 2020-21. Historically, roadways preceded railways in India and continue to have advantages due to their ease of construction and maintenance. The growing importance of road transport compared to railways is due to several reasons:
(a) The construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines. (b) Roads can traverse more dissected and undulating terrain. (c) Roads can negotiate higher gradients, allowing them to cross mountainous regions like the Himalayas. (d) Road transport is economical for transporting fewer persons and smaller quantities of goods over short distances. (e) It provides door-to-door service, reducing loading and unloading costs. (f) Roads act as feeders to other transport modes, linking railway stations, airports, and seaports.
Roads in India are classified into six categories based on their capacity:
1. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: A major government project linking Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and back to Delhi through six-lane highways. It includes the North-South corridor connecting Srinagar and Kanniyakumari, and the East-West corridor connecting Silchar and Porbandar. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) implements these projects to reduce travel time and distance between mega cities.
2. National Highways: These link extreme parts of the country and form the primary road system, running mainly in North-South and East-West directions.
3. State Highways: Roads linking state capitals with district headquarters.
4. District Roads: Connect district headquarters with other places within the district.
5. Other Roads: Rural roads connecting villages and rural areas to towns, significantly developed under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana to ensure all-season motorable roads to every village.
6. Border Roads: Constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), established in 1960 to develop roads of strategic importance in northern and northeastern border areas. These roads improve accessibility in difficult terrains and aid economic development.
Roads are also classified based on construction material into metalled (made of cement, concrete, or bitumen) and unmetalled roads. Metalled roads are all-weather, while unmetalled roads become unusable during the rainy season.
📊 Diagram: Figure 7.2 shows the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, an example of a high-capacity road facilitating fast movement of vehicles.
🧪 Activity: Collect information on National Highway numbers (old and new) from the official website. Identify which National Highway corresponds to the historical Sher-Shah Suri Marg between Delhi and Amritsar.
🔗 Connection: This section sets the foundation for understanding other modes of transport by highlighting the importance and classification of roadways, leading to the next section on railways.
Frequently asked questions
1. Multiple choice questions. (i) Which two of the following extreme locations are connected by the east-west corridor? (a) Mumbai and Nagpur (b) Silchar and Porbandar (c) Mumbai and Kolkata (d) Nagpur and Siligudi (ii) Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays? (a) Railways (b) Roadways (c) Pipeline (d) Waterways (iii) Which one of the following states is not connected with the H.V.J. pipeline? (a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Maharashtra (c) Gujarat (d) Uttar Pradesh (iv) Which one of the following ports is the deepest land-locked and well-protected port along the east coast? (a) Chennai (b) Paradwip (c) V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) (d) Vishakhapatnam (v) Which one of the following is the most important modes of transportation in India? (a) Pipeline (b) Railways (c) Roadways (d) Airways (vi) Which one of the following terms is used to describe trade between two or more countries? (a) Internal trade (b) International trade (c) External trade (d) Local trade
(i) (b) Silchar and Porbandar are connected by the east-west corridor. Explanation: The east-west corridor connects the eastern and western extremities of India, linking Silchar in Assam (east) to Porbandar in Gujarat (west).
(ii) (c) Pipeline reduces trans-shipment losses and delays. Explanation: Pipelines transport liquids and gases directly from source to destination without unloading and reloading, minimizing losses and delays.
(iii) (a) Madhya Pradesh is not connected with the H.V.J. pipe
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) State any three merits of roadways. (ii) Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation? (iii) What is the significance of the border roads? (iv) What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade?
(i) Three merits of roadways:
- Provide door-to-door connectivity.
- Flexible and can reach remote areas.
- Suitable for short distances and small loads.
(ii) Rail transport is most convenient in transporting heavy and bulky goods over long distances because it is economical, fast, and reliable.
(iii) Border roads are significant as they help in the movement of troops and supplies, promote trade, and improve connectivity in border areas.
(iv) Trade means buying and selling of goods and servic
3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Why are the means of transportation and communication called the lifelines of a nation and its economy? (ii) Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade in the last fifteen years.
(i) Means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy because they facilitate the movement of goods, people, and information. They connect different parts of the country, promote trade and commerce, enable access to markets, and support economic growth and national integration. Efficient transport and communication systems reduce costs and time, improve productivity, and help in the overall development of the country.
(ii) In the last fifteen years,
# QUIZ DRIVE 1. Northern terminal of the North-south corridor. 2. The headquarter of the southern railway zone. 3. The rail gauge with a track width of $1.676\mathrm{m}$. 4. A Riverine Port. 5. Busiest railway junction in Northern India.
1. Northern terminal of the North-south corridor is Srinagar. Explanation: The North-South corridor runs from Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
2. The headquarters of the Southern Railway zone is Chennai. Explanation: Chennai is the administrative center for the Southern Railway zone.
3. The rail gauge with a track width of 1.676 m is Broad Gauge. Explanation: Broad gauge is the standard gauge used in most of Indian Railways.
4. A Riverine Port example is Kolkata. Explanation
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