NCERT Book Class 10 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 7 Lifelines of National Economy

We use different materials and services in our the help of equally developed communication
daily life. Some of these are available in our system. Therefore, transport, communication
immediate surroundings, while other and trade are complementary to each other.
requirements are met by bringing things from Today, India is well-linked with the rest of
other places. Goods and services do not move the world despite its vast size, diversity and
from supply locales to demand locales on their linguistic and socio-cultural plurality.
own. The movement of these goods and services Railways, airways, waterways, newspapers,
from their supply locations to demand locations radio, television, cinema and internet, etc. have
necessitates the need for transport. Some people been contributing to its socio-economic
are engaged in facilitating these movements. progress in many ways. The trades from local
These are known to be traders who make the to international levels have added to the vitality
products come to the consumers by of its economy. It has enriched our life and
transportation. Thus, the pace of development added substantially to growing amenities and
of a country depends upon the production of facilities for the comforts of life.
goods and services as well as their movement In this chapter, you will see how modern
over space. Therefore, efficient means of transport means of transport and communication serve
are prerequisites for fast development. as lifelines of our nation and its modern
Movement of these goods and services can be economy. It is thus, evident that a dense and
over three important domains of our earth i.e. land, efficient network of transport and
water and air. Based on these, transport can also communication is a prerequisite for local,
be classified into land, water and air transport. national and global trade of today.

Fig. 7.1

For a long time, trade and transport were TRANSPORT
restricted to a limited space. With the
development in science and technology, the Roadways
area of influence of trade and transport India has second largest road networks in the
expanded far and wide. Today, the world has world, aggregating to about 62.16 lakh km
been converted into a large village with the help (2020–21). In India, roadways have preceded
of efficient and fast moving transport. railways. They still have an edge over railways
Transport has been able to achieve this with in view of the ease with which they can be built