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Q82 (IAS/1994) Economy › Industry, Infrastructure & Investment › Transport infrastructure Answer Verified

Even though the Railways are the most pervasive mode of transport in India, it is the road transport which received the maximum impetus in most of the post-independence period. Which of the following are the reasons for this ? I. Railways are cheap to operate but the associated capital costs are very high. II. Given the geographic spread of the human settlements, it is unrealistic that the railways alone can serve the needs of transport. III. The per unit (tonne/km) cost of transport is cheaper in road compared to rail transport. IV. Given the indivisible nature of the Railways, it is not always convenient for the population to avail of it with the same ease as private cars, buses or two-wheelers. Select the correct answer from the codes given below

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

Statements I, II and IV correctly explain why road transport received greater impetus post-Independence. Railways are more economical in operation (lower per-unit energy and operating costs) but require heavy capital investment for infrastructure, rolling stock and track, making high upfront costs a constraint—supporting I [1]. The geographic dispersion of settlements and the need for doorstep delivery mean rail alone cannot meet all transport demands, so road transport expanded to provide last-mile and flexible services [3]. The indivisible, fixed-route nature of railways also makes them less convenient than flexible private cars, buses and two-wheelers for many users, reinforcing preference for roads (IV) [3]. III is incorrect because rail transport is generally more economical per unit than road transport [1].

Sources

  1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > Rail Route to higher growth: > p. 411
  2. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Road Transport > p. 76
  3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Main Problems of Indian Railways > p. 17
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