Chapter 7 · Question 2
Compare roadways and railways as means of transport.
Answer
Direct Answer
Roadways provide door-to-door service, are flexible, and are useful for short distances and difficult terrain. Railways are better for long-distance movement of bulky goods and large numbers of passengers. Both systems complement each other in the transport network.
Simple Explanation
Roadways offer flexible, door-to-door service for short distances and hilly areas, while railways move bulky goods and huge passenger volumes over long distances at lower cost per unit.
Exam-Ready Structure
Comparison of roadways and railways:
Roadways:
• Provide door-to-door service and are the most flexible mode of land transport.
• Suitable for short and medium distances.
• Can be built in difficult terrain — hills, deserts, and forested regions where laying railway tracks is impractical or too expensive.
• Ideal for transporting perishable goods (fruits, vegetables, milk) quickly to nearby markets.
• Lower capital investment compared to railways.
• Function as feeder routes to railway stations and ports.
Railways:
• Suited for long-distance movement of heavy and bulky goods such as coal, iron ore, steel, cement, and food grains.
• Can carry very large numbers of passengers in a single journey.
• More energy-efficient and cheaper per tonne-kilometre for long hauls.
• Require high capital investment in tracks, signals, and rolling stock.
• Not feasible in very mountainous or marshy terrain.
• Form the backbone of India's long-distance freight and passenger movement.
Complementarity:
• Roads connect villages and farms to railway stations.
• Railways handle the long-distance bulk leg; roadways handle the first-mile and last-mile connectivity.
• Together they form an integrated surface transport system.
Key Points
- Roadways provide door-to-door service, are flexible, and are useful for short distances and difficult terrain.
- Railways are better for long-distance movement of bulky goods and large numbers of passengers.
- Both systems complement each other in the transport network.
Relevant Maps and Figures
Means of Transport Classification
diagram
Use the land-transport branch first, then compare why roadways and railways suit different terrains and loads.
It keeps the comparison anchored to the textbook structure.
Use this chapter diagram to separate land, water, and air transport before discussing their specific advantages.
Answer Sources
- Roadways and railways in Indiatextbook section | Contemporary India-II | Lifelines of National Economy | Land transport | Pages 1-5