Seaports, Airports, Road,

Railway, Inland Depots, etc

Chapter 2
Content
A mode of transport is the means by which
goods and material are transferred from one
point to another.
The modes are:-
I. Road Transportation
II. Rail Transportation
III. Air Transportation
IV. Water Transportation
V.Pipeline Transportation
I. Road Transportation

Road transportation is the process of moving

goods or people by using motor vehicles.
Transportation is the foundation stone of
economic infrastructure.
It helps in the development of trade,
commerce and industry.
Road Transport pays a pivot role in the
country’s transport system.
Social and economic progress of the country
depends on the development of road.
“Roads are the veins and arteries of a country
whose channels every improvement takes
circulation” - Benthan
 Advantages of Road Transport:

It is very flexible in nature.

It helps to facilitate the movement of goods
even in remote areas.
It provides alternatives in the form of car,
rickshaw, auto, bus, trucks, and so on.
It is good for transporting perishable
products.
It requires low capital investments.
It is very suitable for a short distance journey.
Development of Industry.
Industries are benefitted from the
development of Roads. It is through roads
that raw materials reach factories and
finished products to the consumers.
Employment.
It provides employment to large number of
people. According to Road Transport
Development Committee, an outlay of Rs.
3,500/- crore generate employment for 170
lakhs persons.
Multipurpose Tendency
Roads are not built for specific vehicles.
Different types of vehicles can be pressed into
service.
Bullock carts to rickshaws, cycles to motor
vehicles.
Promotion of Tourism:
An ideal transportation promotes tourism
system or services all over the country.
Disadvantages of Road Transport:

 It is not suited for long distance as it is not

economical.
 Slow as compared to railways.
 Goods can be destroyed/damage due to
bad weather, dust, pollutions.
 Accidents and Breakdowns.
Classification of Roads in India
 National Highways.
Construction and maintenance of these roads are the responsibility
of Central Government.
 State Highways.
State government are responsible for their construction and
maintenance.
 District Roads - It comes under the individual districts
 Village Roads. -Panchayat construct and maintain these roads
 Border Roads:
These roads are constructed with the help of Border Road
Organisation. This organisation has constructed 18,500 kms long
border roads.
 India Centric Problems

Inadequate Roads
Roads are inadequate in India.
Government should spend more on the
development of roads.
Bad condition of Road.
Roads are not well maintained as there are no
timely repairs. It causes discomfort and quick
depreciation of vehicles.
Heavy Taxes.
There is heavy tax burden on motor transport in
India. Tax burden per motor vehicle in India is Rs
3500/- while in US it is Rs 850/- and In Britan Rs
470/- . This tax burden should be lowered.
Rising price of Petrol and Diesel.
Undisciplined Driving and accidents. As a result
road accidents are more frequent in India.
Less roads in Rural Areas.
60% of the villages are without proper roads in
India. It adversely affects our agriculture and rural
economy.
Advantages of Owning Vehicles
If an organization decides to acquire its own vehicles,
there are number of areas to be considered.
The type of vehicle.
The nature of the operation.
Management retains total control over the vehicle
and its operations.
Vehicles can carry the company livery (Colour or
design).
The driver can be specially trained and will fulfil the
‘ambassador’ role for the organization.
 Major disadvantage
Management of the transport function can occupy
a great deal of management time, expertise and
significant capital investment.
In contrast, third party carriers can often provide
more cost effective transport facilities but careful
consideration must be given to the level of service
required.
 Third party advantages
The advantages of using third party transport include.
Organizations can use commercial providers to
meet fluctuating demand requirements.
The haulier may be able to offer a more cost
effective and more efficient service
Responsibility for administration of vehicles and
drivers is no longer the responsibility of the
organization.
Allowing staff to concentrate on more productive
areas.
There is no requirement for capital to be invested
in transport.
 Third party disadvantages

A measure of control is lost with third party

operations.
Performance feedback and communication
with customers needs to remain a strong
feature and be controlled by the
contracting organization.
II. Rail Transport
In India, railway is the most important form of
transport system.
Rail vehicles are directionally managed by the
rail tracks on which they run.
Indian railway system is the biggest public
undertaking in the country. It has about 16 lakh
employees and more than 2 lakh casual
workers.
It runs daily about 13500 trains connecting
around 7000 stations-big and small, halt and
flag ones. It carries 1.2 crore passengers and 12
lakh tones of goods daily.
In India, the first railway line was laid
between Bombay and Thane in 1853.
After that, rail services have developed a lot.
Indian Railway is the country’s single largest
undertaking with a total capital investment of
around Rs 20,000/- crores.
It is the largest in Asia and ranks fourth in
the world.
 Advantages of Railways
Transportation:

 It is economical for long distances because it

can easily cover all area of states and cities.
 This means of transport is very faster than
roadways.
 Most suitable for carrying a bulky amount of
goods and products.
 1. Dependable:

The greatest advantage of the railway transport is

that it is the most dependable mode of transport
as it is the least affected by weather conditions
such as rains, fog etc. compared to other modes
of transport.
 2. Better Organized

The rail transport is better organised than any

other form of transport.
It has fixed routes and schedules.
Its service is more certain, uniform and regular
as compared to other modes of transport.
3. High Speed over Long Distances:

Its speed over long distances is more than any

other mode of transport, except airways.
Thus, it is the best choice for long distance traffic.

4. Suitable for Bulky and Heavy Goods:

Railway transport is economical, quicker and

best suited for carrying heavy and bulky
goods over long distances.
 5. Cheaper Transport:
It is a cheaper mode of transport as compared to
other modes of transport. Most of the working
expenses of railways are in the nature of fixed
costs.
Rail transport is economical in the use of labour
also as one driver and one guard are sufficient to
carry much more load than the motor transport.
 6. Safety

Railway is the safest form of transport. The

chances of accidents and breakdowns of railways
are minimum as compared to other modes of
transport.
Moreover, the traffic can be protected from the
exposure to sun, rains, snow etc.
 7. Larger Capacity:

The carrying capacity of the railways is extremely

large.
Moreover, its capacity is elastic which can easily
be increased by adding more wagons.
 8. Public Welfare:

 It is the largest public undertaking in the country.

 Railways perform many public utility services.
 Their charges are based on ‘charge what the traffic can bear’
principle which helps the poor. In fact, it is national necessity.
Helps in Internal Trade.
It joins together different areas of the country and made internal
trade convenient.
Development of Agriculture.
Railway has contributed a great deal to the development of
agriculture and helped farmers in distributing their products in the
market.
 9. Administrative Facilities of
Government:
Railways provide administrative facilities to the
Government.
The defense forces and the public servants drive
their mobility primarily from the railways.
 10. Employment Opportunities:

The railways provide greater employment

opportunities for both skilled and unskilled
labour.
Over 16 lakh persons are depending upon
railways for their livelihood.
11. Encouragement to Tourism.
It promotes Tourism
Help in the Internal Trade:
By joining together different areas of the
country, railways have made internal trade
convenient. They carry goods and passengers to
distant places easily.
31 Disadvantages of Railway

It lacks the versatility and flexibility of motor

carriers since it operates on fixed track
facilities.
 1. Huge Capital Outlay:
The railway requires is large investment of
capital.
The cost of construction, maintenance and
overhead expenses are very high as compared
to other modes of transport.
Moreover, the investments are specific and
immobile. In case the traffic is not sufficient,
the investments may mean wastage of huge
resources.
2. Lack of Flexibility:

Another disadvantage of railway transport is

its inflexibility.
Its routes and timings cannot be adjusted to
individual requirements.
3. Lack of Door to Door Service:

Rail transport cannot provide door to door service

as it is tied to a particular track.
Intermediate loading or unloading involves
greater cost, more wear and tear and wastage of
time.
The time and cost of terminal operations are a
great disadvantage of rail transport.
 4. Monopoly:

As railways require huge capital outlay, they may

give rise to monopolies and work against public
interest at large.
Even if controlled and managed by the
government, lack of competition may breed
inefficiency and high costs.
 5. Unsuitable for Short
Distance and Small Loads:

Railway transport is unsuitable and uneconomical

for short distance and small traffic of goods.
 6. Booking Formalities
It involves much time and labour in booking and
taking delivery of goods through railways as
compared to motor transport.
Documentation for movement by rail is
controlled through the rail waybill.
The rail waybill is a non-negotiable document. It
contains the instructions to the railway company
for handling, dispatching and delivering the
consignment.
 7. No Rural Service:
Because of huge capital requirements and traffic,
railways cannot be operated economically in rural
areas.
Thus, large rural areas have no railway service
even today.
This causes much inconvenience to the people
living in rural areas.
It is not suitable for Hilly Regions
 8. Under utilized Capacity:

The railway must have full load for its ideal and
economic operation.
As it has a very large carrying capacity, under-
utilisation of its capacity, in most of the regions,
is a great financial problem and loss to the
economy.
9. Centralised Administration:

Being the public utility service railways have

monopoly position and as such there is
centralized administration.
Local authorities fail to meet the personal
requirements of the people as compared to
roadways.
India Centric issues
Old Track and Poor State of Rolling Stock.
The tracks are old and outdated which is a threat to
serious accidents.
This has also resulted in speed restrictions.
Railway accidents.
Accidents in our country is greater as compared to
other countries.
Accidents occur due to the errors and negligence of
the employees.
Problem of laying Double Lanes.
Most of the railways are single lines which created
great inconvenience to the railway organization and
passengers.
Travel without tickets.
Large number of passengers travel without purchasing
tickets. Indian Railway have to bear extra loss of about
Rs 5 Crore every year on account of travelling without
tickets
Outmoded technology
The rolling stock technology is outmoded.
The system is beset with excessive manpower
and development has not kept pace with
technology upgradation.
The problem of replacement.
Replacement of old and obsolete railways
engines, wagons, and other equipment has
created a serious problem in India.
Attack on railways.
The railways are attacked during the time of
disturbance and violences that arise in any part of
the country.
Competition with Road Transport.
The competition with road transport is growing in
intensity both in passenger and in goods
transportation.
Summary
Road Transport
Advantages
Disadvantages
India Centric Issues
Classification of Roads in India
Owning vehicles by an organization/Advantages
and Disadvantages
Rail Transport
Advantages
Disadvantages
India Centric Issues
III. Water Transport
It involves the movement of goods through
oceans and seas.
In water transport, the weights of goods are
very large in comparison to other means of
transports.
 It plays a very crucial role in the
development of exports and imports of
goods in the different parts of the world.
India was much skilled in the building of
ships. Shri S L Haja has stated that ‘Indian
Naval Power was undoubtedly a great
achievement of Indian Civilization’.
During 1860 to 1925, there were 102 Indian
Shipping Industries but of them were
gradually destroyed by the British.
Kinds of water Transport

It is of three kinds:-

1. Ocean Transport – Overseas Shipping
2.Coastal Transport - Coastal Shipping
3.Inland Water Transport
 Advantages of Water Transportation:

 It is the very cheapest or easiest means of

transportation.
 Heavy and bulk good can be transported.
 It promotes foreign or international trade.
 Less maintenance cost.
Important for Foreign Trase
Current volume of India’s trade is quite large
and it is likely to further expand for the sake of
economic development of the country.

Foreign Exchange
Shipping enable the country to save enough
of foreign exchange. Foreign exchange is of
utmost importance for country’s economic
development. We are already facing cute
foreign exchange
 Defense

Development of Shipping is essential for the

defense of the country.

Useful during Natural Calamities

During natural calamities like floods, heavy
downpour etc, when rail and road transport is
disrupted, water transport alone is possible.
 Disadvantages of Water Transportation:

Slow Speed
 One of the drawbacks is there is the delay in
the movement of goods from one place to
another.

Limited Area
• It can be used in a limited area of operations
because it can only run on seas or oceans.
Water transport is very unsuitable for small
businesses because it carries a small number
of goods.
Maritime Transportation has high terminal
costs, since port infrastructures are among
the most expensive to build, maintain and
improve.
 Ports, Its functions, feature and
Facilities
Port is a place on a coast where ships can
wharf and transport cargo or people to or
from land.
It is measured as one of the most
fundamental aspects of national transport
infrastructure.
Port is a ship/Shore interface, a gateway for
trade.
It attracts infrastructure such as bank, agency
and Industry.
Seaports
Port is the area :
▪ Where there are the facility and services
of berthing or anchoring ships .
▪ Where there are the gears for moving the
cargo from ship to shore or shore to ship.
▪ Where custom and government policies
and implemented.
▪ Where most shipping services are located.
58
Definition of seaport

A land facility designated for reception of

material moved by sea, and that serves as an
authorized port of entrance into or departure
from the country in which located.
Main function and feature of
ports
Sea and land access
Infrastructure for ships berthing
Road and rail link
Connects Industrial area
Control of vehicles during entering and
leaving port
Environmental control
Control of damages of cargo
Safety and security within the port vicinity
Immigration, Custom, Health and medical
Commercial papers control
Pilotage, tugging and mooring arrangement
Use of berths
Loading, unloading and storage
Distribution of cargo
Services and facilities for Ships

Arrival and departure

Navigational aids and Vessel Traffic services
Approach channel and Berth
Pilot services, Tugs and Mooring
arrangements
Services and facilities for Cargo

Cargo handling on ship and on quay

Transfer to/from Storage
Tallying , marking and weighing
Surveying and protection
Customs and documentary Control
Receiving and delivery
For Cargo transfer facilities

Opening closing of hatches

Stowing of cargo
Connection of manifold
Additional facilities at Port
Repacking, labelling, sorting, assembling,
cleaning and preparing cargo.
Setting up logistic network and packaging
unit
Administrative control facilities
Police, Immigration, Customs, Health ,
Water, Provision supply, telephone, repairs,
Hospital, waste control, Fire control and
Port state control
 IV. Airports

An airport is defined as “a complex of

runways and buildings for the take-off,
landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with
facilities for passengers”
It usually has paved runways and
maintenance facilities and serves as a
terminal for passengers and cargo
Along with runways and terminals, airports
also include control towers, hangars, taxiways,
lounges, food service areas, restaurants,
emergency services, security, baggage
handling, and more.
Because airports are a connection point
between cities, countries, and continents, they
have unique requirements when it comes to
construction and security.
 Control Towers

John F. Kennedy International

Control tower, New York
The Control Tower at Changi Singapore
Aircraft Storage Hangars
Taxiways

Taxiway of London Luton Airport

Airport Apron

An airport apron is the area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled,
boarded, or maintained1
Passenger Terminal
 Advantages of Air Transportation

Fastest means of transportation.

Vital for national security and defense.
It is very suitable for emergency services.
eg earthquakes and other floods.
It provides an efficient, regular, and quick
service.
Disadvantages of Air Transportation

The large capital investment needed.

Not suitable for bulk commodities.
May be affected by bad weather n rains.
This mode of transport requires a specialized
skill and a high degree of training for its
working operations.
V. Pipeline Transportation

Pipelines transportation is used for sending

the liquids and gases from one place to
another place.
Through this means of transport, we can
also send chemicals, biofuels, and natural
gases.
Pipeline Transportation
 Advantages of Pipelines
Transportation:
It is a cheaper means of transporting
liquids and gases.
It can be used to transport large
volume of liquids and gasses at a single
time.
It is more reliable since it can even be
used in politically unstable regions.
It needs a limited area of maintenance.
Pipelines are very safe and accident-free
transport.
It does not pollute the environment unlike
roads and railways
 Disadvantages of Pipelines Transportation:

 It is restricted in a limited area of work.

 Difficult to make security arrangements for this
transport.
 Investment is large
 The transportation goods are too specialized,
and the transportation items are limited to
gases and fluids.
81
VI. Inland depots
Definition of inland depots
A combination transport terminal and customs
clearance center at a location other than a
port.
Also called inland dry port.
The basic functions of inland
depots.
The basic functions of inland depots are
 Warehouse facilities
 Customs clearance
 Container and cargo handling
 Office of cargo handling agent
 Efficient communication facilities
84
 Cargo stuffing and de-stuffing
 To accommodate the completion of
administration and documentary procedures
 Warehouse storage including cold storage and
refrigerated storage
 Container storage and inventory control
 Container maintenance and repair
 Offices of shipping line agent
 Railway goods office
 Road haulage brokerage
Summary

I. Road Transportation
II. Rail Transportation
III. Air Transportation
IV. Water Transportation
V. Inland Depots
VI. Pipeline Transportation