LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY There are three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country. • From oil field in upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad. It has branches from Barauni to Haldia, via Rajbandh, Rajbandh to Maurigram and Guwahati to Siliguri. • From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab, via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat.
It has branches to connect Koyali (near Vadodara, Gujarat) Chakshu and other places. • The first , km long Hazira-Vijaipur- Jagdishpur (HVJ) cross country gas pipeline, linked Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields with various ferilizer, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India. Overall, India’s gas pipeline infrastructure has expanded from , km to , km of cross-country pipelines. Waterways Since the ancient period, India was one of the seafaring countries.
Its seamen sailed far and near, thus, carrying and spreading Indian commerce and culture. Waterways are the cheapest means of transport. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. It is a fuel-efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
India has inland navigation waterways of , km in length. Out of these only km are navigable by mechanised vessels. The following waterways have been declared as the National Waterways by the Government. only through gaps or passes (Ghats).
In recent times, the development of the Konkan railway along the west coast has facilitated the movement of passengers and goods in this most important economic region of India. It has also faced a number of problem such as sinking of track in some stretches and landslides. Today, the railways have become more important in our national economy than all other means of transport put together. However, rail transport suffers from certain problems as well.
Many passengers travel without tickets. Thefts and damaging of railway property has not yet stopped completely. People stop the trains, pull the chain unnecessarily and this causes heavy damage to the railway. Think over it, how we can help our railway in running as per the scheduled time?
Pipelines Pipeline transport network is a new arrival on the transportation map of India. In the past, these were used to transport water to cities and industries. Now, these are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants. Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.
The far inland locations of refineries like Barauni, Mathura, Panipat and gas based fertilizer plants could be thought of only because of pipelines. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal. It rules out trans-shipment losses or delays. Source: Railway Yearbook – , Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Website: Table . : India: Railway Track The Indian Railway network runs on multiple gauge operations extending over , km. Gauge in metres Route (Km) Broad Gauge ( . ) 63950 Metre Gauge ( .
) , Narrow Gauge ( . and . ) , Total , Reprint -