1.1.1. Road Transport

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru said, ''The path of development goes to villages through roads". This is true to other fields too. The roads are harbingers of economic development. Only 20 per cent population of the world lives in developed countries, but it has 72 per cent cars, buses, trucks, etc. of the world. Road networks are found in high density in areas with higher population density round the world. With the advancement in technology, metalled roads are reaching the countryside and helping in connecting people.

1.1.1.1. Advantages of Roads

The major advantages of road transport over other means of transport are as follows: -

1) Road transport is cheaper than rail transport. Its cost of construction, repair and maintenance is comparatively less than railway transport.

2) Roads are available up to the house of consumer. The producer and trader prefer roads only because there arise no need of loading and unloading of their goods at different places. The raw material and the machines reach the factory directly and the products to the consumers safely.

3) Road transport is the best for short and medium distances. People and goods take less time in reaching their destination.

4) Roads are highly useful for transporting ephemeral goods such as green vegetables, fruits and milk. The roads are basis of truck farming.

5) Anytime, anywhere no problem of time and travel.

6) Regular expenditure on roads is very low as compared to rail transport which is high on maintenance of stations, platforms, rail-routes and on employing large number of employees for running the railways.

7) The construction and usage of roads in inaccessible hilly areas with steep slopes and forested areas is difficult but possible.

8) Packing of goods is not always necessary in road transport. Sometimes, fruits and vegetables are loaded without packing.

9) Roads can negotiate steep slopes and sharp turns and are more flexible means of transport.