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Transportation is a non separable part of any society. It exhibits a very close relation to the style of life, the range and location of activities and the goods and services which will be available for consumption. Advances in transportation has made possible changes in the way of living and the way in which societies are organized and therefore have a great influence in the development of civilizations. Transportation is responsible for the development of civilizations from very old times by meeting travel requirement of people and transport requirement of goods. Such movement has changed the way people live and travel. In developed and developing nations, a large fraction of people travel daily for work, shopping and social reasons. But transport also consumes a lot of resources like time, fuel, materials and land.

A country cannot develop so fast without a developed transport system. Development of roads facilitates utilization of natural resources lying unutilized in different hills, mountains, forests and mines. Transport system helps to send raw materials, fuel and machineries to different industries at right time and runs the industry. Transport system helps to raise the production of raw materials, fuels and machineries etc. by providing market to it. Transport system widens the size of the market. Due to selling of commodities in an extensive manner in large areas, it leads to large-scale production. As a result industry of firm gets the advantages of large-scale production. A developed transport system reduces regional industrial disparity by facilitating establishment of industries in backward areas, because the backward area is brought nearer to developed area with the help of a developed transport system by sending raw-materials to the backward industrial centre and by selling the products of industries in different areas. Transport system helps to solve the problem of unemployment in rural areas by sending surplus labourers to the industries and it also solves the needs of industries. Development of transport system also leads to development of industries because transport system utilizes the product of industries.

Different machineries and raw materials are supplied through roads, ships, motors, buses, trains, aero planes to industries. It shows that transport system of a country affects economic development of a country in different manner. Transport system is regarded as a strong pillar to protect the people from the difficulties of war, natural calamities and other problems. Transfer of military equipment, soldiers and war heads is possible only through a developed transport system during war. A developed transport system is necessary to send necessary helps to the affected people during the period of natural calamities. Except this, transport system helps to establish relationship among different parts of the people and strengthens the feeling of unity and brotherhood among the people. Lastly it makes India one and undivided.

Transportation and Economic Development

Direct impacts (also known as induced) the outcome of accessibility changes where transport enables employment, added value, larger markets and enables to save time and costs.

Indirect impacts the outcome of the economic multiplier effects where the price of commodities, goods or services drop and/or their variety increases. Indirect value-added and jobs are the result of local purchases by companies directly dependent upon transport activity. Transport activities are responsible for a wide range of indirect value-added and employment effects, through the linkages of transport with other economic sectors (e.g. office supply firms, equipment and parts suppliers, maintenance and repair services, insurance companies, consulting and other business services).
Related impacts the outcome of economic activities and firms partly relying on efficient transport services for both passengers and freight. For instance, the steel industry requires cost efficient import of iron ore and coal for the blast furnaces and export activities for finished products such as steel booms and coils. Manufacturers and retail outlets and distribution centers handling imported containerized cargo rely on efficient transport and seaport operations.

Economic role of transportation 1. Economics involves production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. People depend upon the natural resources to satisfy the needs of life but due to non uniform surface of earth and due to difference in local resources, there is a lot of difference in standard of living in different societies. So there is an immense requirement of transport of resources from one particular society to other. These resources can range from material things to knowledge and skills like movement of doctors and technicians to the places where there is need of them. The place, time, quality and utility of goods 1. An example is given to evaluate the relationship between place, time and cost of a particular commodity. If a commodity is produced at point A and wanted by people of another community at any point B distant x from A, then the price of the commodity is dependent on the distance between two centers and the system of transportation between two points. With improved system the commodity will be made less costly at B. Changes in location of activities 1. The reduction of cost of transport does not have same effect on all locations. Let at any point B the commodity is to be consumed. This product is supplied by two stations A and K which are at two different distances. from B. Let at present the commodity is supplied by A since it is at a lesser distance but after wards due to improvement in road network between B and K , the point K becomes the supply point of product.

Conclusions 1. Transport extends the range of sources of supply of goods to be consumed in an area, making it possible for user to get resources at cheap price and high quality. 2. The use of more efficient systems of supply results in an increase in the total amount of goods available for consumption. 3. Since the supply of goods is no longer dependent on the type of mode, items can be supplied by some alternative resources if usual source can not supply what is needed. Social role of transportation 1. Transportation has always played an important role in influencing the formation of urban societies. Although other facilities like availability of food and water, played a major role, the contribution of transportation can be seen clearly from the formation, size and pattern, and the development of societies, especially urban centers.

Formation of settlements 1. From the beginning of civilization, the man is living in settlements which existed near banks of major river junctions, a port, or an intersection of trade routes. Cities like New York, Mumbai and Moscow are good examples.
Size and pattern of settlements 1. The initial settlements were relatively small developments but with due course of time, they grew in population and developed into big cities and major trade centers. The size of settlements is not only limited by the size of the area by which the settlement can obtain food and other necessities, but also by considerations of personal travels especially the journey to and from work. The increased speed of transport and reduction in the cost of transport have resulted in variety of spatial patterns. Growth of urban centers 1. When the cities grow beyond normal walking distance, then transportation technology plays a role in the formation of the city. For example, many cities in the plains developed as a circular city with radial routes, where as the cities beside a river developed linearly. The development of automobiles, and other factors like increase in personal income, and construction of paved road network, the settlements were transformed into urban centers of intense travel activity.

Political role of transportation

1. The world is divided into numerous political units which are formed for mutual protection, economic advantages and development of common culture. 2. Transportation plays an important role in the functioning of such political units. Administration of an area 1. The government of an area must be able to send/get information to/about its people. It may include laws to be followed, security and other needful information needed to generate awareness. An efficient administration of a country largely depends on how effectively government could communicate these information to all the country. However, with the advent of communications, its importance is slightly reduced. Political choices in transport 1. These choices may be classified as communication, military movement, travel of persons and movement of freight. The primary function of transportation is the transfer of messages and information. It is also needed for rapid movement of troops in case of emergency and finally movement of persons and goods. The political decision of construction and maintenance of roads has resulted in the development of transportation system.

Environmental role of transportation 1. The negative effects of transportation is more dominating than its useful aspects as far as transportation is concerned. There are numerous categories into which the environmental effects have been categorized. They are explained in the following sections. Safety Air Pollution Noise pollution Energy consumption other impacts 1. Almost all cities uses 20-30 percent of its land in transport facilities. Increased travel requirement also require additional land for transport facilities. A good transportation system takes considerable amount of land from the society. 1. Aesthetics of a region is also affected by transportation. Road networks in quite country side is visual intrusion. Similarly, the transportation facilities like fly- overs are again visual intrusion in urban context. 1. The social life and social pattern of a community is severely affected after the introduction of some transportation facilities. Construction of new transportation facilities often require substantial relocation of residents and employment opportunities.

The roles of transportation in society can be classified according to economic, social, political and environmental roles. The social role of transport has caused people to live in permanent settlements and has given chances of sustainable developments. Regarding political role, large areas can now be very easily governed with the help of good transportation system. The environmental effects are usually viewed negatively.