Transport system plays on important role in the sustained development of a country. We have a large transport system that comprises several modes of transport including rail, road, coastal shipping, air transport etc. Among these majority of our population relents on rail and road transport.
Our Rail Transport has a vast network of 7,068 stations spread over a route length of 62,915 km with a fleet of 6,909 locomotives, 33,450 passenger service vehicles, 5,654 other coaching vehicles and 2,80,791 wagons as on 31 March, 1996.
The number of passengers has risen from 1284 million in 1950-1951 to 4018 in 1995-96. Freight traffic increased from 73.2 million tonnes in 1950- 51 to 390.69 million tonnes in 1996-97.
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Plan outlay for Railways in 1996-97 was Rs. 8,300 crore.
For the long term requirements, the Railways have made a corporate plan covering 15 years, 1985-2000 A.D. It seeks to provide 370-400 billion net Tonnes km freight traffic, 310-330 billion non-suburban passenger km and 105-110 billion suburban passenger km by the turn of the century.
It can be imagined how with a vast railway networking we have yet not been able to provide Railway services in various parts of the country.
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Thus the vastness of the Railway transport is imaginable. But growing population has certainly brought about many problems for Railways. Growing crowd in Railway traffic resulting in growing number of trains are now becoming alarming.
A large network of Railway safety arrangement for passengers is becoming ineffective. Pressure on Railway tracks is on the increase.
This vast network of Railways is becoming inadequate of meet the growing demands.
The situation in respect of road transport is no better due to this vast increase of demand.
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India has one of the largest road network in the world. The country’s total road length was 30,15,229 km in 1994-95.
Of course, the road transport plays an important role in the movement of both passengers and goods. It is the sole mechanised means of surface transport in hilly, rural and backward areas not connected by Railways.
Passenger (bus) transport services are operated both by the private and public sector. Most of the freight services are operated by private sector.
But the growing population has foiled this attempt of transport also. Road Transport especially in cities and metro-cities is very crowdy. With the growth of population road transport is appearing to be insufficient.
With the passage of time, air transport, coastal transport etc. are also becoming more and more crowdy.
Transport is also attracting a vast demand of energy.