Transport and Communication Class 12 Geography Chapter 7 CBSE Notes 2025-26

Transport and communication are essential components of economic and social development. In daily life, everything from the food we eat to the messages we exchange depends on reliable networks for movement and information sharing. 

The need to move goods, people, and ideas has led humans to develop various modes of transport and ways of communication, forming the backbone of modern society.

India has a vast land transport system, which has evolved from basic pathways and unmetalled roads to an extensive network of metalled roads and railways. 

Even ancient routes like the Shahi (Royal) road, later named the Grand Trunk Road, played a major role in movement of people and goods. Modern infrastructure includes not only roads and railways, but also ropeways, cableways, and specialized pipelines for certain materials.

India possesses the second largest road network in the world, spanning about 62.16 lakh kilometers (as of 2020–21). Roads are categorized for their construction and maintenance purposes into National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads, and Rural Roads. 

Roads are responsible for 85% of passenger movement and 70% of freight movement, making them the mainstay of daily transportation—especially over short to medium distances.

• National Highways: Built and maintained by the central government; key for interstate travel and defense.
• State Highways: Maintained by state governments, linking capital cities with districts.
• District Roads: Link district headquarters with other local areas.
• Rural Roads: Provide vital connectivity within rural regions—around 80% of all road length.

National Highways cover only 2% of the total road network (around 1,36,440 km), but carry as much as 40% of the total traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), operational since 1995 under the Ministry of Surface Transport, is chiefly responsible for maintaining and upgrading this network.

Major projects include the Golden Quadrilateral—a 5,846-kilometer expressway linking Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata—and the North–South and East–West corridors, aiming to connect Srinagar to Kanyakumari and Silchar to Porbandar. For rural connectivity, large initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna have been instrumental.

Beyond commercial roads, border roads and international highways play a strategic role, strengthening defense and regional development. 

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was set up in 1960 to expedite such works. Notably, the longest highway tunnel in the world—the Atal Tunnel—connects Manali with Lahaul-Spiti Valley, making high-altitude travel possible year-round.

Bharatmala Pariyojana is a government initiative aimed at developing 26,000 km of economic corridors—including major ring roads, bypasses, and elevated corridors. Such projects help decongest traffic, improve logistics, and promote national integration through efficient infrastructure.

Indian Railways is among the world’s largest railway networks, launched in 1853 with the Bombay–Thane line (34 km). By 2019–20, its total track length had grown to 67,956 kilometers. Indian Railways boasts 17 zones, each with its own headquarters, and operates across three gauges: broad (1.676m), metre (1m), and narrow (0.762/0.610m).

• Indian Railways enables the large-scale movement of people and freight across long distances.
• Konkan Railway, running from Roha (Maharashtra) to Mangalore (Karnataka), is a feat of engineering, with 91 tunnels and nearly 2000 bridges.

Waterways represent a low-cost, fuel-efficient, and environment-friendly mode for transporting heavy cargo. India has 14,500 km of navigable inland waterways—rivers, canals, and backwaters—constituting about 1% of the country's transport network.

With a coastline of 7,517 km, India depends heavily on ocean transport. About 95% of trade by volume is done through 12 major and around 200 minor ports. Oceanic routes connect Indian mainland with islands and handle the majority of import–export cargo.

Air transport is the fastest option for both people and parcels, started in India in 1911 between Allahabad and Naini. After independence, civil aviation developed rapidly. The Airports Authority of India manages all aspects of air travel, navigation, and safety.

• UDAN Scheme makes air travel accessible to common people, focusing on regional connectivity.
• Pawan Hans helicopters operate mainly in hilly and remote locations.

Pipelines offer a quick, continuous, and cost-effective way of moving liquid and gaseous materials. Asia’s first major oil pipeline—from Naharkatiya (Assam) to Barauni (Bihar)—was set up by Oil India Limited, later extended to Kanpur. Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) built another major network from Hazira to Jagdishpur, now rapidly growing towards a complete national gas grid.

Communication began with drums and smoke signals and evolved into the present systems that include postal, telegraph, telephone, radio, television, and satellites. 

Communication is classified into personal (like the internet and mobile phones) and mass communication (like radio, television, and newspapers).

• Internet is now the most widely used means for personal and business exchanges.
• All India Radio (Akashwani) and Doordarshan are the leading radio and television broadcast services.
• Satellite systems, like INSAT, play a crucial role in telecommunication, weather forecasting, and disaster management.

Developing effective transport and communication systems is vital for national integration, economic growth, and day-to-day functioning in a vast country like India. Whether moving goods, people, or information, these networks power our markets, industries, and our everyday lives.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 7 Notes – Transport and Communication: Key Points for Quick Revision

Explore the most important highlights of Class 12 Geography Chapter 7 Transport and Communication with these revision notes. Covering India’s vast networks—roads, railways, waterways, airways, and communication systems—these notes simplify major facts and recent data for efficient preparation. Get a clear overview of every topic to boost exam confidence.

These Geography class 12 chapter 7 notes provide an easy reference, quickly outlining key points and distinctions between transportation types. Perfect for fast last-minute revision, they help reinforce your understanding and recall vital statistics and features related to India’s transport and communication infrastructure.