Lifelines of National Economy Test - 6

Pipeline transport network is a new arrival on the transportation map of India.They are used to transport crude oil,petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries.

Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.Slurry pipelines find a special place in industrial applications which require transportation of solid particles through a pipeline

Since time immemorial, 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.It can carry much larger quantities of heavy and bulky goods such as coal,heavy machinery etc.

The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km)-N.W. No.1 is located in India.

With a long coastline of 7,516.6 km, India is dotted with 12 major and 187, notified nonmajors (minor/intermediate) ports.These major ports handle 95%of India's foriegn trade.

Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon after Independence to ease the volume of trade on he Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the Partition.

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New Mangalore port, located in Karnataka caters to the export of iron ore concentrates from Kudremukh mines.The other commodities exported through the port are manganese ,granite stones, coffee, cashew and containerized cargo.

Chennai is one of the oldest artificial ports of the country. It is ranked next to Mumbai in terms of the volume of trade and cargo.This gateway port for all cargo has completed about 130 years of service to India's maritime trade.