Modes of transport

Geography glossary

Topic: World Transport and Communication · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 7 "Transport and Communication"

Meaning

Modes of transport are the different ways of moving people and goods. There are four:

  • land (roads and railways);
  • water (sea routes and inland waterways such as rivers and canals);
  • air;
  • pipelines.

All of them except pipelines carry both passengers and freight (goods). Pipelines carry only goods, such as water, oil and gas, in a steady flow. Which mode people choose depends on the type of goods, the cost, the time and what is available.

Example

India uses all four modes. Trucks and trains carry goods across the country, and ships leave from ports such as Mumbai and Chennai. Planes carry passengers and costly cargo. Pipelines such as the Indo-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (2023) carry fuel across the border.

Don't confuse with

  • Complementarity of transport modes: this is the idea that the modes divide the work and support each other. The modes themselves are just the four ways of moving people and goods.

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