Roads

Road transport is the most economical option for short distances when compared to railways. For freight, road transport is gaining importance because it offers door-to-door service — a flexibility that railways cannot match.

However, not all roads are equally useful. Unmetalled roads are simple to construct but are not effective in all seasons. During the rainy season, they become unmotorable. Even metalled roads are seriously handicapped during heavy rains and floods. In such conditions, the high embankment of railway tracks and the efficient maintenance of railway transport become an effective solution. But the total rail kilometrage in many vast and developing countries is too small to serve the nation's needs at a low cost. Roads, therefore, play a vital role in a nation’s trade, commerce, and tourism. …