Explain any five major problems faced by road transport in India.

1. The road network in India is inadequate, keeping in mind the volume of traffic and passengers using the facilities of road transport.

2. The use of roads is restricted especially during the rainy season because about half of the roads are unsettled.

3. National Highways connecting extreme parts of India are also insufficient in their connectivity.

4. In cities, the roads are highly congested and crowded. Also, the quality of the roads in small towns, villages and remote areas is inadequate.

5. Most of the bridges and culverts (a channel carrying a stream under a road or railway line) are very old and narrow which tend to get overcrowded and pose the risk of undesirable happenings.

NOTE – India has the largest road networks in the world, covering about 2.3 million km. Although the vast networks of roads have preceded the railways, there are problems faced in areas of quality maintenance which need to be given importance.