Rural Transport in India

This study highlights the various aspects of rural transport particularly the Bullock cart transport. It analyses the significance of rural transport and transport needs in rural areas. It also emphasizes the role of bullock cart in mandis, standis and sugar factories. In spite of technological advancement and existence of mechanized transport, the role of bullock cart could not be completely abandoned from the rural set-up of our country because this mode of transport is not competitive but complementary to other systems. But the conventional carts need to be modernized immediately. The present study stresses the need and importance of modernizing the traditional carts with pneumatic tyre, brake system etc. A lot of recommendations and constructive suggestions have been made in this book. If they are sincerely followed and implemented, the role played by bullock carts in our rural areas will prove better and more effective. Investment-wise and traffic-wise this mode of transport acquires precedence even over railways and mechanized road transport it is not an exaggeration to say that 15 million bullock carts in our country provide employment to an estimated 20 million people accounting for two-thirds of rural India’s transportation needs. A Rs. 3000 crores investment rests on the shoulders of the bullocks of our country. Unlike many traditional aspects of Indian life, the bullock cart successfully survived even the massive onslaught of technology. Such a pivotal role is played by bullock carts in the country’s rural areas. One noteworthy feature of our country’s economy is that it has both the fast moving supersonic jets as well as the slow moving bullock carts. So long as our village roads are not improved and made fit for mechanized transport, the role played by bullock carts will continue. Even if the rural roads are improved, our Indian farmer cannot abandon this small mode of transport, because he thinks that the bullock cart, which is slow is more sure and dependable and also handy to take his small load wherever and whenever he wants.