FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED AIR TRANSPORT, WATER TRANSPORT AND ROAD TRANSPORT COMPANIES

Abstract

In modern world, transport along with energy is the basic infrastructural requirement for industrialization. The developing countries have accorded it an important place in their programmes of economic development. Transport provides a vital link between production centres, distribution areas and the ultimate consumers. It also exercises a unifying and integrating influence upon the economy. Important means of transport are railways, roads, water transport (both inland and overseas) and air transport. Transportation, like all industries is largely influenced by information and communication technologies with the focus being on knowledge of customer needs and value added services. Surface transport is provided by the Road and the Indian Seaways (primarily for carrying low value bulk commodity, mostly for the government sector). Cargo Road Transport is entirely in the hands of the private sector. An estimated 1.2 million trucks (9 tons capacity) crisscross the country covering more than 80,000 kilometers of roads. In India road transportation is preferred for cargo movement, where flexibility of routing assumes importance. It facilitates door-to-door delivery, overcoming unnecessary delays which normally take place in the other modes of transportation.