This document provides an overview of transportation engineering and related topics through a presentation. It begins with an introduction to various modes of transportation including roads, bridges, railways, airports, docks and harbors. It then provides a question bank with sample questions on these topics from previous years. The document concludes by providing detailed answers to some of the sample questions, covering areas like classifications of roads and transportation, structures of roads, and short notes on specific road types.

1. Author
Mr. P. N. KORE
1
A
Presentation
on
“TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING ”

2. “TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING”
CONTENT OF TOPIC:
 INTRODUCTION TO ROADS,
 BRIDGES,
 RAILWAYS,
 AIRPORTS,
 DOCKS AND HARBOURS
2

3. QUESTION BANK
3

4. 4
Q. No. Question Marks Year
1) Write a short note on
a) WBM roads
b) IRC classification of roads
8 Nov. 2011
2) Explain the term WBM roads. 2
4
May 2010
Nov 2011
3) Explain the road structure in cutting with neat
sketch.
OR
Draw cross section of road in cutting and filling
indicating road width, shoulders, berms, right of
way etc.
4
4
3
5
May 2009
Nov. 2007
May 2015
May 2014
4) Explain the types of roads. 4 Nov 2009
May 2009
5) Compare Roadways, Railways, Waterway &
Airway.
5 May 2007
6) Comparison of rail transport and highway
transport.
4 Nov 2014

5. 5
Q. No. Question Marks Year
7) Compare Roadways, Railways, Waterway &
Airway.
5 May 2007
8) Comparison of rail transport and highway
transport.
4 Nov 2014
9) Explain the IRC classification of roads. 8 May 2008
Nov 2011
10) Draw a cross section of road indicating its
structural layers. OR
Explain the structure of road, with the help of
suitable sketch.
4
4
8
May 2008
Nov 2010
Nov. 2008
11) Draw a cross section of road indicating road width,
shoulders, drains, borrow pits, right of way etc.
4 May 2010
Nov. 2008
12) Explain the classification of roads. 5 Nov 2006
13) Explain the IRC classification of roads. 8 May 2008
14) Write short notes on:
a) Pipe line transport
b) Air Transport
4
4
May 2012
May 2014

6. 6
1. Define Transportation.
OR
1. What is the importance of Transportation?
Answer:
Transportation means the movement of the people and other goods from one
place to the other. Transportation engineering is the branch of engineering
which covers the study, design and construction of roads, railways, water ways
and air ways along with bridges, tunnels, stations, harbours, air-ports etc.
Transportation system is the back-bone of the overall progress of the country.
The economical, social, commercial and industrial development of the nation is
indicated by the transportation facilities. The sub-branches of transportation
engineering are as follows:
1. Road Engineering,
2. Highway Engineering,
3. Railway Engineering,
4. Docks and Harbour Engineering,
5. Bridge Engineering.

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3. What are the different modes of Transportation?
OR
3. Compare Roadways, Railways, Waterway & Airway.
OR
3. Comparison of rail transport and highway transport.
Answer:
Modes of Transportation:
1. Road Ways,
2. Rail Ways,
3. Water Ways,
4. Sea Ways,
5. Air Ways,
6. Special Ways

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2) What are the types Transportation?
OR
Classification of Transportation.
Answer:
Types of Transportation Systems:
1) Classification Based on Energy:
(a) Human Energy,
(b) Animal Energy,
(c) Petrol-Diesel Energy,
(d) Steam Energy,
(e) Electric Energy.
2) Classification Based on Surface:
Land Transport: e. g. roadways, railways, cable ways, rope ways etc.
Water Transport: e. g. lake ways, canal ways, river ways, sea ways etc.
Air Transport: e. g. Air ways.

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1) Road Ways:
1. These are the primary and early modes of communication on the land.
2. They are useful for long as well as short distances. They are most
suitable for light loads and small volumes.
3. They provide cheap method of reaching any part of the country.
4. They link up the trade centers and other communications such as rail
ways, sea ways and air ways.
5. They are useful for the exchange of the social, educational and
cultural views amongst the various localities.
6. They are usually used for the movements of the defence force.
7. The transport is by buses, cars, lorries, trucks, tankers, tempoes,
trolleys etc.

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2) Rail Ways:
1. These are similar to road ways but the steel rails are laid along the
route on which the trains run.
2. They are most suitable for long distance journeys.
3. They can transport heavy and bulky loads.
4. They are supposed to be the safe, comfortable and cheapest ways of
transportation.
5. They require less energy i.e. less fuel consumption as compared to the
road ways. So they are economical.
6. The transport is by trains, tram-cars etc.
7. Nowadays underground railways and tunnel railways are being
adopted.

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3) Water Ways:
1. The water ways are the cheapest type of transport due to absence of
any construction or maintenance.
2. They include inland navigation through lakes, broad canals and deep,
perennial rivers.
3. They can transport heavy and bulky goods through a single carriage.
4. The drawback is that the ample time is required due to low speeds.
5. The transport is by boats and steamers etc.

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4) Sea Ways:
1. Sea ways are the cheapest ways of transporting huge quantities of
goods over thousands of kilometres distances.
2. They can transport heavy and bulky goods through seas and oceans
from one harbor to the other. The transport may be for a single country
or between the two countries.
3. These ways also require more time due to slow speeds. .
4. They require construction of ports and harbours.
5. The transport is by ships, boats and steamers.

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5) Air Ways:
1. Air ways include transport through air by using air crafts such as
helicopters, aeroplanes, jet planes etc.
2. This is the fastest mode of transport.
3. It is used for the transport of very important persons and valuable
goods.
4. It is the costliest method of transportation but is used when ‘Time is
money’.
5. It is used for the quick transport of perishable foods, urgent
communication etc.
6. It requires high expenditure for the construction and maintenance of
air planes.
7. It requires costly construction of air-ports and other automatic control
systems.

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6) Special Ways:
Such special ways of transportation of materials for specific purposes are as
follows.
a) Rope Ways and Cable Ways: These methods utilise cable cars and
carriages running through the overhead cables or ropes which hung between
the two short distance stations. They are used for the transportation of men
and material in hilly or mountainous areas. They are also used for the
conveyance of sands, stones, coals and mine ores. These methods are costly.
Still they are adopted when other methods are impossible.
b) Belt Conveyors: These are very popular in handling mine ores, coals,
grains etc. They can carry people in the dense traffic and crowded parts of
the city.
c) Pipe Lines: Pipe lines are used for the transportation of fluids such as gases,
petroleum products, water sewage etc. they are quite unsuitable for the
transport of living beings.

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Rail Transport Highway Transport
1
The steel rails are laid along the route
on which the trains run.
1
These are the primary and early modes
of communication on the land.
2
They are most suitable for long
distance journeys.
2
They are useful for long as well as short
distances.
3
They can transport heavy and bulky
loads.
3
They are most suitable for light loads
and small volumes.
4
They are supposed to be the safe,
comfortable and cheapest ways of
transportation.
4
They link up the trade centers and other
communications such as rail ways, sea
ways and air ways.
4) Comparison of rail transport and highway transport.
Answer:

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Rail Transport Highway Transport
5
They require less energy i.e. less
fuel consumption as compared to
the road ways. So they are
economical.
5
They provide cheap method of
reaching any part of the country. They
are useful for the exchange of the
social, educational and cultural views
amongst the various localities.
6
The transport is by trains, tram-cars
etc. 6
The transport is by buses, cars,
lorries, trucks, tankers, tempoes,
trolleys etc.
7
Nowadays underground railways
and tunnel railways are being
adopted.
7
They are usually used for the
movements of the defence force.

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5) Write short notes on:
a) Pipe line transport
b) Air Transport
Answer:
a) Pipe line transport:
Pipe lines are used for the transportation of fluids such as gases,
petroleum products, water sewage etc. they are quite unsuitable for the
transport of living beings.
b) Air Transport:
1. Air transport includes transport through air by using air crafts such
as helicopters, aeroplanes, jet planes etc.
2. This is the fastest mode of transport.
3. It is used for the transport of very important persons and valuable
goods.
4. It is the costliest method of transportation but is used when ‘Time
is money’.
5. It is used for the quick transport of perishable foods, urgent
communication etc.
6. It requires high expenditure for the construction and maintenance
of air planes.
7. It requires costly construction of air-ports and other automatic
control systems.

18. 18
6) Draw a cross section of road indicating its structural layers.
Answer:
Figure 1. Road Structure or Pavement Structure

19. 19
7) Explain the structure of road, with the help of suitable sketch.
Answer:
Figure 1. Road Structure or Pavement Structure
1. Sub Grade or Foundation Soil: It is the soil over which the road
structure rests. It is compacted by using road rollers and it is added
with lime or cement to increase its bearing capacity because the traffic
loads are transferred to it.

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2. Formation Level: It is the top level of the sub grade. It is 0.3 to 0.6 m
above the adjacent ground for providing drainage. The excavation or
cutting is done in hilly parts and filling or embankment is necessary in
depressions.
3. Sub Base: It is 100 to 150 mm thick layer of broken stone, gravel,
coarse sand etc. It is provided over the sub grade only when the sub
grade has low bearing capacity or poor drainage property. It is not
required for low type roads and for hard and rocky sub grades
4. Base or Proper Foundation: This is the most important part of the
road. It consists of rubbles (hand-packed big-sized stones), hard
murum, bricks etc. Its function is to transfer the traffic load to the sub
grade. It is well compacted by using road rollers.
5. Bottom Layer of Surfacing: It is the first and the lowermost layer of
surface just above the base.
6. Top Layer of Surfacing: It is the last and uppermost layer of
surfacing. The above layers of surfacing consist of earth, stone chips,
gravel, lime stones, bituminous layers, concrete layers etc. Some other
materials used for surfacing are wood, rubber, metal etc.
7. Top of Surfacing: The top of the surfacing comes directly in contact
with the traffic. This top surface should possess the following
properties.

21. 21
8. Crown: It is the centre of the road along a straight line. It is the highest
point on the road.
9. Camber: The road surface slopes down on both the sides of the centre.
These slopes or sides are known as camber. It is the cross slope
provided for draining of surface water or rainwater.
10. Super Elevation or Cant: On the curves, the road surface has inward
slope. The outer edge or the road is at higher level. This is just to avoid
toppling of the vehicles while passing the curves.
Figure 2. Road Structure or Pavement Structure

22. 22
8) Explain the term WBM roads OR
8) Write a short note on: WBM roads
Answer:
1. In this type of road, broken stones of regular size less than 76 mm are
employed.
2. First, the stone fragments are interlocked by rolling and then they are
bound with smaller stones, gravels etc. which are forced into the
interstices (gaps) by brooming, watering and rolling.
3. The surface of the road is consolidated with water and rock particles or
earthy material.
4. It is common practice to construct water bound macadam roads first
and then treat them with bituminous topping or concrete covering after
one or two seasons.
5. These roads with granite or trap or similar hard material are known as
treated roads.
6. The water bound macadam roads have revolutionized the development
of roads.
7. The roads are used for district roads.
8. Generally the shoulders of the road pavements are constructed with
earthen surface water bound macadam.

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9) Explain the classification of roads.
Answer:
Classification of Roads:
The roads are classified by different ways but the main classifications are as
follows:
1. Classification on the basis of Traffic intensity and importance of Places:
a) Express High Ways,
b) National High Ways (N. H. W.),
c) State High Ways (S. H. W.),
d) Major District Roads (M. D. R.),
e) Other District Roads (O. D. R.),
f) Village Roads (V. R.).
2. Classification on the basis of Type of Area:
a) Country Roads,
b) City Roads.
3. Classification on the basis of Material used:
a) Earth (soil), murum or other low type roads using gravel, broken laterite,
limestone etc.
b) Treated roads such as water bound macadam roads (W. B. M.) with granite,
trap or other hard materials.
c) Bituminous pavements or Tar roads.
d) Cement Concrete Roads.
e) Pavements or stone blocks, wooden blocks, bricks, rubble blocks etc.
f) Roads with special treatment for glassy appearance.

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10) Explain the IRC classification of roads.
Answer:
Indian Road Congress (IRC) Classification of Roads:
1. Express High Ways,
2. National High Ways (N. H. W.),
3. State High Ways (S. H. W.),
4. Major District Roads (M. D. R.),
5. Other District Roads (O. D. R.),
6. Village Roads (V. R.).

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11) Sketch the road structure in Embankment and label it.
Answer:
Figure 1. Road Section in Embankment
12) Sketch the road structure in cutting and label it.
Answer:
Figure 1. Road Section in cutting
It is the road whose surface remains below the surrounding ground level.

26. 13) Draw a cross section of road indicating road width, shoulders, drains,
borrow pits, right of way etc.
Answer:
It is the road whose surface is required to be raised above the surrounding ground
level.
Figure 1. Cross section of road
26

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14) Write short notes on Express Highways:
Answer:
Figure 1. Express Highways
1. These roads are specially designed in very big cities for very large vehicles.
2. According to the restrictions, the speed of the vehicles should not fall below the
specified minimum limit while travelling on this road
3. Thus the expresses ways are restricted for very fast vehicles and traffic.

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15) Write short notes on National High Ways (N. H. W.)
Answer:
Figure 1. National High Ways
1. These are the main highways running through the country and connecting
foreign high way capital or the states and the ports.
2. The typical cross-sections or these N. H. W. in embankment is shown in above
Figure.
3. The national highway has two lanes of the traffic and the minimum width is 8
m.
4. The shoulder width is 2 m each and so the formation width is at least 12 m.
5. N.H.W. has modern surfacing e.g. concrete or tar surfacing.
6. The construction and maintenance of NHW is done by the central government.

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16) Write short notes on State High ways (S. H. W.):
Answer:
Figure 1. State Highways
1. These are the main roads within the state connecting important cities, Trade
centers, national high ways, district head quarters etc. in the state.
2. These S. H. W. should be 8 m wide similar to N. H. W., if this is impossible it
should be 4 m wide with 2 m wide shoulders on both the sides.
3. The cross sections of S. H. W. are similar to that of N. H. W.
4. They have modern type or tar or concrete surfacing.
5. The state government carries the construction and maintenance work of the S.
H. W. by taking grants from central governments.

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17) Write short notes on District Roads:
Answer:
There are further divided into two groups:
1. Major District road (MDR)
2. Other District Roads (ODR)
Major District road (MDR):
Figure 1. Major District road
1. These roads run through each district to serve the production areas and markets.
2. They connect production centres and markets to the high ways and rail ways.
3. They connect Taluka places within the district.
4. They have at least single metalled lane of traffic.
5. The modern type of surfacing is provided.
6. Fig. 8.7 shows the cross-section of M. D. R. with 9 m formation width and 30 m
land width.

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18) Write short notes on Other District Roads (O. D. R.):
Answer:
These are also known as 'Minor District Roads'.
Figure 1. Other District Roads
1. They possess national importance because they provide direct link to the
villages.
2. They are used by the rural population.
3. Figure shows the cross-section or such O. D. R., having 9 m formation width
and 24 m land width.
4. The construction and maintenance of O. D. R. is carried by the district authority
or Zilla Parishad (Z. P.).

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19) Write short notes on Village Roads (V. R.):
Answer:
Figure 1. Village Roads
1. These V. R. connect the Villages.
2. They are widely used by village public.
3. They are all weather roads.
4. They have at least single lane or stabilized soils or gravel. They are also known
as the earth roads.
5. They have 7.5 m formation width and 18 m land width.
6. They are constructed and attended by the local district boards.

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20) Write short notes on Country Roads (Rural Area Roads):
Answer:
Figure 1. Country Roads
1. These are the roads joining two places and running in open space.
2. These roads have carriage way of metalled top, unmetalled shoulders, side
drams, berms and borrow pits
3. Above Figure shows cross-section or such country road.

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21) Write short notes on Streets Roads, City Roads (Urban Roads):
Answer:
Figure 1. Streets Roads, City Roads
1. Streets or urban roads are the roads in busy towns and cities.
2. Street in big city consists or carriage ways, tram ways, cycle tracks, foot paths
etc. as shown above.

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22) Write short notes on Road Details:
Answer:
Figure 1. Cross section of road
1. Road Boundaries: These are the two extreme left and right boundaries of the
road within which road construction, expansion and excavation of earth can be
done.
2. Land Width: It is the total width of land required to include the various
elements of the road at present and in future and to borrow earth for the
construction of the embankment. It is the distance between the road boundaries.
3. Road Margins: These are the land widths on both the sides of the roadways.
They are provided for parking lanes, frontage roads, drive ways, cycle tracks,
foot paths, guard rails, embankment slopes etc. They may include shoulders
also.

36. 36
4. Formation Width (Road Way Width): It is the top width or the road in
embankment or bottom width of the road in cutting. It includes the pavement
width and widths of two shoulders.
5. Shoulders: These are the portions of the roadways between the outer edges of
the pavement and the inner edges of the side drains in cutting. Depending upon
the type of pavements, they are constructed with earthen surface water bound
macadam or asphalitic.
6. Pavement (Carriage Way): It is the portion of the roadway constructed for
vehicular traffic. Its width is decided by the width of traffic lanes and the
number of traffic lanes.
Sr. No. Class of Road Width (m)
1 Single Lane 3.75
2 Two Lanes (without Kerbs) 7.0
3 Two Lanes (with Kerbs) 7.5
4 Multi-Lane Pavement 3.5 m per lane

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7. Side Slopes: These are the slopes provided to the sides of the earth work of the
roads
in embankment or in cutting. They provide stability to the earth work in
embankment
and in cutting. Their design depends upon:
1. Soil nature.
2. Weather conditions.
3. Road drainage system
4. Type of protection of side slopes against erosion and slips.
8. Berms: These arc the portions of the land width between the toe of the road in
embankment and the inner edges of the borrow pits. Similarly they are the
portions in between the top edges of road in cutting and the nearest edges of soil
banks. They prevent the side slopes from damage.
9. Kerbs: These are the boundaries between the pavement and shoulders or foot
paths.
10. Similarly the kerbs are provided between the pavement and traffic separator or
dividing island.

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THANK YOU….