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Question

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of occurrences of rivers from Chennai to Kolkata when travelled by road (shortest distance)?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2017 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (05-Feb-2017)
The correct answer is

Penneru, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha

Understanding River Sequence from Chennai to Kolkata

The question asks for the correct sequence of rivers encountered when travelling by road from Chennai to Kolkata along the shortest distance. This journey essentially involves moving northwards along the eastern coastal plains of India.

To answer this, we need to identify the major rivers that flow through the states along this route and determine their geographical order from south to north.

Major Rivers Along the East Coast Route

When travelling from Chennai (Tamil Nadu) towards Kolkata (West Bengal) along the East Coast route, the prominent rivers encountered from south to north are typically:

  • Penneru (Penna): This river flows through Andhra Pradesh, which is north of Tamil Nadu. It would be one of the first major rivers crossed after leaving Chennai and entering Andhra Pradesh.
  • Krishna: This major river flows through several states including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, reaching the Bay of Bengal north of the Penneru river basin.
  • Godavari: Another major river, it flows through states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, entering the Bay of Bengal north of the Krishna basin.
  • Mahanadi: This river flows through Odisha and Chhattisgarh, draining into the Bay of Bengal north of the Godavari delta.
  • Subarnarekha: This river flows through Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, emptying into the Bay of Bengal near the border regions of Odisha and West Bengal, relatively close to Kolkata.

Analysing the Options for Chennai-Kolkata River Sequence

Let's examine the given options based on the geographical sequence from Chennai towards Kolkata:

  • Option 1: Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha. The Kaveri river is primarily in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, south of Chennai. This sequence is incorrect for a journey starting from Chennai and heading north.
  • Option 2: Krishna, Periyar, Godavari, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha. The Periyar river is in Kerala, on the west coast of India. This river is not along the route from Chennai to Kolkata on the east coast. This sequence is incorrect.
  • Option 3: Penneru, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha. As established, the sequence of major rivers from south to north along the east coast route from Chennai towards Kolkata is Penneru, followed by Krishna, then Godavari, Mahanadi, and finally Subarnarekha. This matches the expected order.
  • Option 4: Penneru, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Godavari, Krishna. This sequence incorrectly places Godavari and Krishna (which are south of Mahanadi and Subarnarekha) after them. This sequence is incorrect.

Based on the geographical locations and the route from Chennai to Kolkata along the eastern coast, the correct sequence of rivers encountered is Penneru, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, and Subarnarekha.

River Sequence Summary Table

Approximate Order (South to North from Chennai) River Name Major States (along the East Coast Route)
1st Major River North of Chennai Penneru (Penna) Andhra Pradesh
2nd Major River North of Chennai Krishna Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
3rd Major River North of Chennai Godavari Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha (partially)
4th Major River North of Chennai Mahanadi Odisha, Chhattisgarh
5th Major River Towards Kolkata Subarnarekha Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand

Therefore, the sequence Penneru, Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Subarnarekha correctly represents the order in which these rivers occur when travelling by road from Chennai to Kolkata.

Revision Table: Key East Coast Rivers

Let's quickly revise the approximate locations of the key rivers mentioned in the context of the East Coast journey.

  • Kaveri: Southern Tamil Nadu/Karnataka. South of Chennai.
  • Periyar: Kerala. West Coast river. Not on the Chennai-Kolkata East Coast route.
  • Penneru: Andhra Pradesh. North of Chennai.
  • Krishna: Andhra Pradesh/Telangana. North of Penneru.
  • Godavari: Andhra Pradesh/Telangana/Odisha. North of Krishna.
  • Mahanadi: Odisha/Chhattisgarh. North of Godavari.
  • Subarnarekha: Odisha/West Bengal/Jharkhand. North of Mahanadi, closer to Kolkata.

Additional Information: Major Indian Rivers and Routes

Understanding the major river systems is crucial for geography and travel-related questions. India has several large rivers, broadly classified into Himalayan rivers (like Ganga, Brahmaputra) and Peninsular rivers (like Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada, Tapi). The rivers on the east coast typically flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal, while those on the west coast (like Narmada, Tapi) flow westwards into the Arabian Sea.

Major road routes, like National Highways, often cross these river systems. Knowing the general direction of flow and relative positions of major rivers helps in determining the sequence of crossing them during travel between two points. The shortest road distance between Chennai and Kolkata primarily follows National Highway 16 (NH16), which runs closely along the East Coast.

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