The westward flow of the Narmada and Tapi can be linked with which relief feature?

Correct answer: Rift valley route

The correct answer is a rift valley route. Unlike most major peninsular rivers, which flow eastward toward the Bay of Bengal, the Narmada and Tapi flow westward toward the Arabian Sea. Their courses are associated with linear structural depressions or rift valleys between uplifted blocks. The Narmada flows through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, while the Tapi also follows a tectonic trough for much of its course. This structural setting helps explain their direction and elongated valleys. An Eastern Ghats delta, a Himalayan bend, and a coral lagoon are not the relevant relief features. Therefore, rift-valley alignment is the best geographical explanation.