Can we minimize the traffic congestion in Ahmedabad city?

 Ahmedabad city is considered to be one of the most densely populated cities of Gujarat. The improper transportation planning process leads to deficiency in adopting the suitable transport policies to mitigate the transportation problems resulting from urbanization and rapid increase of population. The mode choice model is probably the most important element in transportation planning and policy making. This has a direct effect on the level of transport demand, travel patterns and its impact on the environment.

  In recent years, there is an exceptional increment in populace and vehicles in Ahmedabad city because of the employment, education and other basic facilities. Additionally there were distinctive transport approaches that were adopted by transport planners such as the rapid transport system like BRTS in Ahmedabad. Yet at the same time these vehicle frameworks were not adequate for taking care of the vehicle issues coming about because of the expansion of travel demands.

Ahmedabad city is presently facing rapid urbanization and financial development, with this, the interest for private and public transport has expanded to a great extent.  To satisfy the increasing travel demand without increasing the congestion issue there is a requirement for increasing the usage of high occupancy modes in addition to encourage the use of non-motorized modes (walking and biking). This wasn't possible without understanding the traveler’s requirements and their preference of using the modes.

To overcome such problems in the Ahmedabad city, the work should be done to study the present transport design and the steps should be taken to improve the same. One step should be improved is mode choice modelling, which is viewed as exceptionally fundamental for foreseeing the future development for each mode in addition to determining the factors that contribute the utilization of each mode and shifting from one mode to another one.

Developing cities including Ahmedabad frequently utilize the mode decision models that are implemented by the developed countries. These models are not apt to be used in their original form because of the various changing conditions and circumstances in developing countries. In this manner, there is a need to create mode choice model for Ahmedabad in order to help in predicting the future demand for each mode of transport and adopting the suitable transport policies to solve the congestion problem. And that model could be useful to the cities having same kind of growth rate.

The reason behind traffic congestion being the use of the public transport, which is very low as compared to the private transport in Ahmedabad, so steps have to be taken to increase the use of public transport by improving the existing transport or to come with a new rapid transport option that should encourage the people to use the same.

Rai University, Ahmedabad
-          Prof. Bageshree Panara