Public Transport
Chennai's MTC (Metropolitan Transport Corporation) Bus service provides a network that covers the entire city. This service, operating from 4.00 am to roundabout midnight, is affordable and frequent. Apart from the regular buses, there are Limited Stop services, Express services and Point-to-point services, circular route services. It is necessary to guarantee that all these services serve the people.
Advantages of the present study:
Some studies carried out in this area are based on conventional methods of data collection and analysis. So the proposed study has the advantage of using advanced methods of data collection such as the use of GPS for the collection of co-ordinates and the use of GIS for the spatial analysis which offers the following advantages.
- Graphical and attribute data input and editing
- Use of spatially referenced data
- Selective spatial and attribute query
Influencing factors:
There are certain parameters which need to be considered for performing the analysis. Weightages are assigned to each of the parameters based on the existing situation and the requirement of the public. They are arranged according to their of degree of importance as
- Maximum & minimum distance between two successive point locations:
- Importance of location
- Density of population
- Time
- Availability of infrastructure and finance
- Willingness to walk
- Monetary status of the people
- Site details such as junction points etc.
The maximum distance between two stops is taken to be not more than 2 kilometers, this distance is assigned based on the type of settlement, the study of the landuse pattern gives an understanding about the population, population density and the monetary status. The present study is based mostly on ground data with some amount of sampling and then the data is extended through interpolation technique. The minimum distance is taken as 500 meters.
The above mentioned norms are adhered to as long there are no other forceful factors such as the presence of any imperative location such as hospitals which cannot be ignored. These are vital locations for locating bus stops irrespective of the separable distance between them as they serve the needy who cannot afford other modes of transport. The other important locational data considered are the schools, temples, colleges and other important tourist location.
Willingness to walk is another important criteria which is the underlying factor for making the decision on the distance. In certain cases there may be willingness to walk little extra distance in return for pollution free environment. In these conditions the bus stops are not located in the interior regions.
Density of population is one criterion that is directly proportional to the number of bus stops. There is mutual benefit for both transport corporation and the commuters by increasing the stops in terms of pecuniary benefit for the former and comforts for the latter covering large population.
The unnecessary loss in time due to extra stops is issue to contemplate upon and make analysis.
In a developing country like India every advancement depends upon the funds available. This influencing factor is considered as there is huge need of finance for the development of infrastructure such as laying of good ,strong roads. The road grade is essential for having bus routes in a particular area. It is not possible to have bus stops in the interior where the grade is poorer. The density of population and the infrastructure go hand in hand, this is the reason for having many bus stops in close proximity in the main roads.
While considering the financial status of the government it is also necessary to consider the status of the public. In a higher middle income, higher income groups the dependency on the public transit sytem is less making it less imperative to have more bus stops . Conversely the lower income group and the economically weaker section entirely depends upon the corporation buses for their transit.
Finally the locations are graded based on the risk factors. The sites selected should not be near the junctions. Dangerous turnings are avoided. Any positioning that will hider the normal flow of traffic is avoided.
The factors listed above are not the final list, there are still many more conditions
that could be considered, depending upon which the study will be near perfection