A Profile of Road Transport Development
A Profile of Road Transport Development
A Profile of Road Transport Development
Teesta Dey,
Senior Research Fellow (U.G.C.)
Department of Geography,
University of Calcutta, India.
ABSTRACT
Howrah, the sister city of Kolkata displays a continuous transformation of its urban land use
pattern since its inception near about 500 years ago. Transport, being the most significant
parameter of urban land use change, depending upon which urban structure develops, is of great
importance in this context. Howrah city in Howrah district is well known for its National Railway
Terminus which brings and accelerates development of this city since 1854. At present Howrah as
a primate city of this district exhibits high dominance and centralization of road based mass
transport services which helps in the development of the local linkages system. But a strong
contrast can be identified in the regional district level where a real paucity of mass transport
services creates severe transport problems and high dependency on para transit services. In the
multimodal public transport system of Howrah city, the road based mass transport services are
dominated by private sector companies with certain degree of public sector intervention. The
varying degree of bus services along with auto-rickshaws and trekker services within Howrah
district, between Howrah district and Kolkata and between Howrah and other districts of West
Bengal expresses the changing pattern of different levels of interaction among the areas. Due to
the changing scenario of the transport services in this city in relation to the district scenario, an
attempt has been made to analyze the spatial pattern of road based mass transport development
with special reference to bus services and para transit services like auto- rickshaws and trekker
services. It is also important to assess how the existing transportation system of Howrah city
influences the trafficscape of this region.
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INTRODUCTION
Howrah, the smallest district of West Bengal with great potential of growth, is highly influenced by its location on
the western bank of river Hugli, just opposite to Kolkata city. Howrah city within this district displays its
continuous growth trend since its inception and became an important part of Kolkata conurbation. Among the
various factors of growth, transport infrastructure and services provide the basic framework for its regional
development. From the last 150 years, the gradual transformation of the land use pattern of this district has been
highly influenced by the transport development. Major thrust was given on the then industrial sector in 1854 when
the Howrah Railway Terminus was established (Government of West Bengal, 1967). Later on, construction of
Howrah – Shalimar Railway Section and Shalimar Terminus in 1883 and National Linkage of Howrah with rest of
the country within 1914, accelerated the rate of industrial development of this district. Another important transport
medium was the all season navigable river Hugli which still serves the passenger transport in the peripheral parts
of Howrah. While rail transport accelerates National passenger and commodity linkage system and ferry services
in the peripheral linkage system, only road based mass transport services provide the intra and inter regional and
local linkage system of Howrah. The existing road transport system helps in the reconstruction of the land use
pattern of this district through which every improvement circulates directly from origin to destination and can be
used by different types of people belonging in different economic classes. In this context emphasis has been given
on the identification of spatial variation of road based public transport services in relation to regional demand
pattern and their possible impact on the trafficscape of Howrah district as a whole.
LITERATURE REVIEW:
A real paucity is observed regarding documentation of infrastructural development, specifically road and
transport development in Howrah district itself. Radharaman Mitra in his book “Kolikata Darpan” (Bengali)
(1980) explained the history of transport development in Howrah city as an adjoining part of Kolkata city. The
Master Plan for Traffic and Transportation in Calcutta Metropolitan Area (2001-2025), published by the
Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (2001), provides a detailed plan for the up gradation and
management of public and private Mass Transport services in Howrah Municipal Corporation. Sukla Bhaduri
(2003) in her paper “Mass Transport Services in Kolkata Metropolitan City” has provided a detailed data based
analysis of functions and significance of both public and private bus services in Kolkata and Howrah city.
Infrastructural Development Report of West Bengal (2010) and District Statistical Handbook of Howrah District
(2009) published by Government of West Bengal throws light on the progress of road development under
various organizations and schemes.
OBJECTIVES:
The dynamic urban landscape in relation to existing transport services influence the mobility pattern of the
passengers in this district. In this context the basic objectives of this paper are –
1. To identify the role of the dominant modes of road transport services and their existence in relation to
spatial demand pattern.
2. To assess the role and viability of road based mass transport services in various ways.
LOCATIONAL ATTRIBUTES:
Howrah district, located within 22˚12΄ N to 22˚48΄ N and 88˚23΄ E to 88˚50΄ E, is consisting of Howrah and
Uluberia Sadar Divisions, 14 Community Development Blocks, Bally and Uluberia Municipality and Howrah
Municipal Corporation (HMC) (fig 1). Among the urban units, the most urbanized part is the HMC with an area of
near about 51.74 Sq. Km with 1.08 million population load (as per 2001 census). The five boroughs of HMC with
50 wards are characterized by almost all possible attributes of developing urban landscape. Since the foundation of
HMC in 1862 and transformation into the present form in 1984, it acts as the most influential part of Kolkata
Metropolitan Area (KMA) and has the dual vibes for the industrial and regional development. The continuous two
way interaction between Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC)
through two bridges (Howrah Bridge and Second Hugli Bridge) over river Hugli transformed the whole district as
one of the most notable and influential urban and industrial part of South Bengal.
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The bus service of Howrah district consists of Private, Mini and Executive Buses. There are 24 different private
bus routes and 34 mini bus routes with 666 and 821 fleet strength of each of them in 2010 which mainly provide
services to connect Kolkata city. There are another 31 private bus routes and 42 executive bus routes with fleet
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strength of 346 and 185 respectively that offer bus services in the interior parts of this district. The two maps of
Howrah (fig 2) represent the existing passenger pressure of different important nodes of Howrah district in
relation to the offered number of permitted bus routes with fleet strength. Although such interrelation reveals a
clear positive trend between passenger pressure and fleet strength of permitted buses (fig 3) but there is a high
degree of disparity in Shyampur, Jagatballavpur and Udaynarayanpur in terms of availability of buses in
relation to existing passenger demands. Hence a distinct inequality can be observed between the eastern part
adjacent to Kolkata city and the peripheral areas of Howrah district. Bus services must be provided to these
marginal areas for enhancing the existing transport system and for better connectivity.
HOWRAH – KOLKATA BUS SERVICES:
Howrah and Kolkata together forms the busiest urban landscape in the entire eastern part of India where the two
cities, situated on two opposite banks of river Hugli, are linked up through three bridges from north to south viz.
Nivedita Setu, Howrah Bridge and Second Hugli Bridge. Howrah Bridge also known as Rabindra Setu and
Second Hooghly Bridge as Vidyasagar Setu connect the two Municipal Corporations directly through which
every day a million of passengers commute for various purposes. Apart from personalized vehicles and taxies,
bus is the only mode for mass transport services on these two bridges. It acts as the prime mode for the common
urban passengers to reach Howrah or Kolkata easily. 14 different types of buses ply on these two bridges with
near about 148 different bus routes and 2,600 numbers of permitted buses daily. Table 2 shows type wise
variation of routes and number of permitted buses. It represents a close relation between public and private
sectors where private transport exceeds the public transport services. Among the different buses, Mini buses and
Private buses rule over the other types for mass transport services on Howrah Bridge with a fleet strength of
1,335 and 766 buses respectively.
Table 2: Type - Wise Variation of Number of Bus Routes and Permitted Buses
Types of Bus Routes Number of Bus Routes Number of Permitted Buses
CSTC Midi Bus 3 31
Midi Bus 1 6
CTC Midi Bus 18 146
State Bus 14 162
Private Bus 20 766
Mini Bus 52 1,335
CTC Long Distance Bus 7 27
Office Special Bus 3 9
Ladies Special Bus 2 4
Special Bus 14 57
SBSTC Special Service Bus 1 6
SBSTC Midi Bus 2 10
Executive Bus 8 34
District Service Bus 3 8
Data Source: RTA, Kolkata, 2010
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Table 3: Borough - Wise Analysis of Bus Transport Services in Howrah Municipal Corporation
Number
Populatio Area Length of Number Number of
of roads
Borough Number of Wards n in sq. roads in of Bus Permitted
under bus
(2001) km. km Routes Buses
services
I 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11 1,86,929 10.05 14 22.54 30 405
10,12,13,14,15,
II 1,75,563 5.89 13 20.80 139 2,462
16,17,18,19,29
20,21,22,23,24,
III 1,56,247 7.22 11 18.14 51 877
25,26,27,28,43
30,31,32,33,34,
IV 1,43,231 7.43 16 24.5 33 455
35,36,37,38,40
39,41,42,44,45,
V 3,20,755 21.16 22 113.54 57 738
46, 47,48,49,50
Data Source: HMC Office, RTO of Howrah and Kolkata, 2010
On the basis of number of buses running on the roads, road hierarchy can be derived from where it can easily be
identified that maximum concentration of buses can be observed on H.M.Basu Road as it directly connects
Howrah with Kolkata through Howrah Bridge. Another important road is the G.T.Road as it serves as the nerve
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that stretches in the north south direction in the eastern part of HMC. The given road hierarchy diagram (fig 3)
clearly reveals the dominance of only two roads above 1000 bus fleet strength on an average week day whereas
maximum number of roads lie below that range.
The five borough containing ten wards each, varies greatly according to their locational attributes and shows
significant dissimilarity regarding passenger pressure and supply of buses (fig 6). Among these five boroughs,
the smallest but most developed part is borough II with maximum population, road, bus routes and bus density.
This is mainly because of –
Direct connection with Kolkata through Howrah Bridge.
Location of Howrah National Railway Terminus.
It is the Central Business District zone of Howrah City with all major administrative and commercial units.
While borough II represents the commercial and administrative concentration, borough III and IV are
characterized by presence of high percentage of residential areas. Borough IV is also connected with Kolkata
through Second Hugli Bridge. Thus borough II, III and IV are comparatively developed part of HMC in
comparison to borough I and V. Although borough V has maximum area but it is least developed part of HMC
with minimum population and road density and very low number of buses. The locational attributes influence
the spatial variation of road transport development in this area.
The concentration of bus services in these five boroughs of HMC can be measured by Bus Intensity Index (table
4) (Yeats, 1972). It is expressed as the percentage share of fleet strength of each borough to the total fleet
strength of the concerned area. Through this index the level of bus service development can be recognized. This
is unit free and therefore is very useful for comparative study. This analysis represents the nature and degree of
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regional inequalities in the perspective of bus service development. Figure 7 reveals that maximum bus
intensity is in borough II although two other adjacent boroughs of Kolkata city have less intensity even than the
peripheral borough.
Availability of trekker in some interior parts where buses are not prevalent.
Frequency is higher in comparison to the buses.
Short distance movement is profitable, less time consuming and comfortable.
Although fare is a little bit high than the bus fare but it compensates with the availability and comfort factor.
Sometimes the trekkers reach those areas according to the passengers’ demand which is not possible for buses.
The trekkers stop according to the passengers demand either for getting up or for getting off, instead of
stopping at intervening stoppages.
It also acts as feeder services to the ferry ghats.
At present, trekker service is one of the profitable businesses in many parts of Howrah district, mostly in
Udaynarayanpur, Bagnan, and Shyampur where bus services are really very low in number. But sometimes such
high demand of trekkers creates various problems like –
High passenger demands degrade the comfort level. Normally a trekker can carry 12 to 14 persons but most
of the time they overload themselves by carrying even more than 20 persons at a time.
Such exceeding carrying capacity of trekkers enhances the probability of accidents at any time.
Sometimes trekker services rule over certain routes due to lack of bus services where they can increase their
fare rate arbitrarily ignoring the passengers’ request and due to the paucity of other modal options
passengers could hardly afford to resist these phenomena.
High air pollution is also resulted from these services.
The high demand of trekker services makes people eager to get permit for introducing new trekker routes in
other parts of Howrah, which ultimately may lead to the over congestion of such services and wiping out of
bus services in the interior parts.
In spite of all these positive and negative attributes, it is true that where bus services are absent or insufficient,
trekker services are able to provide a viable public transport services for the local passenger. Some of the major
trekker routes are given below in table 4 to show the spatial coverage of this service within Howrah district.
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Auto Rickshaw is acting as the most rapid transit system for short distance movement purposes.
It is the most convenient mode on the feeder roads connecting the railway stations and ferry ghats of Howrah.
It is largely acting as link transport network of sub-urban railways.
In terms of cost and time, the stage carriage system of auto rickshaws has got a relative advantage over
manually operated rickshaws particularly within short distance and in relatively longer distance it enjoys an
edge over buses and mini buses in terms of assured comforts (World Bank, 2002).
Table 5 shows the description of major 18 auto routes plying within Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bally
Municipality, where most of the routes connect stations with the city core. High demand of Auto services are
observed in the Howrah Maidan area which is basically the CBD zone of Howrah city.
Table 5: Auto Services within the Jurisdiction of Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bally Municipality
Route No. of permitted Auto
Howrah Maidan to Salkia 50
Howrah Station to Salkia 100
Howrah Station to DonBosco 40
Belgachhia to Salkia Chowrasta 40
Bamungachhi to Bandhaghat 30
Belgachia to Kadamtala 20
Parijat Cinema to Bally Khal 30
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= , x = Selected Criteria
Table 6: Theil’s Index of Road Transport Services of Howrah Municipal Corporation (2010)
Fleet Fleet Fleet
Strength Strength Strength
Boroughs
of of of
Buses Autos Trekkers
I 405 0.089096395 232 0.096505338 140 0.108469739
II 2462 0.150689698 947 0.159624966 242 0.139881522
III 877 0.133311022 320 0.115009621 220 0.134703423
IV 455 0.095428506 460 0.135962372 286 0.148137796
V 738 0.123384685 510 0.141484392 320 0.152825683
4937 0.591910306 2469 0.648586684 1208 0.684018163
Log n 0.698970004 0.698970004 0.698970004
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Very low road space at the city core (near about 3.2% to that of the total area).
High population density (especially in Borough II, III and IV) and no scope to increase road space in these
Boroughs.
High passenger and traffic density.
Imbalances between existing demand and supply of buses.
Road congestion by trucks, para transit modes and personalized vehicles causes low road space for bus services.
High level of inequality in road space and bus services among different Boroughs. For instance, Borough I
and V are having very low road and bus density in comparison to other Boroughs.
High congestion near the railway station area in borough II creates serious problems during peak hours.
No such road infrastructural development has yet been taken.
No future transport development and traffic improvement plan in HMC area have been implemented.
High level of air pollution at the city areas resulted due to large number of old, badly maintained diesel buses etc.
CONCLUSION:
Very recently government has given thrust on solving the transport related problems in urban core of Howrah
district. Among them, most notable one is the East – West Metro Railway Project (Government of West Bengal,
2000-2005) where the construction work is going on rapidly to connect Howrah city directly with Kolkata
without depending on the already overloaded three bridges. But this is only for accelerating the interaction
between these two cities. The interior parts are still neglected as far as the transport network development plans
are concerned. Thus, in spite of the introduction of metro railway services, which will be confined in the
peripheral urban area of Howrah, one cannot deny the importance of the bus and auto services for the common
urban travelers and trekker services for the rural travelers to maintain the balance in the road transport system.
The flexibility and low cost system of operation and maintenance of these modes, together with the prior
existence of the necessary roadways, means buses, autos and trekkers, are likely to remain firm favorite in both
rural and urban parts of Howrah district. Therefore government should take immediate necessary actions for the
overall up gradation of the existing road based mass and para transit systems in Howrah.
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