European Transport / Trasporti Europei (2004) 27/IX

In order to ease transportation problems, many urban authorities in India have taken up initiative for construction of flyovers at major intersections. However, in most of the cases a comprehensive planning approach has not been adopted, either due to lack of fund or ignorance about the planning perspective of such proposals. The locations for flyovers have been decided based on present day operating conditions and the traffic impacts of such flyovers at adjacent intersections have not been analysed. In the present paper, the traffic impact of a flyover along with its adjacent intersection has been analysed, using a simulation model developed for mixed traffic operations and poor lane discipline prevailing in India. Through the case study presented in the paper, it has been demonstrated that an ill planned flyover only shifts the location of the problem without bringing any benefit to traffic. The potential use of simulation model for analyzing traffic impacts has been shown; and the need for such analysis for the planning of flyovers has been highlighted.

In order to formulate rational traffic management measures for urban roads, it is essential to understand the effect of different types of vehicle on congestion. The effect of different types of vehicle on congestion has been captured on the basis of marginal congestion. Using congestion models, the marginal congestions have been estimated for different road widths, traffic compositions and on-street parking levels. The peak hour vehicular composition and volume level vary for different roads in an urban area. Therefore, for assessing the operating conditions for different roads based on a comparable quantitative measure, the marginal congestion caused per Passenger Car Unit (PCU) of mixed traffic stream has been estimated and denominated ‘Marginal Congestion Index (MCI)’. The use of MCI for prioritization of management actions for different urban roads is discussed. It is shown that a congestion model explicitly accounts for the effects of traffic composition and volume level. Therefore, the effect of different types of vehicles on congestion at all traffic volumes could be estimated using congestion models. Altogether, modeling of congestion is established as a tool for formulating rational traffic management measures for urban roads in developing countries.

Urban population in India has increased significantly from 62 million in 1951 to 285 million in 2001 and is estimated to be around 540 million by the year 2021. In terms of percentage of total population, the urban population has gone up from 17% in 1951 to 29% in 2001 and is expected to increase up to around 37% by the year 2021. Consequently, the number and size of cities have also increased significantly. Although circumstances differ considerably across cities in India, certain basic trends which determine transport demand (such as substantial increase in urban population, household incomes, and industrial and commercial activities) are the same. These changes have placed heavy demands on urban transport systems, demand that many Indian cities have been unable to meet. This paper attempts to highlight the need for a cogent urban transport policy without which there will be ad hoc interventions. Such interventions, apart from not adding up to a comprehensive approach, will result in greater confusion. Furthermore, it emphasizes that if there is no worthwhile public transport, it will still need to be reinvented to promote a better quality of life. The need of the hour is formulation of an urban transport strategy that is both pragmatic and holistic in its approach.

The aim of the paper is to inquire on how and why large liner shipping companies and international terminal operators have achieved power over Chinese ports. Liner shipping companies and large terminal operators are fighting for control over the extensive web of commercial relations that China has set up within a short span of time in Asia, acquiring space in the terminals. The increase of throughput in the Chinese ports also underlines the need for the development of ports infrastructures, services and high level of management. Firstly we describe the network of trade through which China is engaged in commercial relations with the rest of the world, and in particular with the other Asian countries. Secondly we underline the structural and management peculiarities of most important ports of the three main Chinese zones and the presence of large lines companies and terminal operators. Thirdly we outline in short the cooperative action shown by the Chinese and by the great liner shipping companies to jointly manage the Chinese ports.