ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

My City and its Transportation: a write-up

I have lived here in Kolkata since my birth, for more than almost 20 years. In this write-up I am going to discuss about Kolkata which is run by a Municipal Corporation. This write-up will provide a brief overview of the evolution of the city and its transportation system.

The City and its Origination

In the Hindu epics, the God Shiva was understandably dismayed to happen upon the charred corpse of Sati, his newlywed wife (an incarnation of Kali). However, his decision to destroy the world in retribution was considered somewhat of an over-reaction by fellow deities. Vishnu interceded to stop Shiva’s ‘dance of destruction’, but in so doing dismembered Sati’s cadaver into 51 pieces. These gory chunks landed at widely disbursed points across India. One of her toes fell at Kalikata (now Kalighat), where the site became honoured by a much revered temple.

The area where the city is now located was originally inhabited by the people of three villages— Kalikata, Sutanuti and Gobindapur. However, the boundaries of the three villages gradually became less distinct, and before the battle of Plassey, the city could be divided into four different sub-areas – European Kolkata (Dihi Kolkata), a residential village with some sacred spots (Gobindapur), a traditional Indian market (Bazar Kalikata or Burrabazar) and a riverine mart concentrating on cloth trade (Sutanati). After the battle of Plassey in 1757, the British started rebuilding the city with the notions of making it the capital for their Empire.

According to many historians, The rent-roll of Akbar, the sixteenth-century Mughal emperor, and the work of a Bengali poet, Bipradaas, of the late fifteenth century, both make mention of the city's early name's being Kolikata, from which Kolkata/Calcutta are said to derive. The city owes its genesis in the Maurya and Gupta period and it was an established trading post long before the Slave Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Portuguese, the French or the British established a modern township there. References to the existence of an ancient riverine port (named Kalikata) exist in the travel journals of Chinese scholars and Persian merchants dating from centuries BCE. The Hindu epic Mahabharata, lists the King of “Vanga” (meaning Bengal), as having fought alongside the Kauravas in the great war.

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

The growth of the present city can be dated from 1690, when Job Charnock, an agent of the English East India Company chose the place for a trade settlement. In 1698, the East India Company bought three villages (Sutanuti, Kalikata and Gobindapur) from a local landlord family of Sabarna Roy Choudhury. The next year, the company began developing the city as a Presidency City. In 1727, as per the order of King George I, a civil court was set up in the city. The Calcutta Municipal Corporation was formed and the city had its first mayor.

Evolution of the City

Calcutta, the city of joy was established in the year 1686, as a result of the expansion plans of the British Raj. The city kept progressing until 1756, when Siraj-Ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) attacked and succeeded in driving the British away from the town. In 1757, the following year, Battle of Plassey took place, in which Robert Clive took over the city by defeating the Nawab.

The end of battle witnessed the establishment of Supreme Court in 1774, making Calcutta as the base of justice. The period between 1820 and 1930 saw the growing of seeds of nationalism that reached its height in 1905, when people stood against Lord Curzon's plan regarding the partition of Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore led the nationalist anti partition movements. The Partition was repealed in 1911, followed by the shifting of capital of India from Calcutta to New Delhi. In 2001, Calcutta was officially renamed Kolkata.

The City and its Transportation

The two major railway stations of the city are at Howrah and Sealdah. The Eastern and South Eastern Railways are headquartered in the city. The electrified suburban rail network of the SER and the ER is extensive and includes the Circular Rail. The city also has South Asia's oldest underground metro railway. Till mid 2005 it was the only underground metro railway in the Indian subcontinent.

Kolkata is the only city in India to have a tram network. The city has an extensive bus network and taxis, autorickshaws and rickshaws are plenty in number. The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is at Dum Dum. Kolkata is also a major port and together with the Haldia dock systems, the Kolkata Port Trust has been amongst top performers in the country.

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

Kolkata, as Calcutta is called now, has the maximum number of travel options for intra-city or inter-city transportation. Airplane and helicopter services, in addition to long-distance trains and ships bring people into the city. The circular rail and transport corporation buses cater to nearer destinations. Catamaran and ferry services exist for riverine traffic. The Underground Metro, city buses, mini-buses, taxis and trams allow commuters to travel from one end of the city to the other. Hand-pulled rickshaws vie with auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws for short-distance travel. Horse-carts can be availed for pleasure rides around the Maidan - the green hub of the city. With all these modes of transport, one would wonder why getting around Calcutta is still an ordeal!

Public transportation, such as buses, trams, trains, and subways, are the principal means of transport in the Calcutta metropolitan area. Buses operate throughout the area, and trains have north-south lines with a few east-west connections. There are two major train terminals: Sealdah in the east central part of Calcutta and Howrah across the river from the Central Business District. Electric trams operate in Calcutta proper. The aging buses, trains, and tram cars suffer from overloading, creating uncomfortable rides. Subway construction started in 1972 and became operational with 7 km of line in 1984. By 1995 the subway’s entire 16.4-km route from Dum Dum to Tollugunge was completed. The subway carries an estimated 25 percent of Calcutta's 7 million commuters. Cycle rickshaws are not allowed in the city of Calcutta, but they are common in the metropolitan area. Hand-pulled carts are used for short-distance cargo hauling. Private automobiles, extensively used in Calcutta and Howrah, are increasing in numbers and are owned by the wealthy. Air pollution caused by automobiles, buses, and industrial emissions is severe. Calcutta's international airport at Dum Dum is about 19 km from the city centre and provides service for both national and international airlines.

Evolution of the City Transportation System

Its trams might be the slowest mode of commuting, but when it comes to public transport, Kolkata is regarded the most progressive city in the country.

The study of 84 cities across the world titled 'Future of Urban Mobility 2.0' by Arthur D Little, ranks Kolkata at 31-highest among the six cities studied

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

in India. Kolkata fares better than several cities in developed countries including New York (35), Toronto (38) and Melbourne.

Some of the parameters that were taken into account are share of trips made in public transport, smart card penetration, road density, frequency of public transport and initiatives taken in the public sector.

Experts say it is no surprise that Kolkata holds the top rank in the country as it has a array of options - including the age-old tram system, the new age metro rail and 'intermediate public transport' systems like auto-rickshaws and taxis that go by the meter. More than half or 54% of all trips are made on public transport, according a study by the Union ministry of urban development-highest in the country. Though the government is on a banning spree, studies also show that some 11% of all trips are made on cycles and only 8% are made on cars-which is one of the lowest in the country.

Types of Transportation

Kolkata Rail - Kolkata is well-connected to the rest of India by extensive railway network of the Indian railways. Two divisions of the Indian railways - the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway are headquartered in the city. The two major railway stations of the city are at Howrah and Sealdah. A third terminal called Kolkata has recently been constructed. This station is in North Kolkata and can be reached by a road opposite to the RG Kar Medical College just beyond Shyambazar. The electrified suburban rail network of the SER and the ER is extensive and stretches far into the neighbouring districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Midnapur etc. The Circular Rail encircles the entire city of Kolkata, and is at present being extended. A new railway line offshoot has been built to connect the airport to the lines going to Sealdah.

Kolkata Metro facilities - The Kolkata metro services started in the year 1984. It is the oldest underground metro system of the country. The metro railways in Kolkata runs parallel to the river Hooghly and it extends to a length of 22.3 km inside the city. New lines for Metros are under construction for a better Metro railway service in Kolkata. A line for Howrah is also being built now and Bidhanagar too. The newly developed place Rajarhat has also a

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

proposal for a Metro Railway service which is expected to be completed by 2013. New air conditioned metro railways are also coming in which will be much more cost effective than using air conditioned buses and taxis as well as it will save time. The Metro railway is the most preferred public transport system in Kolkata. To reach one place to another it takes just a few minutes by a Metro rail where as it takes hours in buses or trams or taxis. The most important advantage for the people who travel in Metros is they don't have to stick in Traffic Signals or the regular jams in Kolkata. Again one will also be saved from the pollution inside the city. People in Kolkata are now proposing to have metro facilities all over the city which is expected to be done by 2015.

Tram facility in Kolkata - Kolkata is the only city in India with the tram facilities and it this facility is the memory for the Kolkata people for the old Kolkata. Trams in Kolkata are run by the Calcutta Tramways Company. Trams are now used very less as they are very slow and take a huge time. Though it is preferred during traffic jams. There are several disadvantages of this form of transportation in Kolkata. During the winters the roads in Kolkata get blocked with water and that time the Trams in Kolkata cannot operate. This is the worst Disadvantage of the Tram Facility of Kolkata.

Kolkata Buses - Buses are also one of the most preferred modes of transport for the people of Kolkata and it is run by both Private owners as well as the government of Kolkata. Nowadays new kinds of Buses are entering into the transportation network of Kolkata which produces less pollution inside the city as well as more efficient. This efficiency of the new buses helps them to fight the hiking fuel prices and helps in maintaining the fares of the buses, thus keeping the customers satisfied. People travelling by buses are not satisfied enough in Kolkata. They want many changes in the bus service. The roads should be different for buses for transportation but again buses are really helpful for the people. The mini buses in Kolkata are run by the private operators in Kolkata. There were also Double Decker buses in Kolkata which now we cannot see much. A new reform has been bought by the Kolkata government in the transportation by buses to reduce the level of pollution of the city by permanent ban of buses more than 15 years of age which is for both private as well as government buses.

Auto rickshaws, Taxis and Rickshaws in Kolkata - Taxis and auto rickshaws are also preferred by the public for transportation. Taxis are a form of luxury transportation in Kolkata which everyone in the city cannot afford. The taxis and autos of Kolkata run in meter and they have a tendency to cheat customers. So a customer should always be alert while hiring a taxi for

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

him/her. There are also blue arrow taxis which are newly launched and they reach to you just by a phone call. These are Air conditioned taxis which provide a little more comfort and are normally Tata Indica or Indigos. Normal taxis are typical old Ambassadors which are yellow in colour. Hand pulled rickshaws is also seen in Kolkata especially in the Bara Bazaar area which is a preserver of traditional values of Kolkata. This for is normally preferred by the people who use short distances.

Kolkata Ferry - Also the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah are connected by local water ferries through the extensive ghats like Fairlie Ghat, Howrah Ghat, Shibpur Ghat, Prinsep Ghat, Cossipore Ghat, etc. Small boats are used for recreational purpose. There are plans to start utilizing the canals running through the city as water-transport network. The first service is scheduled to start from September 2006 - and would cover the Belgachia-Lake Town stretch of Kestopur Canal.

Kolkata Air - The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum is the only airport in the city, operating both domestic and international flights. It is a gateway to North-East India, Bangkok, and Bangladesh. The number of people using the airport has consistently increased over the last few years. There is a flying club in Behala. After several years of inactivity it has recently been restored.

City Transportation System Capacity Overview

The existing highway and street network within KMA is inadequate. The total road length of the highways and arterial roads within KMA was estimated to the about 500 km. of which 400 km is in Metropolitan Centre and 100 km in the rest of the metropolis. About 40 major important arterial roads could be identified, which function as the major arteries within the city of Kolkata and Howrah in the metro core area.

There are in total 12 nos. rail alignments within the KMA and the suburban services extend to Burdwan, Katwa, Krishnanagar, Bongaon on the north, Diamond Harbour, Budge Budge, Lakshmikantapur and Port Canning on the south, Tarakeswar on the west and Kharagpur on the south – west. There are 105 suburban passenger railway stations within the area placed at an average interval of 2 to 2.5 K.M. The most important passenger terminals are

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

the Sealdah and Howrah Stations. Apart from the above two major terminal stations, there are 8 junction stations within the area.

The total length of the proposed Circular Railway is a little over 34 km. of which 16 km. is over the existing suburban route of Majerhat – Ballygunge – Dum Dum via Kankurgachi Chord of Sealdah Division and the remaining 18 kilometres is mostly over old Kolkata Port Trust Railways and Eastern Railways’ Chitpur Yard.

The 28.14 km. long metro-rail from Noapara in the north and New Garia in the south has been under operation. There are 24 stations in this section between Noapara and New Garia.

The Passenger Ferry Services are operated from 58 Ferry Crossing Points located on river Hooghly within KMA. Out of 58 Ferry Crossing Points, the Motorised Launches operate from 30 Points and mechanically operated country boats operate from 28 points. In the year 2000 about 2,49,000 passengers were carried across the river Hooghly by the Ferry Services within KMA.

The Surface Transport System in KMA consists of the Buses, the Mini Buses, the Trams and paratransit system.

The Bus services are operated by both public sector agencies as well as private owners. The Bus services in KMA under the public sector are operated by theCalcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation, Calcuta Tramways Company (CTC). In the year 2013-14, the public sector agencies in KMA operated daily about 1350 Buses carrying a daily passenger volume of 12 lakh. The private Bus operators operated about 6,000 Buses daily in the year 2013-14 carrying and average daily passenger volume about 80 lakh.

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

The Mini Buses are also

operated by private owners and in the year 2013-14 about 1500 Mini Buses were operated daily, carrying a passenger volume of about 12 lakhs within the KMA.

About 180 Trams were operating daily on 30 Tram Routes in Kolkata in the year 2013-14 and carried about 1.6 lakhs passengers daily.

A number of Chartered Buses are operating within the KMA area on nonschedule routes and are becoming popular particularly to the office going population. In 2013-14 about 2000 Chartered Buses operated in KMA area carrying about 2.5 lakh passengers per day.

The paratransit vehicles also constitute the surface transport system of the metropolis. The Taxis, Auto Rickshaws, Cycle Rickshaws, Handpulled Rickshaws, Cycle Vans and Trekkers constitute the paratransit system. In 2013-

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

14 about 20,000 Taxis were operated daily in the area carrying a passenger volume of about 10 lakhs. About 25,000 Auto Rickshaws were operated in the area carrying a daily passenger volume of about 15 lakhs. About 26,000 Cycle Vans & Trekkers operated in KMA in the year 2013-14 and carred about 7.8 lakhs passengers per day.

The total number of passengers carried by the suburban railway network of the Eastern Railways and the South-Eastern Railways in the metropolis was about 32.00 lakhs per day in the year 2013-14 out of which for the share of the South Eastern Railway was about 4.00 lakhs per day. The total number of EMU trains operated daily from Howrah and Sealdah Stations in the year 2013-14 was 940 of which 550 EMU trains operated from Sealdah station and 390 E.M.U. trains operated from the Howrah Station. Of the 390 E.M.U. trains 252 nos. Of trains were operated by the Eastern Railway and the remaining 138 nos. of trains were operated by the South Eastern Railway. In the year 2013, the number of passengers using the Sealdah and Howrah Railway Terminals daily was 15.80 lakhs and 11.30 lakhs respectively.

The International Airport Authority of India handles the passenger at Kolkata Airport, Dum Dum. The Airport system is connected with highway network linking the various parts of KMA and hinterland. The Airport at present has no direct linkage with railway system in KMA.

Passenger Traffic handled by Kolkata Airport (2010-11 to 2013-14)

Year International Domestic Total2010-11 5,30,127 20,34,990 25,65,1172011-12 6,11,072 19,65,499 25,76,5712012-13 6,20,380 18,92,379 25,12,7592013-14 6,20,400 18,90,000 25,10,400

The travel speed of vehicular traffic is an indicator of the quality of flow and traffic load on a particular road. The speed profile of major arterial roads in Kolkata is given below:

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

The car parking survey conducted in 7 areas in Kolkata in 2013-14 indicate that about 3000 cars were parking on street in BBD Bag and adjoining areas on weekdays. About 1500 cars were found to be parking on streets in areas around Park Street. About 500 cars were observed to be parking on roads in and around Gariahat Area. The percentage of effective carriageways occupied by parked vehicles on the roads in areas mentioned above was in the range of 24-38%.

The total number of vehicles observed to be entering or leaving KMA onAverage weekdays in 2012-13 were about 1, 24, 000. The ratio of slow: fast vehicles were 60:40. In the year 1998 about 3, 40,000 passengers were found to be entering or leaving KMA during the period 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. through the connecting roads. About 85% of the passengers were transported by bus and the remaining 15% by other modes.

ConclusionA household interview survey for more than 21,000 households within

the Metropolitan Area was conducted by KMDA in 2012-13. It has been observed that on an average weekday about 22.6 million trips were generated within KMA of which 11.06 million were transit passenger trips and 6.29 million trips were walking trips. The work trips were found to be 53.70% and the educational trips were 25.43% of total trips, indicating that about 80% of total trips were generated for the above-mentioned purposes.

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ASSIGNMENT-1 (URBAN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT-PAPER302) RITABRATA MUKHERJEE-523rd SEMESTER MPSM (TLM) 14-16

Amongst the factors affecting the choice of mode, the cost of journey was the predominant factor and about 76% of the total trips were guided by the cost of travel for a particular mode.

The vehicle ownership pattern within the area in 2012-13 indicates that 61% of the households in the area did not have any vehicle and about 30% of the households had bi-cycles only. The motorcar and the two-wheelers constituted 1.73% and 5.67% respectively of the total number of households.

The distribution of total trips generated in KMA indicates that 72.47% of the total trips were performed by the male residents and 27.53% trips were performed by the female residents.

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