Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Vehicle, Road Facilities and Distribution of Traffic Movement in the Hill City Shillong Dr
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 6, June-2020 1793 ISSN 2229-5518 Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Vehicle, Road Facilities and Distribution of Traffic Movement in the Hill City Shillong Dr. Gitumoni Rajbongshi School of Economics Management and Information Sciences North Eastern Hill University, Shillong Campus – 793022 Email: [email protected], Ph. No.: +91- 8787448383 Abstract: Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya has undergone substantial change both in structure and character. Over the years, there has been a gradual increase in the population of Shillong from about 223366 in 1991 to over 267662 in 2001 and further to 354759 in 2011 (Census Reports 1991, 2001 and 2011). Number of vehicles registered per year has also shown an increasing trend. The road density of Shillong is also very low compared to other cities of the country, which thereby leading to the problem of traffic congestion. Unplanned growth of educational institutions and administrative centres across places within the town further aggravate the existing traffic congestion problem during school or office opening and closing hours. Thus, this paper tried to examine the spatio-temporal analysis of vehicles to understand the nature and pattern of traffic flow and also to capture the major classification of vehicles in the city. Results showed that spatio-temporal analysis of traffic congestion across five selected locations revealed that congestion is highest in Dhankheti intersection, followed by Mawlai and Garikhana. In terms of composition of vehicles across all locations, four-wheeler cars are found to dominate the scenario, which is followed by 2- wheelers and buses. Keywords: Traffic congestion, spatio-temporal analysis, road density, traffic volume, composition of vehicles 1. INTRODUCTION Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya has undergone Social and economic well-being of the citizens is the aim of substantial change both in structure and character. Over the every nation. Apart from food, cloth and housing transport years, there has been a gradual increase in the population of and communication system is one of the basic necessities Shillong from about 223366 in 1991 to over 267662 in 2001 that come into focus while discussing economic and social and further to 354759 in 2011 (Census Reports 1991, 2001 development. Without proper transport and and 2011). Number of vehicles registered per year has also communication system, noIJSER society can imagine the shown an increasing trend. According to the record of maintenance of speed of development at all. Even for District Transport Office in Shillong, number of registered arranging food, cloth and shelter everybody realises the vehicles during 1990-91 was only 30456 and increased to need for transport and its means. If we look at the progress 40645 during 2000-01 that further increased to 278010 in of civilization, development of system and means of 2015-16 (Govt. of Meghalaya, 2018). The figures indicate transport has been found to keep the pace of activities that there is an accelerated growth of registered vehicles in required, facilitate reaching required items and human Shillong and its surrounding areas. Further, the road being themselves to their destinations in time, reduce cost density of Shillong is also very low compared to other cities of transportation, save time which is more crucial in a of the country, which thereby leading to the problem of growing busy schedule. Finally, it facilitates connectivity traffic congestion. Unplanned growth of educational between societies and exchange of ideas and goods. institutions and administrative centres across places within Arasan (2012) has defined transportation as an activity of the town further aggravate the existing traffic congestion life processes that seeks to provide access to various problem during school or office opening and closing hours. activities satisfying mobility needs to humankind. Thus, it has become pertinent to study in depth the nature According to Eddington (2006), an effective transportation and flow of traffic congestion the city. system is important for economic growth in contemporary economies as it provides linkages between different parts of 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: the country and the global world. Thus, an advanced i). To examine the spatio-temporal nature of traffic transportation system is not only the key to national growth congestion in the city but serves as a driving force for overall economic ii). To examine major composition of vehicle in the city. development of a country. 3. TOPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS 3.1. Overview of Population Structure OF THE STUDY AREA IJSER © 2020 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 6, June-2020 1794 ISSN 2229-5518 Over the years, we observed unbalanced growth of growth over time. Looking at the vehicle population transport system and means of transport across the cities growth along with the road infrastructure one can identify and rural areas in any country. Cities and traffic have the changes in stress on road over time. Population in developed hand in hand since the earliest large human Greater Shillong Planning Area (GSPA) has almost doubled settlements. However, the population growth in the urban in last four decades with figures from 155600 in 1971 to centres for various socio-economic reasons and their habit 397883 in 2011. It is expected to reach 914261 by 2041. towards luxuries in the form of having individual transport Consequently, the number of towns in SUA has also vehicles (single or multiple) have led to the increased significantly from 2 census towns (Nongthymmai disproportionate growth of road communications and and Mawlai) in 1971 to 10 census towns in 2011 along with number of vehicles on road. two statutory towns (Shillong Municipality and Shillong Along with economic growth, population size is an Cantonment), which have been there since 1971. important determinant of vehicle requirement and thus its Table 1: Population of Greater Shillong Planning Area Sl. GSPA Component Population 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 1 Shillong Municipality 87659 109244 131719 132867 143229 2 Shillong Cantonment 4730 6520 11076 12396 11930 3 Nongthymmai 16103 21558 26938 34292 38004 4 Mawlai 14260 20405 30964 38303 55012 5 Madanrting NA 6165 8987 16318 29194 6 Pynthorumkhrah NA 10711 13682 22115 27219 7 Nongmynsong NA NA NA 11371 15017 8 Mawpat NA NA NA 4663 6184 9 Umpling NA NA NA 9796 8529 10 Nongkseh NA NA NA 4931 4846 11 Umlyngka NA NA NA 4696 7381 12 Lawsohtun NA NA NA 6386 8214 Shillong Urban Agglomeration 122752 174703 223366 298134 354759 13 SurroundingIJSER Villages Total 32848 42571 47747 63711 76474 GSPA 155600 217274 271113 331373 397883 Source: Department of Urban Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, City Development Plan, 2009. Table 2 Population Density of Greater Shillong Planning Area Sl. Component of GSPA Population Density (per Sq.Km.) Growth (%) 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 1971-2011 1 Shillong Municipality 8461 10545 12714 12825 13825 63.39 2 Shillong Cantonment 2570 3543 6019 6737 6025 134.43 3 Nongthymmai 5496 7358 9194 11704 10984 99.85 4 Mawlai 2322 3323 5043 6238 8960 285.87 5 Madanrting NA 3051 4449 8078 12975 NA 6 Pynthorumkhrah NA 5076 6484 10481 11583 NA 7 Nongmynsong NA NA NA 5686 10078 NA 8 Mawpat NA NA NA 565 750 NA 9 Umpling NA NA NA 389 347 NA 10 Nongkseh NA NA NA 398 392 NA 11 Umlyngka NA NA NA 673 1059 NA 12 Lawsohtun NA NA NA 674 866 NA SUA 4832 6878 9794 11728 12999 169.01 IJSER © 2020 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 6, June-2020 1795 ISSN 2229-5518 13 Villages 220 286 320 428 513 133.18 GSPA 894 1248 1558 1904 2289 156.0403 Source: Department of Urban Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, City Development Plan, 2009. Table 1 shows how the population over the years all the GSPA Component areas, which is followed by have been increasing in all the peripheral urban areas along Madanrting (second) and Pynthorumkhrah (third) (2011 with the population of villages included in the GSPA. census). Fig 1 below represents the composition of Number of villages in GSPA as per 2011 census is 32. population in urban and rural areas from 1971 to 2011. It is Significant growth in the village population is observed found that the composition of population have been higher over the years. Table 2 reveals that the density of in urban areas throughout the years. population in Shillong Municipality is the highest among Figure 1 Population Trend of SUA, Villages and GSPA from 1971 to 2011 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 SUA Population Villages GSPA IJSERvehicles registered, road density and vehicle density) at 3.2 Road Network in Shillong time t, ∞ and β are two parameters, t is time in year and Ut 3.2.1 Trend of Road Network and its Characteristics is random disturbance term with all classical regression Table 3 depicts the trend of road length, number of vehicles properties. Here β represents the annual exponential rate of registered and road density in the East Khasi Hills (EKH) growth of the respective dependent variable. Faster rise in District of Meghalaya. It is revealed that over the years, vehicle number and vehicle density in comparison to the vehicle density has been increasing at a much higher rate growth of road length and road density is a matter of grave (6.12 per cent annual exponential rate) as compared to the concern as there has been increase