A research

proposal on
traffic
congestion

Submitted by:180445
TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND PROBABLE SOLUTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF
KHULNA CITY

ABSTRACT: The traffic condition in Bangladesh on urban road pose serious problem. The
high increase in number of vehicles on road and increasing urbanization leads to problem of
congestion, which further leads to complication and hazard on the cities road. Khulna city
already suffering in terms of infrastructure as well as operational efficiencies. Considering
the regulation and infrastructure gap on city road this paper first describe the factor causing
the congestion on the city road and after that trying to give some probable solutions.

Keywords: Congestion, Population growth, Practical solution, Easy-bikes, Regular

monitoring, Sustainable transportation

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Most of the cities are undergoing multifaceted problem

because of rapid urbanization. Traffic congestion is one of the intolerable problems of urban
area emerging due to sudden increment in the private transport, affecting urban society,
economy. Road traffic congestion poses a serious challenge for all large and growing cities.
Congestion prevents the movements of traffic, leading to the intolerable increase journey
time. Sustainable urban transportation is a crucial aspect in order to ensure the growth and
development of any city. Khulna is the third largest city of Bangladesh. The improper
provision and management of public transport in Khulna city, has led dependency on easy
bike. At present, in Khulna city; around 17,000 easy-bikes are in active service, which fulfils
about 65% of the transport demand (Field survey, 2014).

In developing countries have experienced numerous transport related challenges including

pollution, congestion and declination of public transport, energy depletion and lack of
accessibility for the urban poor. Study reveals that, in 2002 only 32% people of Khulna city
owns personal vehicles and other 68% of the total households had no vehicle of their own.
Khulna, being a major city of Bangladesh with rapid urbanization has to face different
challenges regarding proper transportation system to address social, economic and
environmental sustainability. The transportation system of Khulna city, which is
characterized by both public and private transport, often failed to address sustainability.
Traffic congestion and Public transport is known as a shared passenger transport available for
use of general public, and is shared by strangers without any private arrangement. Although
the available public transportation of Khulna city includes different motorized and non-
motorized vehicles including town service buses, easy bike, auto rickshaw, rickshaws, vans;
recently this city is highly dominated by easy bike. However, because of the mismanagement
and unavailability of town bus service people of Khulna city often prefer rickshaw or auto
rickshaw as an alternative of bus, although the fare is higher than that of bus.

Rather than being a public transport it was more commonly used without any fixed route and
fixed fare. The negotiable fare is also responsible for reducing its popularity. In most recent
period, battery operated easy bike plays the most dominant role as public transport in Khulna
city (KDA, 2012). Easy bike is the most popular mode of commuting with highest spatial
coverage. Passengers also prefer easy bike instead of other mode of public transport because
of its availability, comfort and quality of services. But day by day increasing easy bikes are
making a huge problem in Khulna city. Most of the time citizens are facing traffic jam in the
main intersection of the roads.

Increasing growing population in Khulna city rapidly and growing population by birth and
migration facing an unexpected congestion on road. Better facilities like-communication
system, medical facilities, educational institution leads to heavy traffic. Khulna is one of the
oldest cities, so proper planning were not done and in modern time growing urbanization
leads to more worst. The retailer forcedly set up their business along main city road or bus
road and pavements causing narrowing the road. The illegal and random parking on main
road is common habits of drivers and riders, causing unexpected congestion any time.
Occupancy by business shops on the road. Irregularity of public transport courage the people
to depend on private vehicles or easy bike. Increasing rent within short distance of public
transport is one of the reasons to depend on easy bike. Inappropriate geometric design and
lack of traffic regulation enforcement.
STUDY AREA

My study area is this research is Khulna city. Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh.
In the 2011 census, the city had a population of 663,342

Source: KCC, GIS map 2009

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the paper is to provide a strategic vision, conceptual framework, logical sense and
guidance on some practical idea to manage congestion in such way as to reduce its overall
impact on individual and society. Against the serious existing problem this paper have
introduced some practical and logical solutions for Khulna city like-changing the route
system ,regular monitoring, suitable parking management system, demand of public
transport, which are supportable both physically and economically. Therefore we are
constantly involved in searching for traffic solution that will give not only smooth mobility,
but also economic productivity and habitable environment.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Research questions are based on the aim and objectives of the study. 3 research questions
have been formulated to achieve the objectives successfully. Illustrate the objectives, research
questions and expected outcomes

Objectives Research questions

 Expected outcomes
Causes of traffic  What are the
congestion impacts of road
 Introduce some traffic congestion
practical in Khulna city?  Get the factors
solutions like  What are the which help to
regular complications reduce
monitoring, caused by road congestion
sustainable traffic congestion  Decrease the
parking system that affects work traffic
and making performance? congestion
available public  What are the  Decrease the
transport. supporting policies impact of
 Making a that need to be put traffic
sustainable in place to reduce congestion in
transport system the road traffic livelihood
congestion?
METHODOLOGY

Limitation of the study

This study has been done with the secondary data because there was no resource for the
primary data’s. There were some limitations which made impedance in efficient conducting
the study in question

 This research has been conducted on the secondary materials

 No field survey was taken place

The conceptual framework

Improvement in service level of public

transportation at traffic congestion

Improvement in bus travel

Improvement in road
speed

Balancing the service

Continual rise of public levels of public Increase in conversion from
transportation use transportation and easy easy bikes to public transport
bikes (high service level)

Improvement in the
Increase in the income from
service level of public
bus operation
transportation
Data collection

Defining a methodology is imperative in directing any research work. In general, a method is

the way of doing something and a methodology is a broad framework of systematically
arranged various methods and techniques devised to conduct any research work or study.
Here actually secondary data has collected. Like articles, journals, and Road map 2009 from
KCC and others which are available in Internet.

Methodological framework of the study

Problem
identification

Objective
formation

Articles
Data collection
Journal papers

Road map 2009

Analysis of problem Historical data

Data and analysis
solutions accumulation

Probable
solutions

Final paper
preparation
FINDINGS AND PROBABLE SOLUTIONS

Walking is the most efficient and effective mode of transportation to reach a short destination
directly or after using other modes. It also reduces traffic congestion.

The enforced concentration of small shop along the foot path shorting the main road. So
clearing the footpath will give a solution. Regular monitoring by administration will prevent
such kind of occupancy.

The Khulna city has two way transport route system, creating congestion. If we started one
way route system like Bus stand to station road for going and main road for coming may give
a greater relief from congestion.

Proper parking system Set up one or two multi-storey building and arrange a vacant place
will give the solution of random parking and parking congestion.

Construct short fly over Construct the short fly over at the meeting road for all age’s
pedestrians lighting the congestion.

A vacant area should be arranged to set up office complex to reduced movement from here to
there. In addition the exiting office along the main road where gathering occurred can be
shifted to the vacant area.

At the office hour time the slow motion transport media like rickshaw, cycle should not be
permit, only bus, cars, bikes are allow along the main city road.

Maximum one or two stoppage should be along the main bus route to avoid congestion.

Now traffic congestion became common problem for all urban cities also for Khulna city.
The prime reason of traffic congestion in Khulna city is large number of easy bikes. In this
paper I study the actual cause behind the congestion through secondary data. This paper
present some logical solutions which are available within Khulna transport system only need
proper execution in a right way. The advantage of the paper is the recommended solutions is
supportable by financial condition, less harassment to common people, safety from accident,
reducing trip delay, and welfare for city environment. But in case of implementation there
may come constraints like-lake of regular monitoring system, lake of operational efficiency,
delay in implementation etc. By considering the policy gap the above maintain solutions can
mitigate the congestion in Khulna city at greater extent. Keeping in view the essentiality of
time and population growth The Khulna City Corporation needs to implement such kind of
solutions to maintain proper traffic flow.

REFERENCES

Rahman, AF. 2004. Travel Demand Model Derived Bus Route for Khulna City. Unpublished
BURP Dissertation, Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna.

N.Anjum, 2018, Emerging role of easy bike in Khulna city: Contribution towards
sustainability, Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna.

Lubna, J; Aman, AH; Morshed, MM and Islam, A. 2014. Cohesive City and Urban
Informality: Batterybikes in Khulna City. Souvenir published on World Town Planning Day,
Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Dhaka. pp. 1-6.

Rahman, AF. and Kabir, MA. 2011. Towards A Sustainable Public Transport System for
Khulna City, Bangladesh. Conference On Technology & Sustainability in the Built
Environment. pp. 671-684.

Pojani, D; and Stead, D. 2015. Sustainable Urban Transport in the Developing World:
Beyond Megacities. Sustainability, 7(6): 7784-7805.