Integration of educational institution buses and public transportation services: case of Bhopal

Abstract

Public transportation, an affordable alternative to other modes of transport has been considered as an efficient and equitable transport service. On the contrary, today, public transportation is perceived as an option which is the cause of discomfort, long waits, and risk to personal safety, restrictions on movement, etc. There has been a rise in the private modes of transport which play the role of catalyst in aggravating the already existing issues in the transportation services in an urban area. The problem does not end here. There has been no effective or major measure that has been taken to promote and improve the infrastructure that is required to enhance the public transportation services in a city. In a context where there is a need to improve the public transportation services and at the same time there are financial constraints, integration can prove to be beneficial for both, the authorities and the public in general. The study aims at utilising the already existing resources and investments in the form of educational institute buses to achieve maximum results. Schools and public transportation providers are confronted with growing demand for services and constrained resources. Coordination has been called as the ideal way to stretch scarce resources and enhance mobility for everyone. The study identifies the need for additional fleet size and improved services in the city of Bhopal. It also identifies the educational institutes in the city with transportation services. It analyses the feasibility of using the educational transportation services for the public with respect to the demand for the service. The system will in no way compromise on the need of service to the educational institutes. The study of general travel behaviour of the city is done to understand the shortcomings and gaps in the public transportation system of the city. A survey to study the willingness to adopt the concept is required to be conducted to understand the perception of the public towards the service provision. The study will also assess the demand for such service provision. Schools and private agencies who own the educational institutes vehicles are surveyed too to understand if they are willing to run their buses for the public when the vehicles are not in use. This resulted in analysing the number of vehicles that can be put to public use.