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Public Transport is one such area that has seen phenomenal transformation in the last couple of decades. With rising populations of cities and developments by the minute happening in the field of technology, there has been a marked change in the lifestyles of people residing especially in urban areas. People in general are motivated to participate in more “out-of-home” activities leading to higher travel purpose diversities.
The transportation needs of India have been projected to grow at a rapid rate, keeping up with the brisk pace of urbanization. The census of 2011 showed us that India was 31% urbanized even back then and cities were contributing up to 66% of the national gross domestic product (GDP). With respect to the same, it has been estimated that by 2030, 40% of the total population shall be residing in cities, contributing 75% of the GDP. With growing levels of urbanization, the mobility needs of the population is also expected to balloon. According to studies, India shall witness 295 million private vehicles by 2030. The number can be higher (as much as 404 million) in case of a high growth scenario. The transport sector in India accounts for 18% of the total energy consumption and 35% of petroleum consumption. Furthermore, it contributes a significant share of the total emissions. The Paris Agreement was ratified by India in October 2016, whereby the government pledged a 33-35% reduction in emissions associated with individual units of economic output. Hence it is the need of the hour to shift towards less carbon intensive forms of mobility in the face of rising travel demands of Indian cities.
It has been largely observed that city bus systems form the backbone of transportation networks of most Indian Cities. There has been substantial investment in metro projects in many cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru, but it is well known that such projects are capital intensive and involve large-scale upfront costs. The bus system on the other hand is more financially viable and also affordable for individuals belonging to lower income groups than the metro. In India Bus operations have traditionally been undertaken by State Transport Undertakings. In view of the operational and managerial discrepancies associated with STUs, many cities have implemented innovative PPP systems. Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) of Bhubaneswar is a prime example of the Gross Cost Model. This study was undertaken to observe travel patterns of the people of Bhubaneshwar and surrounding cities post the introduction of the MO Bus service by CRUT. The study uses quantitative analysis to determine what factors affect trip length, frequency and mode choice for bus users as well as non-users. A perception survey was also conducted for both the groups. Bus Users were asked to review bus stop and bus related performance indicators and the non-users were asked to provide opinions on willingness to shift and pay for bus transport given certain scenarios. The outcome of the study is expected to assist CRUT in prioritizing the bus system and also the city authorities of Bhubaneshwar in coming up with a low carbon mobility plan as part of a comprehensive city wide sustainable development strategy.
Keywords:- City Bus Systems, Public Private Partnership, Bus user’s travel patterns, Private Vehicle User’s opinions, Low Carbon Mobility.
