TRAFFIC CONGESTION- A CASE STUDY OF DUMKA CITY

SUBMITTED BY

RANI CHOUHAN - 21040430020

MANISHA MARANDI - 21040435019
SUNNY BESRA - 21040435041
MANOJ MARANDI - 21040435020
ALBERT MARANDI - 19040435005
MALTOSH MURMU - 21040435018
ABHISHEK RAJ - 21040435002

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

MR. SOURAV KUMAR
(ASSISTANT PROFESSOR - DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING)

PROJECT SUBMITTED TO

DUMKA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

TECHNO INDIA, POLYTECHNIC COMPOUND ROAD, DUMKA
JHARKHAND 814101

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FEBRUARY ,2025

JHARKHAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, RANCHI

 TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE REVIEW

STUDY AREA

METHODOLOGY

EXPECTED OUTCOME

REFERENCE
 ABSTRACT

This case study focuses on the growing problem of traffic congestion in Dumka, a
developing town in Jharkhand, India. As Dumka continues to grow in terms of
population, vehicles, and commercial activities, the pressure on its limited road
infrastructure has increased. The town’s roads are often narrow and poorly managed,
and there is a lack of proper planning in how land is used for housing, shops, and
offices. These issues have led to frequent traffic jams, especially in busy areas like the
central market and major road junctions.

This study focuses on analysing traffic congestion in Dumka city. The research
methodology involves conducting a comprehensive traffic survey to collect data
during peak hours, with a particular emphasis on identifying the road segment with the
highest traffic operations. Data is collected from various key locations along the route.
The Level of Service (LOS) of the road is determined using the Volume to Capacity
(V/C) method. Furthermore, the Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) is calculated based
on the determined LOS, providing a quantitative measure of the congestion level on
the road and indicating the extent of traffic congestion and its impact on road capacity.
 INTRODUCTION

Traffic congestion is a major problem in many growing towns and cities in India. As
more people move to urban areas for better opportunities, the number of vehicles on
the road also increases. However, in many places, road networks and traffic systems
do not grow fast enough to handle this increase. This leads to problems like traffic
jams, road safety issues, pollution, and loss of time and money. Dumka, a district
headquarters in Jharkhand, is one such town facing these challenges.

In recent years, Dumka has been developing steadily. It has become an important
centre for education, government offices, local businesses, and daily markets. As a
result, more people travel in and around the town every day. Unfortunately, the town’s
roads are not designed to handle such heavy and mixed traffic. Most roads are narrow,
poorly maintained, and lack proper signs, signals, or dedicated spaces for parking and
pedestrians..

This case study aims to understand the reasons behind traffic congestion in Dumka by
looking at both the physical layout of the town and how traffic is managed. It also
tries to suggest practical solutions using ideas from urban planning and traffic
engineering. By doing this, the study hopes to help city planners, engineers, and local
authorities find ways to reduce congestion and make travel safer and more convenient
for everyone in Dumka.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Palubinks et al. 2008.

Presented an approach to estimate congestion on temporal data collected by optical digital
camera images. That approach is based on vehicle detection on the road segment by change
detection between two images with a short time interval.

2. Rao A. M. and Rao, K.R 2012.

This paper gives an overview and presents the possible ways to identify and measure metrics
for urban arterial congestion. A systematic review is carried out, based on measurement
metrics such as speed, travel time/delay and volume and level of service. The review covers
distinct aspects like definition; measurement criteria followed by different
countries/organisations. The strengths and weaknesses of these measures are discussed.

3. Singh and Saraswat (2019)

Conducted a traffic survey to analyse parameters such as Average Annual Daily Traffic
(AADT), Design Service Volume, capacity, and LOS for the city road networks. AADT was
utilised to estimate LOS for future traffic conditions. Peak hour traffic surveys provided data
for AADT and LOS analysis. LOS values were converted into percentiles to evaluate future
LOS trends. The findings indicated that major traffic operations exhibited similar LOS during
morning and evening peak hours, indicating consistent traffic movement patterns. The results
demonstrated a significant decrease in LOS over time, indicating a deteriorating traffic
system that posed challenges for motorists and pedestrians.

4. Nahar (2018)
Highlighted the parking issues faced by Rajshahi City, particularly at major intersections,
due to the proliferation of slow-moving vehicles and on-street parking. The study's findings
demonstrated the negative impact of illegal parking on road congestion and the decline in the
level of service. By analysing parking locations, modal share, and other related parameters,
this study provided valuable insights into the parking scenario in Rajshahi City. The findings
could guide the development of effective measures to address the parking challenges,
promote sustainable transportation, and enhance overall accessibility and mobility in
Rajshahi City.

5. Kumar et al. (2020)

Examined the analysis of Level of Service (LOS) models for urban and rural roads. It highlighted
the significance of LOS as a measure of compatibility within a traffic stream and discussed
various analytical approaches employed by researchers globally. The review also introduced a
new approach incorporating (V/C) ratio, average vehicle speed, and percentage speed reduction
for determining LOS. The paper presented the findings of a project conducted in Bhimavaram
town and two villages, assessing the LOS grades in the selected areas. Remedial measures were
proposed to improve traffic conditions and increase LOS grades for better compatibility. The
research contributed to the understanding of LOS assessment and provided valuable insights for
future transportation planning and management endeavours.

6. Chakrabarty and Gupta (2014)

Found that problems of congestion and accidents are very difficult issues to deal with because of
the small roads and tightly placed-intersections, along with the enormous surge in traffic. An
appropriate traffic policy must be drafted right away. It is necessary to raise awareness among
Kolkata’s, whether they are pedestrians or drivers, using techniques like signal system
improvement and driver training, so that each person makes an effort to make the city a
comfortable and safe place to live.

7. Al Kafy (2018)
Showed the analysis of mixed traffic flow and the assessment of the level of Service in Rajshahi
City, Bangladesh. The study identified the dominant vehicles at major intersections and evaluated
the LOS using the PHF method and V/C ratio analysis. The findings demonstrated the unstable
and poor LOS at the Monicottor intersection, as well as the poor LOS at the Vodra intersection.
Based on these findings, recommendations were provided to address the issues and improve
traffic flow in the studied areas. Implementing measures such as truck movement restrictions,
road widening, and effective traffic management strategies could contribute to enhancing the
overall Level of Service and facilitating smoother traffic flow in Rajshahi City.

8. Afrin, T. and Yodo, N 2020.

This review paper aims to elaborate on the state of the art in road traffic congestion measures
as a building block towards the development of resilient and sustainable transportation system.
Based on the challenges mentioned above, the motivation and objectives of this paper are as
follows. (1) provide the state of the art of the currently available traffic congestion measures;
2) evaluate the effectiveness and discrepancies of the measures in monitoring traffic
conditions; (3) analyse the merits and demerits of each measure; and (4) identify some
prospective future research directions in the greater interest of mitigating traffic congestion
towards the development of a sustainable and resilient transportation management system.

9. Fulponi (2023)
Highlighted the importance of estimating the economic costs of congestion and thoroughly
understanding its causes and consequences, and traffic congestion in Buenos Aires remained a
persistent challenge. By utilising programming tools and analysing Big Data, policymakers
could make informed decisions to mitigate congestion and create a more sustainable city. The
paper proposed potential public policies based on observed data, emphasising the need to
embrace the concepts of smart cities, ecological infrastructure, and enhanced public
transportation. By integrating these approaches, Buenos Aires could work towards alleviating
congestion, enhancing urban mobility, and creating a more liveable and sustainable urban
environment.
 STUDY AREA

The study area focuses on two main chowks in Dumka i.e, Tin Bazar Chowk and Tower
Chowk. For Tin Bazar chowk the study area focus on the Dumka-Bhagalpur Road and
Dumka-Tin Bazar Road starting from tin bazar chowk.This area encompasses a significant
portion of the city transportation network. Dumka Bhagalpur Road: This road connects Dumka
to the city of Bhagalpur in Bihar.Dumka Teen Bazar Road: This road connects the Tin Bazar
Chowk area to other parts of Dumka, including the Teen Bazar area.

For Tower Chowk the study area focus on the Dumka-Jamtara Road and Dumka-Hansdiha
Road connect tower chowk in dumka. Tower Chowk is a significant location that connects the
two roads, serving as a traffic junction or focal point for both highways. Understanding traffic
flow, congestion, and urban development requires an understanding of Tower Chowk, the
intersection of two roads in Dumka City. Data collection on land use, traffic flow, road
infrastructure, and any environmental effects of transportation would probably be part of this
study.The study would likely analyze traffic volume, speed, and density on both roads,
especially at intersections and during peak hours.
 METHODOLOGY

The aim of the present study is quantifying the degree of congestion or determine the
Roadway Congestion Index (RCI). To calculate the RCI, the current level of service of
the roads needs to be determined. The peak hour traffic data has been collected through
a traffic survey method. The specific road stretch with the highest traffic operations has
been identified for conducting the traffic survey. The traffic survey data from the peak
hour has been converted into Passenger Car Units (PCU) to ensure uniformity in the
units. The V/C method has been employed to identify the Level of Service (LOS) of
the road.

SITE SELECTION

DATA COLLECTION

TRAFFIC SURVEY

Determination Determination
of PCU of LOS

ANALYSIS
 EXPECTED OUTCOME

The research includes the analysis of peak hour factors during Morning ,Afternoon
and Evening hour. Utilising Volume/Capacity (v/c) ratio and Level of services
indicators which evaluates the extent of congestion across study area road segments.
Reducing traffic congestion and improving traffic flow through various means,
including public transport improvements, smart traffic management and infrastructure
enhancements.
Because it lowers productivity and raises expenses for both individuals and
businesses, traffic congestion has an economic impact.
Enhanced Public Transportation Efficiency reduce commute times compared to
driving, especially during peak hours.
Developing and maintaining road infrastructure, including bus lanes, dedicated bike
paths, and pedestrian-friendly zones, can improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Implementing smart parking solutions, such as real-time parking availability
information and optimized parking fees, can improve traffic flow and reduce
congestion in urban areas.
 REFERENCES

https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/49125-001-rpab-01.pdf

https://web.iitd.ac.in/~rrkalaga/pubs/ijtte_2012-congestion.pdf

Khanna S.K. Jato CEO. "Highway Engineering" Nem Chand and Bros. Roorkee, 2001

Vipin Jain, Ashlesh Sharma & Lakshminarayanan, "Road Traffic Congestion in the
Developing World"

Singh, S. and Saraswat, A. 2019. Design Service Volume, Capacity, Level of Service
Calculation and Forecasting for a Semi-urban City. Revued Intelligence Artificielle,
33(2): 139–143. https://doi.org/10.18280/ria.330209

Abdulla, K., Lamia, F. and Saleha A.P. 2018. Estimating Traffic Volume to Identify
the Level of Service in Major Intersections of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Tr Civil Eng and
Arch, 2(4): 146. https://doi.org/10.32474/TCEIA.2018.02.000145

Afrin, T. and Yodo, N. 2020. A Survey of Road Traffic Congestion Measures towards
a Sustainable and Resilient Transportation System. Sustainability, 12(11): 4660.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114660