31-10-2014, 02:15 PM
Abstracts: Urbanization has been observed to have a spread at a very faster rate in Gujarat state since last few decades. The urbanization in the state is governed by the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976. Out of total population of Gujarat, 42.60% people live in urban regions. The total figure of population living in urban areas is 25,745,083. The urban population in the last 10 years has increased by 42.60 percent with decadal growth rate of 36%. The act states the broad land use classification for micro level planning model of urban areas through implementation of T.P. Schemes. These schemes are prepared in accordance of the act, however, in absence of master plan for transportation, the urban roads are chaotic when the urban blocks / T.P. Schemes are fully occupied. This in turn result in congestion, potential for accidents, encroachment on roads, unauthorized parking etc. which delay the travel time of the road users leading to reducing economic contribution of the individuals affecting the overall economy. Focus in the present project work shall be on identification of unauthorized parking observed at intersections of important roads in a planned and implemented T.P. Scheme of Surat. In the current study, a few junctions in T.P. schemes of Surat are taken up under observation to find a need for parking space requirements. Also, an attempt shall be made in later stage to evolve a tool to identify to reserve space on such junctions based on land use planning at the T.P. Scheme planning draft stage. In present study, 28 intersections of nine T.P. schemes of Surat are taken up for the surveys to find actual usage of road space for parking purpose. Based on results of analysis on collected data, it was critically found that irrespective of land use on an arm of intersection, 730 Sq. Mt. area shall be reserved for the purpose of parking of vehicles. On an average, 50 PCU count was observed on the arms of roads. The study on the existing and established T. P.Schemes, reveals the gap that has been left in the planning stage. Hence, it is proposed that in future, while planning any T. P. Scheme, the matrix showing parking space allocation in connection to the land use and road arm width shall be used or at least 730 Sq. Mt. per arm shall be reserved for the parking. Such reservation of land in the transportation land use shall reduce the traffic burden on the valuable right of way as well as carriage way of urban roads.