INFLUENCING THE SHIFT OF TRAVELERS TO INLAND WATER TRANSPORTBY ENHANCING ITS ATTRACTIVENESS

Abstract

Vehicle volume on roadways has rapidly increased over the past few decades due to increasing urbanisation. Limited road capacity and rising vehicular traffic in emerging nations like India have an adverse impact on urban life in terms of externalities like traffic congestion, vehicular emissions and road accidents to name a few. It is time for rejuvenating existing potential modes of transport other than road transport infrastructure to develop a sustainable transportation system. Inland Water Transport is known to be the cheapest mode of transport, has low environmental pollution agents and low carbon emission. However, the lack of service quality results in poor patronage in IWT. The present study documents a rational approachto shifting travelers to IWT by enhancing its quality and attractiveness. A travel behavioural approach is proposed which includes the development of a mode choice model and generalized cost model and identification of operational viability of IWT with the improvements in service quality. The outcomes of this study will be crucial for enhancing IWT services in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. The methodology and strategy given shall be replicated in other areas to develop IWT as a demand management device, despite the fact that the study is case-specific.