Research Proposal; Traffic Hassle/Congestion in Kathmandu Valley

1.0            Background of the Study

Traffics are the vehicles/automobiles that are on a road at a particular time (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary 8^th Edition). They are the automobile that are utilized for the purpose of transportation. The traffic is the major means of terrestrial transportation in urban areas. The congestion is a condition on any network as use increases and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased queuing. The most common example is for the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is greater enough that the interaction between vehicles slows the speed of traffic stream, congestion is incurred. As demand approaches the capacity of a road (or of intersection along the road), extreme traffic congestion sets in. When vehicles are fully stopped for periods of time, this is colloquially known as traffic jam.

The advancement of 21^st century’s science and technology has a great impact to the Nepalese automobile trends. The growing of urbanization and influence of western culture has cultivated the diverse and sound updated utilization of the automobiles/vehicles. The Transport, storage and communications has contributed 8.15% of the total GDP of our country; among this transportation has a greater shear in the national economy of our country. The need of time, influence of globalization and steps towards (marching towards) the era of civilization has drastically changed the overall automobile industry of Nepal baked by wants, needs and desire of Nepalese people. Owing to the fact, and stipulated intensification towards the public/private ownership of automobiles that are encounter on the roads; the roads that we have in Kathmandu valley are about to surrender in front of the crowd. The crowded traffic might have various explicit and implicit impacts to human society, civilization and overall beauty of the city. In fact, to diagnose these effects it is enough wiser to go to the root causes of traffic hassles and congestion in Kathmandu.

The degree and depth of traffic hassles in Kathmandu may mount on various facts and figures but their impact and responsibilities may vary. Here we intend/attempt to diagnose the open secret facts and the underlying hidden grass-root causes responsible for traffic jam in Kathmandu’s roads.

2.0            Statement of the problem

The problem that will be addressed (deserted) in this stipulated research is what is the reason behind the congestion in traffic in Kathmandu valley?

In lieu with this following specific question will be answered.

i)                    What are the kinds of traffic hassles in Kathmandu?

ii)                  What are the challenges or difficulties regarding traffic congestion?

iii)                            How it can be combated to overcome traffic jam?

iv)                What are the impacts of traffic congestion/hassles to public?

v)                  To what extent it is possible in overcome traffic hassles in Kathmandu?

3.0            Research objectives

The main purpose of the study is diagnose/identify the cause and effect of traffic congestion in Kathmandu valley so that it can be the most powerful benchmark to smoothen the sound traffic in the Capital. In addition, following specific objectives will be addressed.

a)      To identify degree and depth of traffic jam.

b)      To evaluate the challenges regarding traffic hassles.

c)      To determine the ways to combat traffic congestion.

d)     To scrutinize the feasibility/accessibility to overcome traffic hassles in short and long run.

4.0            Hypothesis of the study

In order to scrutinize the casual relationship and to solve the research problem the following hypothesis are set:

i)                    Traffic congestion occurs due to narrow roads/road condition.

ii)                  Traffic congestion occurs due to overload of vehicles.

iii)                Lack of traffic discipline /lane discipline.

iv)                Due to pedestrian’s, bikers, pavements shops.

v)                   Lack of implementation of traffic rules and negligence.

5.0            Significance of the study

This research basically based on identifying the cause and effects of traffic congestion to overall socio-organizational living of Kathmandu. To the greatest of our knowledge this study helps to knock out the various problems and their possible alternative solutions. The study might be a milestone to smoothen the road traffic of Kathmandu valley. Furthermore, we would like to associate this study with “Three-Phase- Traffic Theory” developed by Boris Kerner (1996-2002) in the Nepalese context.

The findings and recommendation of this study will be helpful in planning both in road division and import of vehicles. The depth and the degree of the root cause of traffic jam will help to eradicate the problems on step ahead before worsening the situation. It is also advantages for the preparedness towards prevention. This study also leads us to focus on the minor factors, which are deviated from the main stream and acquired poor visibility in real situation. Our main motive is to identify these feasible factors which have strong impact to traffic hassles in Kathmandu.

The trigger of our study targets various stakeholders of the society ranging from inquisitive students, teachers, planners, riders, passengers, pedestrians and traffic police. Explicitly or implicitly the audiences of the study are all residence of Kathmandu along with visitors who are to be the victim of traffic congestion in Kathmandu, traffic police, planning commission and road division Nepal.

6.0            Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study is to stimulate the hidden truth and explore open secret behind traffic hassles in Kathmandu. So, it is our obvious aim for us to bring out the black and white projection of the traffic hassles. On the other hand, everything has its own pros and cons, thus our study cannot be the exception to this for limitation. The limitation that our study consists of:

1.      Specific Time Period: Since there is a continual movement of vehicles in a road. The basic study and observation happens for certain periods and point of time. Like peak hour (office hour) and normal hour. So there may be different traffic pressure at other time periods.

2.      Specific Location: Our research concentrates the major crowded town of Kathmandu viz. Kalanki, Kalimiti, Sohrakhutte, Tripureshwor, Thapathali, Maitighar, Koteshwor, Maharjgunj, Chabahil, Ratnapark etc. The traffic scenario may differ otherwise.

3.      Specific Designation/Number: Our research being descriptive, we more conveniently use observation, questionnaire and interview. The information provided by different designation may vary so we can only include few numbers of people from large designation of traffic officials, so it may not give accurate information.

4.      The officials at various offices may hesitate to give correct information. Also, there pre-collected data may consist of errors. So, our research can hardly be free from errors.

7.0            Theoretical Framework

The theory that supports the aim of this study (research) is “Three Phase Traffic Theory” Three-phase traffic theory is an alternative theory of traffic flow developed by Boris Kerner between 1996 and 2002. It focuses mainly on the explanation of the physics of traffic breakdown and resulting congested traffic on highways. Kerner describes three phases of traffic, while the classical theories based on the fundamental diagram of traffic flow have two phases: free flow and congested traffic. Kerner’s theory divides congested traffic into two distinct phases, synchronized flow and wide moving jam, bringing the total number of phases to three:

                    

                    Synchronized flow                             Jam

1. Free flow (F)
2. Synchronized flow (S)
3. Wide moving jam (J)

On this regards the relation between dependent and independent variable can be identified and related as

Independent Variables	Dependent Variable
Ø  Lane discipline/traffic rules Ø  Peak hour(office hour)/normal hour Ø  Road structure/width of road/sky bridge Ø  Easy financing of vehicles Ø  Government import policy Ø  Not replacing old vehicles in time	Ø  Traffic Congestion/ Traffic Jam

8.0            Research Methodology

The study will explore the problem in a positive view, using descriptive research strategy because it aims to know more about the phenomenon that are responsible for traffic congestion and its correlationship with social living. This research will enable the study to look at the problem in both descriptive and exploratory manner. It will also look into the problem by exploring the views of different set of respondents, as well as by exploring different literatures related with the study.

9.0            Research Design

It is the blueprint for the collection of data its measurement and analyze. It is a work plan owing to the objective of our research. We use descriptive research design, it is because the characteristics we tend to study quires why, how and when the traffic congestion happens and what are its impacts to social life? On the other hand, we tend to analyze and discover degree of interdependence between various characteristics. In descriptive we choose cross-sectional study because of time limitation.

10.0       Nature and Types of Data

Data is a piece of fact, the wholesome aggregate of which gives the information. These information in fact contributes to the inquiry of truth and approaches towards the reality. The natures of data that we use as per our research question are:-

i)                    Primary data:

 Primary data are the first hand data collected for the first time for a particular purpose of investigation. In the due course of our investigation/research, primary data are collected viz. observation of road traffic, interview, and questionnaire.

Since, our study is more about descriptive baked by casual relationship; the primary data are helpful for generalization. The primary data can be assembled.

ii)                  Secondary data:

Those data which are already been collected for any other purpose or investigation are the secondary data. Since, this research is mounted on the base of description and analysis, secondary data is the must. Therefore, secondary data plays the role of corner stone for this research. The various internal and external sources are used for acquiring the secondary data. The various sources consist of:-

Ø  Department of Metro Traffic

Ø  Transportation department

Ø  Labour union

Ø   Auto Nepal

Ø  Google

Ø  Bulletins/reports, etc.

11.0       Quantitative Research

Since, this research is more concentrated towards the traffic hassle in Kathmandu. The nature of traffic congestion is different in different hours of a particular day. On this regard quantitative research is carried out. This type of research is very useful to quantify the information or findings in the numerals. Quantifying of an logical information to numerals is the best way to come to inference. It is because it helps to analyze the calculated information with the standard normative values and helps in comparisons. The sample units are assembled by using non-probability simple random sampling method.

This technique of research diagnoses the casual relationship between the parameters of the population with the sample statistics. The relationship may be expressed in terms of percentage, ratio, etc.

Qualitative Research

Since, the objective of our research is to analyze the depth and degree of traffic hassle in Kathmandu. The qualitative analysis of the factors that are responsible for traffic congestion are of great valued. The attitude, mood and perception of various stakeholders- drivers, pedestrians, passengers, etc. can be studied through qualitative research method. However, every information cannot be quantified nor all the data can be interpreted quantitatively so various elements can be interpreted in qualitative nature.

Data Collection Process

Our research is more descriptive in nature so the data collection can be done in two ways:

·         Field study

·         Field survey

Data Collection Procedure

Data is a piece of fact. The major motive to collect data is to generate and generalize the information at various purposes. The major objective is to access easy and effective decision making, reliable and valid conclusion. We collect the primary data via observation, questionnaire, and interview. This data are more authentic and bias less. So, it greatly analyzes the research problem. The procedure of data collection begins from the classification of the stakeholders. More precisely we call it determination of sample size from the population. In this investigation all the demographic population of Kathmandu valley implicitly or explicitly one who uses the traffic and road comes under the universe or population frame. Primarily we target our investigation to pedestrians, drivers, passengers, traffic police followed by observations at two periods of time i.e. peak hour and normal hour. Since, according to the motive of our research, non-probabilistic sampling method is used. The sample size is selected on the basis of cluster sampling method. Under this method sample is selected, the sample we select is 20 pedestrians, 10 drivers, 20 passengers and 10 traffic police. All together a sample size of 60 people is taken under our inquiry from various predetermined places. We distribute the questionnaire having both type i.e. open ended and close ended in order to acquire reliable information by making the respondent comfortable at ease to provide the information. The pictorial sampling plan that we are going to carry out during our research is as under:

Sampling Plan

S. NO	Stakeholders	No. of people	Type of Inquiry	Task & no. Classification
01	Pedestrians	20	15-Questionnaire	5-Kalanki, 5-Ratnapark, 5-Maharajgunj
			05-Intirview	2-Ratnapark, 2-Chabhil, 1-Shorakhutte
02	Traffic police	10	05-Questionnaire	2-Koteshworj, 2- Chabhil, 1- Shorakhutte
			05-Intirview	2-Maharajgunj, 2-Thapathali, 2-Tripureshwor
03	Passengers	20	15-Questionnaire	5-Koteshwor, 5-Chabhil, 5- Kalanki.
			05-Intirview	2-Ratnapark, 2-Maitighar, 1-Kalanki
04	Drivers/ Riders	10	05-Questionnaire	2-Thapathali, 2-Maharjgunj, 1-Kalimiti
			05-Intirview	2-Tripushwor, 2-shorakhutte, 1-Kalanki

An unstructured interview is conducted with traffic police, drivers and passengers to obtain more information. The secondary data are collected via various sources like

Ø  Department of Metro Traffic

Ø  Transportation department

Ø   Bulletins/reports

Ø  Labour union

Ø  Auto Nepal

Ø  Google, etc.

After the collection of these data, the data analysis tools are used to acquire informative results. Our research work in progress is guided by Prof. Shree Krishna Shrestha, our research instructor will be of great valued to reach to better conclusions.

Data Processing and Analysis

The collected raw data can be molded as per the requirement and objectives of the research. The various steps that are to be followed are

i)                    Data Processing:

a)      Editing: It is the process of examining the collected raw data to detect error and omissions. So to overcome the possible error in our research editing is of great value.

b)     Coding: In order to make the research more systematic and scientific, assigning of numerals or symbols to answer is done, so coding helps to allocate the answer whenever necessary.

c)      Classification: The result of research study is at large volume in the form of raw data. So in order to simplify it should be classified into homogeneous groups, so a meaningful relationship can be profoundly studied

.

d)     Tabulation: After the necessary classification of data the next step is to arrange the data in respective tables/ charts. The tabulation is essential in order to systematize and logical arrangement of data for further manipulation. The reason why the tabulation is necessary is as under.

·         To conserve space, reduce descriptive statement into visual/pictorial form.

·         Aids in simple comparison.

·         It facilitates the summation of items and detection of errors and omissions.

·         Provides a basis of benchmark for statistical computation.

ii)                  Analysis:

 Analysis is the means to estimate the value/s of unknown parameters of the population from the sample statistics and hypothesis testing in order to reach the conclusion. And therefore our research analysis is divided into two categories viz. descriptive and inferential analysis.

·         Descriptive Analysis: It incorporates the study of distribution of one variable. This study provides us the information about the various types of traffic jam, their intensity and their span.

·         Inferential Analysis: Basically we opt to use SPSS, to analyze the data and on the other aspect this inferential analysis simultaneously analyzes more than two variables. The interdependence between the variables, their correlation, and variance analysis are employed to draw the inference. To the greatest of our knowledge, we also opt to use F-test for the study of relationship.

Gantt chart:

S. No.	Activities	Proposed Duration/Days
1.	Proposal Writing	6
2.	Proposal Approval/ Submission	4
3.	Preliminary Research	4
4.	Assessment of Preliminary Research	3
5.	Data Collection	15
6.	Data Processing and Analysis	8
7.	Report Writing	10
	Total Time	50