Re-orientation of Para-Transit When Confronted by Mass Transit System: An Approach through User’s and Operator’s Perceptions

Abstract

The present paper deals with the role of para-transit system of auto-rickshaws in fast growing metropolitan city of Surat in Indian state of Gujarat, when confronted by the city bus service and bus rapid transit system. The main objective of the paper is to re-organize the auto-rickshaws systems as feeder to mass transit considering expected shift to transit based on binary logit models with respect to the distance in the influence area. It is observed that the expected shift takes place up to 2km in the buffer area, beyond which it decreases. Furthermore, the para-transit system shows maximum passenger-kilometer within the buffer zone of this 2 km on each side of the trunk route. Interestingly, the present study also reveals that auto-rickshaw operators are able to maintain their present earnings even after redefining their roles from trunk travel mode to feeder mode.