Analysis of the Public Transport Network for a Multiple-core Hill City, Darjeeling

Abstract

Darjeeling is a hill-station in the northern part of West Bengal with a population of 118,805 (Census 2011). The area and its transportation infrastructures were built for a far less population of about 10,000 during the British rule and have had very few developments since then. The growth rate of the population over the decade in the town is 14.77% (Census 2011). This rising population and limited area within the town is pushing its developments towards the town’s peripheries. This can also be attributed to the hilly terrain of the place. Darjeeling which was initially morphologically monocentric with only a dominant centre is now heading towards polycentrism morphologically and functionally. The morphologic polycentric growth also requires its transformation into a functionally polycentric shape. As Darjeeling is becoming a polycentric city, it becomes necessary to adapt its public transport network to this development. Apart from this, Darjeeling is a tourist destination. About 3,00,000 tourist visit Darjeeling every year (Tourism Department). The tourist season in the hills that eventuates twice every year, which adds to the population, causes a lot of traffic congestion and long traffic jams. To improve the scenario, use of public transport can be encouraged as opposed to private vehicles. As well as to provide better transport facilities during the peak tourist season and reduce traffic congestion. In this study it is tried to introduce a better public transportation network by providing new links and providing alternatives in existing links.