In Rural Areas Of Developing Countries, The Private Vehicle Ownership Is Generally Low And Therefore, The Travel Need Is Largely Served By Public Transportation System. In India, All The Major Roads Are Generally Served By Bus Transportation System. But, Transportation Linkage Between Village Settlements And Bus Stops Is A Missing Component. In The Present Work, An Investigation Is Carried Out On Planning Of Rural Feeder Service To Bus Stop. The Work Is Demonstrated With Reference To A Case Study In Rural India. Two Small Carriers Namely Trekker And Tempo Are Considered As Feeder Vehicles. Three Different Forms Of Operation Of Feeder Vehicles Are Investigated: Fixed-Schedule, Dial-A-Ride And Dial-A-Slot. Dial-A-Ride And Dial-A-Slot Are Designed As Demand-Responsive Forms Of Operation. Travel Behaviour Analysis Constitutes A Significant Part Of The Work. As A Part Of Travel Behaviour Analysis, A Stated Choice Survey Instrument Is Designed With Three Alternative Forms Of Operation Of Feeder Vehicles And Two Alternative Vehicle Types. Both Quantitative And Qualitative Attributes Are Included In Stated Choice Experiment. The Stated Choice Data Collected From Rural Trip Makers Are Analyzed In Two Stages. In Stage-I, The Stated Choice Data Is Analyzed Using Multinomial Logit, Nested Logit, Covariance Heterogeneity Nested Logit And Random Parameter Logit (RPL) Model Specifications, And Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) Values Are Estimated For All The Attributes Of Hypothetical Feeder Service. In RPL Models, All The Random Parameters Are Assumed To Follow The Constrained Triangular Distribution, And Attempts Are Made To Take Into Account The Effect Of Socio-Demographic Of Trip Makers’ On WTP Values. In Stage-II Analysis, WTP Values Obtained From Stage-I Are Used Judiciously To Reduce The Number Of Variables Describing The Hypothetical Feeder Service. Separate Utility Equations Are Developed For Bicycle And Motor Cycle Use
Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirement For The Award Of The Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy In Civil Engineering By Sudhanshu Sekhar Das Department Of Civil Engineering Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur Kharagpur – 721302, India January 2008 (Dr. Bhargab Maitra) Associate Professor Department Of Civil Engineering Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur