COST ASSESSMENT OF VARIOUS OPTIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN MEDIUM SIZED CITIES

This paper presents a comparison of public transport in Jaipur and Patna, two medium-sized cities in India, which reveal wide differences in performance, cost, and preferences for different modes. Jaipur's public transport system is 'mixed', because it has a broad mixture of conventional buses and paratransit modes. Patna has an 'IPT' public transport system, because it almost exclusively uses various forms of paratransit, mainly cycle-rickshaws but also a significant number of auto-rickshaws and minibuses; it also has a skeleton conventional bus service. Because they are cheaper to operate and use, buses and minibuses are chosen by most people, who cannot afford paratransit. Cycle-rickshaws provide a very accessible taxi service, but at relatively high cost. Both cities have had high population growth during the last 20 years. The paper compares them with respect to: (1) public transport supply; (2) public transport demand; (3) operating costs; (4) energy costs; (5) types of public transport; (6) development of mode options; (7) available public transport and other urban data; and (8) seven options for replacing traditional modes by buses and minibuses. These options could provide substantial savings in operating costs and in manpower.