The document analyzes bus route performance in Visakhapatnam, India. It surveyed 5 key routes, recording passenger volumes, loads, and headways. It found demand exceeds supply during peaks. Route 222 carries the fewest passengers per km. Route 20A carries the most. Loads exceed capacity on many trips, especially for routes 28 and 60C. Headways are most consistent in non-peak periods. The analysis recommends improving schedules, adding buses during peaks, developing transfer points, and using technology to better monitor operations and match supply to dynamic demand.

1. Performance Evaluation of Selected Routes
of City Bus Services in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, 31st August 2012
1

2. Background
• APSRTC’s Visakhapatnam Division runs 1080
buses, out of which 650 buses are used for
city bus operations
• It has 3400 staff including 1400 drivers
• APSRTC’s best practices have resulted in
increased fuel efficiency which has earned it
several awards

3. Aim of Study
To assist APSRTC with performance analysis of
its bus operations on selected routes

4. Study Methodology
• Surveys were conducted on selected bus routes to
appreciate the traffic and travel characteristics.
• Data on bus schedules was provided by APSRTC.
• The following primary surveys were conducted in
June & July 2012:
– Boarding and Alighting Survey
– Bus Occupancy Survey
– Waiting Passenger and Auto Rickshaw Count
– Auto Rickshaw Occupancy Survey (at one stop)

5. Bus Stop Selection
• Consultation with APSRTC
• At least 3 stops per Bus Route
• 10 bus stops were selected on the selected 5
routes

6. Bus Routes Selection
• Bus Routes finalized in consultation with
APSRTC
Bus Route Description
222 City Bus Station – Tagarapuvalasa
20A Maddilapalem – Old Head Post Office
60C Arilova Colony – Old Head Post Office
38 City Bus Station – Gajuwaka
28 R.K.Beach to Simhachalam

7. Selected Bus Routes

8. Bus Stops Selected
8

9. Bus Stops on Bus Route 222

10. Bus Stops on Bus Route 20A

11. Bus Stops on Bus Route 38

12. Bus Stops on Bus Route 60C

13. Bus Stops on Bus Route 28

14. IPK Calculations for Selected Bus Routes
Selected Route
Parameters or
20A 222 28 38 60C
Statistical Details
Total Passengers
Boarded per Bus per 1321 700 1150 463 620
Day (B&A Data)
Scheduled Route
Length Per Bus Per Day 250 402 272 351 248
(km)
Indexed Passenger
Kilometers 5.28 1.74 4.22 1.31 2.50
(passengers/bus km)
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15. Passenger Load Analysis
• Total Number of Passengers in the Bus at any given
Time
• Calculated from Boarding and Alighting Surveys
• Observed Load Patterns:
– AM Peak (8AM-10AM)
– PM Peak (4:30PM-6:30PM)
– Non Peak (remaining times)
15

16. Passenger Load Analysis for Bus Route 60C
Route 60C Average Passenger Load ALC-OHPO
70
60
50
40
30
n
P
e
a
g
s
r
20
10
0
Avg Load per trip Avg AM Peak Load per trip Avg PM Peak Load per trip Avg non-Peak Load per trip
16

17. Passenger Load Analysis for Bus Route 28
80
Route 28 Average Passenger Load - RKB-SML
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Avg Load per trip Avg AM Peak Load per trip Avg PM Peak Load per trip Avg non-Peak Load per trip
17

18. Passenger Load Analysis for Bus Route 28
Route 28 Average Passenger Load - SML-RKB
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Avg Load per trip Avg AM Peak Load per trip Avg PM Peak Load per trip Avg non-Peak Load per trip
18

19. Passenger Load Analysis - Observations
• Supply not in sync with the demand
• Dynamic scheduling approach can improve
operational efficiency
• Additional buses needed on many routes to service
peak hour demand
• Providing additional buses from R.K.Beach to Depot
in the evening peak hours and from Depot to
Jagadamba during the morning peak hours.
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20. Boarding and Alighting Patterns for Bus Route 28
Boarding and Alighting Route 28
25
RK Beach to Simhachalam
Avg Boarding per trip Avg Alighting per trip
20
15
10
5
0
20

21. Boarding and Alighting Patterns-Recommendations
• Develop NAD as transfer terminal
• Improve transfer facility at RTC Complex terminal
• Proper steps to be taken to attract large quantum of
potential riders.
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22. Headway Analysis
• Time difference between the departure of a previous
service to arrival of next bus at a particular bus stop
• Bus Arrival Data collected at the selected Bus Stops
• Mean, Average and Standard Deviation calculated for
the following time periods:
– AM Peak (8AM-10AM)
– PM Peak (4:30PM-6:30PM)
– Non Peak (remaining times)
• Reliability is High if Standard Deviation is close to
Zero (“0”)
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23. Bus Occupancy Survey
Bus Occupancy Percentage
Empty (< 10) 12
Half Full (10-30) 40
Full (all seats occupied + 5 people 34
standing)
Standing (all seats occupied + 5-20 10
people standing)
Crowded (all seats occupied + > 20 4
people standing)
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24. Bus Occupancy @ Maddilapalem Bus Stop
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25. Figure 39: Combined Analysis for NAD: RTC Complex to Simhachalam
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26. Combined Analysis for Anandapuram: RTC Complex to Tagarapuvalasa
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27. Recommendations
• Continuous monitoring and benchmarking of operations
• Better utilization of available technology (ETM)
• Implement AVLS monitoring to have control over operations
• Scheduling to match demand
• Introducing shorter loops on certain routes to improve control
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28. Thank You