MEASURING QUALITY OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT USING DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS (DEA)

Abstract

Urban Public Transport Systems has been under the evaluation process regarding their performance and efficiency issues. in a developing country like India, optimization of resources along with achieving the specific efficiency target is a challenging pursuit. In this research an attempt has been made to study this aspect using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a linear programming based technique for measuring relative performance of organizational units where the presence of multiple inputs and outputs makes comparisons difficult. This thesis introduces the technique and uses an example to show how relative efficiencies can be determined w.r.t. Public Transport Operation. There are a number of practical issues of concern in applying this technique. Besides the identification of relative efficient and inefficient units, DEA identifies the sources and level of inefficiency for each of the inputs and outputs. It utilizes the inputs and output resources to make the sources efficient. A methodology is also given to show how DEA actually works to make the efficient source. This study illustrates the analysis conducted on commuter travel behavior data collected inside as well as outside Metro Stations in New Delhi for Yellow and Red line. DEA was used to evaluate relative efficiencies of identified MRTS Stations. DEA resulted in meaningful comparative conclusions from the collected data. The case study chosen for this analysis is the Mass Rapid Transit System in New Delhi and various Qualitative parameters have been analyzed with respect to the costs incurred, and facilities provided at various metro stations. The results indicate that not all stations are performing at similar levels on the efficiency levels. The study has potential to identify egress that can be strengthened for improving efficiency of a particular station. Survey has been conducted in the Mass Rapid Transit System in New Delhi and three data sets were taken. First, comparing the yellow and red lines stations by taking three inputs i.e. In Vehicle Travel Time (IVYT'), Out Vehicle Travel Time (OVTT) and Total Travel Time (ITT) and output is Interconnectivity ratio (IR). Secondly, comparing the corridors of yellow and red lines in which four inputs i.e. Delay time, Number of staff, Costing of construction of individual stations and Cost of energy consumption and output is Commuter satisfaction which is divided into three parts ( Security Related, Station facilities, Ease and access! Egress). Finally, the last one is the efficiency evaluation of interchange stations (Kashmere Gate, Inderlok, New Delhi, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Sikanderpur). In this case, three inputs are Transfer service time, Transfer walking time and Queuing time of ticket and output is Percentage satisfaction of commuters which is used to calculate efficiency of each station.