Congestion in Urban Areas of Developing Countries due to Reduced Capacity of Roads

The urban areas in developing countries have been expanding by leaps and bounds, often without proper planning and management. The rapid urbanisation is causing traffic congestion which has resulted in huge losses to the economy, pollution to the environments and stressful conditions for the road users.

One of the major reasons for traffic congestion is that the capacity of existing roads is significantly reduced due to various reasons. The key factors contributing towards reduction of capacity of the existing road network in the urban areas of developing countries are detailed below:

1. On-Street Parking

On-street parking is a major factor causing reduction of capacity of urban road network. The shopping centres, offices and other public places are built without provision of off-street parking facilities.?The vehicles?are parked on roads and?considerably reduce their capacity.

2. On/off Street Construction and Maintenance Work

The on-going public and privately owned construction and maintenance projects cause lot of hindrance. The construction materials are dumped or stacked on the roads without paying attention to the hardships of the public. Also, frequent and poorly managed construction activities can lead to lane closures and reduced road capacity, causing bottlenecks and delays.

3. Poor Maintenance of Roads

Roads often suffer from inadequate maintenance due to limited funding, leading to potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces that slow down traffic and reduce road capacity.

4. Rapid Urbanization

The fast-paced growth of urban areas often outstrips the development of infrastructure, resulting in roads that are not designed to handle the increased traffic volume.

5. Encroachment and Illegal Parking

Sidewalks and road shoulders are frequently encroached upon by vendors, parked vehicles, or illegal structures, narrowing the available road space and reducing capacity.

6. Inefficient Traffic Management

Poorly managed intersections, lack of traffic signals, and inadequate enforcement of traffic rules can lead to congestion and inefficient use of road space.

7. Mixed Traffic Flow

Roads in developing countries often cater to a mix of motorized and non-motorized traffic, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians, which reduces overall road capacity. Even in some cities of developing countries, there are still human and animal driven vehicles in use. These slow-moving vehicles creates lot of hurdles, in comparison with the motorised traffic.

8. Public Transport Challenges

Inadequate and inefficient public transportation systems lead to increased reliance on private vehicles, adding to road congestion.

9. Lack of Proper Planning

Inadequate urban planning and a lack of comprehensive transportation policies result in roads that are poorly designed and not optimized for current traffic demands.

10. Traffic Incidents and Accidents

High rates of accidents due to inadequate road safety measures and poor driving behaviours can lead to temporary loss of road capacity.

11. Environmental Factors

Flooding, landslides, and other environmental factors can damage roads or make them temporarily unusable, reducing capacity.

Also, the drainage/sewerage system in the urban areas is not built or maintained adequately. The stagnant rain or wastewater oozing out of the drainage/sewerage system causes severe damage to the roads. The stagnant water on the roads decreases their capacity significantly. In addition, it causes pollution and create health problems to the inhabitants of the area.

12. Unplanned Bus Stops on Roads

There are no properly planned?bus stops on the roads. The public transport vehicles stop anywhere?their drivers like to and there is no check on it. It is not only dangerous, but also throw spanners in the smooth traffic flow.

13. Non-Existence of Footways

Non-existence of footways along the roads is another cause of problem. The people are constrained to walk on the main roads and thus adversely affecting the capacity of the roads for vehicular traffic.

14. On-Street Markets

It is common that makeshift type markets and shops are established on the roads with the connivance of local authorities' officials. These markets attract crowds on the roads and create serious problem to the smooth flow of traffic.

These factors often combine to exacerbate congestion and reduce the efficiency of urban road networks in developing countries.