Abstract

Ahmedabad city has witnessed a sustained growth in population over the past decades with corresponding growth in passenger and freight movements. This paper analyses the impact of the manner in which policies affect urban logistics networks and urban freight movements within the municipal limits of the city. A review of historic evolution of Ahmedabad’s economic activity, existing land use and taxation policies were used to explain the formation of urban logistics networks and operations. Through expert interviews with private stakeholders directly involved in urban logistics, insights on the influence of these policies on their strategic business decisions were understood. Spatial data on land use, road networks and traffic restrictions was used to identify key routes and corridors where different commodity flows were estimated to move. Data from a cordon survey of freight vehicles that was carried out in 2006 was used to develop a static freight distribution model of commodity flows over the city’s transport infrastructure. Congestion and accident hotspots due to freight traffic concentration were identified from the above analysis and possible options to mitigate these negative externalities were suggested. The case study of Ahmedabad characterises the movement patterns of various commodities into and out of the city and identifies commodities whose transport have a stronger influence on the urban transport infrastructure. It indicates that existing zoning laws, tax policies, road network and time restrictions on HGVs impact supply chains, safety and traffic causing system wide inefficiencies. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations to address issues which could form a basis towards developing the city’s first Freight Management Plan.