GIS-Based Assessment of Best Route in Complex Traffic Environment: A Case of Kolkata Municipal Corporation

In an emergency like an urban fire, road accident, or critical condition of patients, the shortest possible route to reach the destination is one of the most sought-after issues in transportation studies. However, the physical distance of the shortest route becomes longer distance than the travel time distance due to traffic congestion in metropolitan cities like that of Kolkata. So, the selection of an alternative route is essential to organize the journey logically. A well-structured road network provides multiple options to road users for selection of the best route from the shortest and alternative route according to their demand. So, the present study aims to identify the structural characteristics of road networks by graph theory and the selection of the best route using the GIS technique. It has been found that the road network of Kolkata is characterized by complex structure and grid configuration of the network. Selection of the best route also ranges from the shortest route to alternative route due to spatial variation of traffic speed on different roads in peak hours. The current study identifies the optimal route in terms of travel time to reach the required destinations during peak hour duration in the city of Kolkata.