An Assessment of Traffic Congestion and Parking Problems in Kolhapur City Using Network Analysis

Abstract Due to the nation's fast urbanisation and increasing reliance on private vehicles, parking problems and traffic congestion have gotten worse in Indian cities. Mobility problems are becoming more common in medium-sized cities like Kolhapur, just like in urban areas. Mixed traffic, restricted road capacity, and unlawful on-street parking have all significantly reduced travel efficiency. This study assesses the parking issues and traffic congestion in Kolhapur City using network analysis and the Passenger Car Unit (PCU) technique. Primary traffic volume data were obtained from field surveys conducted during peak hours in key functional zones, including commercial, industrial, educational, religious, and tourist sectors. Secondary data came from publications, city reports, and census data. The data reveals that business and tourism routes have the highest levels of congestion because of roadside parking, two-wheeler dominance, and junction bottlenecks. PCU-based evaluation is used to identify critical routes that are prone to congestion, such as Javlacha Ganpati to D-Mart and Janata Bazar to Ganesh Mandir. To improve urban mobility, the paper highlights how urgently Kolhapur City requires integrated parking and traffic management strategies.