IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL FREIGHT FLOWS ON THE OVERALL TRAFFIC IN SURAT CITY, INDIA

Surat is one of the major textile manufacturing hubs in India, having 40% of the synthetic fabric produced in the country. The textile industry in the city has witnessed tremendous growth in the last decade, leading to many transportation-related changes within it. Textile manufacturing has different phases like weaving, processing, value addition and trading or distribution. These phases are located as clusters or pockets in different parts of the city. The scattered nature of the industry generates numerous freight trips. This study focuses on characterizing and estimating textile freight trips in the city. Establishment survey data was collected from production units located in various clusters. A multi-linear regression model for freight trips generated using the quantity of cloth produced was developed for the estimation of the total textile freight trips. Thus, this study will help the planner identify the strategic location of the textile and its allied industries as well as for freight infrastructure in the city. More so, it would help in understanding the impacts of textile freight movement on the city's overall traffic.