COVID-19: The Ongoing Challenges on Building
Construction Industry in India
B. Vamsi Krishna
Department of Civil Engineering, Malla Reddy Engineering College (Autonomous),
Secunderabad-500100, Telangana, India
E-Mail Id: localvamsi1987@gmail.com
Abstract: Hyderabad is one of the largest cities in India,
as the population increasing day by day, travel time is
also increasing consequently and the need for transport
facility is also increasing. But in the present situation the
facilities provided are not meeting the requirements.
Balanagar junction is a major junction in Hyderabad and
it is main entrance to Jeedimetla industrial area. Here
there is rapid increase in traffic volume which is
exceeding the capacity of the road and the level of service
is falling down. The aim of project is to check the
Feasibility of Grade Separated Inter section (Fly over) at
Balanagar junction. For checking feasibility there are so
many factors, in that we considered PCU volume, Vehicle
Operated Cost (VOC), Value of Travel Time (VOT).For
that, survey is conducted for one week period at
Balanagar junction from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Observed peak hour traffic volume
of junction is 10,318 PCU from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM.
On the basis of survey and guidance of IRC SP: 30-2009,
VOC has been calculated and also calculated VOT for the
main lane of junction. Travel time loss due to delay is
increasing very rapidly. From these reasons level of
service observed was LOS F. In order to improve the
level of service of road and reduce the vehicle delay,
Vehicle Operating Cost, vehicular conflict necessary
improvements are proposed by constructing grade
separated intersection for the route Secunderabad to
Kukatpally in both directions. After achieving Grade
Separated Intersection, VOT is reduced and level of
service is improved LOS F to LOS C
Keywords: Vehicle Operated Cost (VOC), Value of
Travel Time (VOT), Intersection, VISSIM, Grade-
Separation.
1. Introduction
Transport problems of fast growing cities often get
evident along major road corridors connecting suburbs
and central city areas. Historically grown road links often
cannot cope with continuously growing travel demand
hence congestions and sinking average travel speeds
occur. A fast emerging component of urban transportation
problems in the cities worldwide is the problem of traffic
congestion. The number of vehicles on our highways
increases every year, and transportation engineers are
often faced with the challenge of designing modifications
to existing facilities that will service the increased
demand. The road traffic in Indian cities has grown at a
very steep rate from the recent years making the available
transport infrastructure inadequate.
An intersection is the area that joining or crossing of two
or more roads. The main function of an intersection is to
enable the road user to make a route choice; it is a point
of decision. Hence the problems that are experienced by
the motorist while passing through an intersection must
be recognized and the design should be in such a way that
the driving task is as simple as possible. Good
intersection design results from a minimization of the
magnitude and characteristics of the conflicts and a
simplification of driver route selection process.
It is a bridge that eliminates crossing at intersections by
vertical separation of roadways. Grade separated
intersection also known as Interchanges. Grade separated
intersections cause less hazard and delay than grade
intersections. Route transfer at grade separations is
accommodated by interchange facilities consisting of
ramps. Interchange ramps are classified as Direct, Semi-
Direct and Indirect. Interchanges are described by the
patterns of the various turning roadways or ramps. The
interchange configurations are designed in such a way to
accommodate economically the traffic requirements of
flow, operation on the crossing facilities, physical
requirements of the topography, adjoining land use, type
of controls, right-of-way and direction of movements. In
addition, when relative speed is low, the average motorist
will accept a smaller time gap space between successive
vehicles to complete his move. This condition increases
roadway capacity.
2. Literature Review
DR V.Thamiah Arasan & Rebbu Zacharaiah Koshy
studied on “Simulation of Heterogeneous Traffic to
Derive Capacity and Service Volume Standards for Urban
Roads”
 Through the research work, a model to simulate
heterogeneous traffic flow on mid block sections of
urban roads has been developed.
 The results of validation of the model indicate that
the model is capable of replicating the mixed traffic
flow on urban roads to a highly satisfactory extent.
 The trend lines developed to indicate the extent of
variation of PCU value will be useful to pick an
appropriate PCU value for the different types of
vehicles in mixed traffic streams based on the
observed composition of the vehicles in the stream.
 Based on the simulation study, it has been found that
the service volumes at LOS C for one-way traffic
flow on 7.5 m and 11.0 m wide road spaces are 2,250
and 3,150 PCU per hour respectively.
 It has been found that the effect of heterogeneity of
traffic on the variable PCU values is only marginal
(the difference in service volume values between
cars-only and heterogeneous traffic streams lies
between 4.3 and 8.8 per cent) and hence the PCU
trend lines can be used to pick out PCU values for
different vehicular compositions of heterogeneous
traffic streams.
Cheryl Lynn Freeman, Joseph N. Debs ITE is a
determination of the) Compendium of Technical Papers
has studied on “Feasibility Study of Grade Separations of
Urban Arterials”. Congestion problems at the
intersections of major urban arterials are facing many
urban areas today. In recent years, grade separation of
intersections has been implemented as one of the newer
solutions to the urban congestion problems. A grade
separation is a crossing of two highways, a highway and a
railroad, or a bicycle path or a pedestrian walkway and a
highway, at different levels. This study addresses the
separation of two intersecting roadways. The designs of
grade-separated intersections may vary greatly with
physical controls such as land use and topography, traffic
patterns and the classification of intersecting roadways.
V.Thamizh Arasan and G.Dhivya studied on
“Simulation of Highly Heterogeneous Traffic Flow
Characteristics” Simulation models are
mathematical/logical representations of real-world
systems. Microscopic traffic simulation models have been
playing an important role in traffic engineering and
particularly in cases, in which field studies, involving
extensive data collection, over a wide range, is difficult or
expensive to conduct. As the available simulation models
can only replicate homogeneous traffic flow, a model of
Heterogeneous traffic flow named, HETEROSIM was
developed to simulate heterogeneous traffic flow. In this
model, a dynamic stochastic type discrete event
simulation is adopted in which the aspects of interest are
analyzed numerically with the aid of a computer program.
The model was validated using field observed data of
traffic flow. Then, the model was applied to measure one
of the fundamental characteristics of traffic flow, namely
concentration. It is a broader term encompassing both
density and occupancy
Arasan & Krishnamurthy studied on “The Effect of
Traffic Volume and Council Road Meeting Width on
PCU Value of 149 Vehicles Using Microscopic
Simulation”
The PCU estimates, made through simulation, for the
different types of vehicles of heterogeneous traffic, for a
wide range of traffic volume levels indicate that the PCU
value of a vehicle significantly changes with change in
traffic volume. It is found that, by virtue of the complex
nature of interaction between vehicles under the
heterogeneous traffic condition, at low volume levels, the
PCU value of vehicles increases with increases in traffic
volume whereas under higher volume conditions the PCU
value decrease with increase in traffic volume. The results
of the simulation experiment to study the effect of road
width on PCU values indicate that for any vehicle type in
heterogeneous traffic, the PCU value increases with
increase in the width of road space.
3. Objectives
 Reconnaissance of study area.
 Turning Movements count.
 Calculation of Passenger Car Unit (PCU‘s)
 Peak Hour Traffic Flow
 Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC)
 Value of Travel Time (VOT)
 Develop model in VISSIM software
4. Need for Study
 To know the traffic characteristics of intersection.
 To know the turning movements count.
 To improve the traffic condition of existing
intersection.
 To validate the newly developed model of
heterogeneous traffic flow using field observed data
through VISSIM.
 To known the volume of each lane and junction
delays.
VISSIM is the ultimate software for microscopic
simulation of individual and public transport. With its
unique high level of detail, VISSIM accurately simulates
both urban traffic, including large multilevel intersections
simulation has been recognized as one of the best tools
for modeling of traffic flow under homogeneous as well
as heterogeneous conditions. With the increasing use of
micro simulation traffic software in operation analysis,
the need to identify which tool to use and ability of the
software to provide traditional traffic engineering
measures of effectiveness consistent with the Highway
Capacity Manual 20000 Manual has become a major area.
VISSIM was developed by Planung Transport Verkehr
[PTV], a German company Innovative Transport
Concepts [ITP]. It provides significant enhancement in
terms of multi-model transit operation, interface with
planning or forecasting models, and 3-D simulation. For
the conversion of heterogeneous traffic into equivalent
homogenous traffic, PCU factors of different categories
of vehicles are required. In this study an attempt was
made to derive PCU values for the vehicles.
 Conclusion
Constructing a two lane Fly over of 1 K.M. length at
Balanagar junction, profit in Vehicle Operated Cost,
decrease in Vehicle operated Time, LOS has been
improved from LOS F to LOS C. Profit in the way of
VOC is 45 crores for 15 years. 50% reduction in every
year delay time.
Junction PCU in peak hour is 10:31. Above results are
saying that Balanagar junction is feasible to Grade
Separated Intersection (Fly Over).
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank our management, principal and
HOD and all faculty members for their continuous
support for implementation of 3 Internships in curriculum
at Malla Reddy Engineering College (Autonomous). I
would like to thank civil industries for providing interns
and their continuous support in giving internships to our
students and assessing their performance after joining.
The authors would like to thank to the anonymous
reviewers for the constructive feedback to this paper.
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Author Profile:
Er. B. Vamsi Krishna, M.I.S.T.E, M.I.E, C.Engg did
his Bachelors in Civil Engineering and also obtained
Masters Degree in Structural Engineering from
University of Salford, Manchester, UK. He worked as
Junior Bridge Engineer in ERA Infra Projects Ltd and
also as contractor in L&T Metro Rail, Hyderabad and is
currently working as Assistant Professor in the
Department of Civil Engineering, Malla Reddy
Engineering College (Autonomous). He has very good
Industrial knowledge and also extensive teaching skills in
Concrete Technology, Analysis and Designs of Structural
Engineering, Strength of Materials e.t.c. He has published
18 research papers at International Journals, 8 research
papers in International & National Conferences and 2
Magazines. His area of research interest includes Health
Monitoring of Structures, Advances in Concrete
Technology and Design of RCC & Steel Structures.