Distribution & Locational Effects of Fuel Stations in Dhaka
Research Summary

Distribution and Locational Effects of Fuel Stations

On Traffic Flow in Dhaka City Corporation Areas

Authors:

Joy Biswas & Tanvir Hossain

Department of Urban & Regional Planning, BUET

Executive Summary

This study evaluates 185 filling stations across 29 routes in Dhaka City Corporation. Using GIS technology and physical planning standards set by the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the research reveals a critical lack of compliance in station placement. The findings indicate that 48% of stations negatively impact traffic flow, reducing the Level of Service (LOS) on adjacent roads due to clustering, proximity to intersections, and operational inefficiencies.

Spatial Distribution Analysis

Clustering Hotspots Detected

Mirpur Road • DIT Road • Dhaka-Aricha Highway

(Refer to Figure 3.5 in original paper for GIS plotting)

The study identified a "Clustered" distribution pattern (Nearest Neighbor Ratio < 1). Fuel stations are disproportionately located on major exit routes rather than being evenly distributed.

15.43% of all stations are on Mirpur Road
52.3% located on Major Highways

Critical Findings

  • Violation of Spacing 80% of stations violate the 1km distance rule between stations on the same side of the road.
  • Road Setback Issues 33% of stations failed to meet the minimum 4-meter distance from the road edge.
  • Service Efficiency Utilization rates for many stations are below 50%, mainly due to single-side nozzle usage and lack of digital payments.

Figure 1: Non-Compliance with Planning Standards

Stations violating 1km spacing rule 80%
Violating 4m road setback 33%
Violating 100m bus station buffer 19%

Source: Field Survey 2017

Table 1: Distribution by Road Category

Road Type Percentage Observation
Major Highways 52.30% High traffic volume focus
Minor Roads 42.70% Higher density per km
Total Surveyed 185 Stations Across 29 Routes

Note: Minor roads like Kamlapur Road have higher station density despite lower total count.

Study Recommendations

Regulatory Enforcement

Strict enforcement of BPC standards regarding setbacks and distance between stations to prevent queuing on active roadways.

Operational Upgrades

Implement attendant-guided entry/exits and utilize all available pump nozzles (currently underutilized) to reduce service time.

Digital Integration

Mandate digital payment systems to replace slow cash transactions, significantly reducing queue buildup.

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