FUEL WASTAGE & EMISSION DUE TO IDLING OF VEHICLES AT ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNALS

Abstract

Among the different city of Madhya Pradesh, Indore is one of the biggest one. It has very heavy traffic during day time. Since numbers of vehicles are increasing day by day, which ultimately increase the length of stopping period of vehicles at most of the signals. Situation becomes worst in peak traffic hours. Resulting excess fuel consumption and pollution load to the atmosphere. For quantifying the excess fuel consumption and pollution load to the environment by motor vehicles studies was carried out at different traffic signal squares of Indore. The selected traffic signal crossings were Palasia Main, Palasia-1 st signal crossing, Gurudwara signal crossing, Bangali signal crossing, Bhowarkua signal crossing, regal signal crossing, and Mhownaka signal crossing. Study reveals that about 5.9 x 10 5 litre per year petrol & diesel (3.6 x10 5 litre petrol and 2.3 x 10 5 litre diesels) and 1.7x10 5 kg per year of CNG are being wastage by Indore itself. This is resulting addition of 20.2 x 10 5 kg CO 2 in the atmosphere. Extrapolating of these data at Madhya Pradesh state level conclude wastage of 5.6 x 10 6 litre per year petrol plus diesel(3.4 x 10 6 litre from petrol and 2.2 x 10 6 litre from diesel) and 1.6 x 10 6 kg/year CNG. This is resulting addition of about 18.7 10 6 kg CO 2 /year. This excess pollution load to the atmosphere and wastage of fuel could be minimising by rescheduling of office/ school timing.