Road Transport Connectivity Pattern & Economic Development in CD Blocks of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal

Abstract

The relationship between Road Transport Connectivity Pattern & Economic Development is a matter of practical as well as theoretical importance. In fact, the degree of development of the transport network in any area is a factor of crucial significance influencing political, economic and social progress in every stage of national and regional development planning. In the present study, an attempt to study the correlation between road transport connectivity and economic development in C.D Blocks of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal. Here connectivity has been calculated by three indices, i.e., beta (β) index, cyclomatic number (U) and connectivity index (C). Composite connectivity scores (CCS) have been computed by adding respective ranks of beta, cyclomatic number and connectivity index. On the basis of CCS, Paschim Medinipur has been divided into three categories of high, medium and low connectivity. All the twenty nine blocks of this district has been ranked separately for each variable (i.e. Sex ratio,_Literacy Rate, Percentage of Mouza Electrified by Blocks, Health condition, Percent of main workers to total workers) according to their level of development. Thus every block has five rank values. Three categories of high, medium, and low economic development have been determined on the basis of composite scores. Finally, a relationship has been made between level of connectivity and economic development of each blocks in the district.