In developing countries, there is abundance of low cost means of transport or non-motorised transport (NMT), namely hand-rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, horse cart (tonga), bullock carts, etc. for passengers and goods mobility especially for short distance trips. They are quite a popular mode mainly due to low fare and easy accessibility despite some drawbacks. This paper discusses in detail physical, operational, route and operators characteristics as well as the role of low cost means of transport viz. cycle-rickshaw and horse cart (tonga) in Gwalior city in India. Institutional issues concerned with these modes are also discussed at length. Further, problems and issues including traffic management connected with these modes are discussed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E116619.
Abstract