Geospatial transition of port hinterland considering intermodal service frequency: A case study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh has experienced a rapid increase in international trade and freight due to its remarkable economic development over the past decade. Chittagong Port, the main port of Bangladesh, faces severe congestion in handling the ever-increasing freight volume. To alleviate congestion and achieve sustainable economic development, two new ports—Matarbari and Payra—are under construction. However, owing to the geospatial disadvantage of the new ports, there exist concerns that freight shifting will not occur even post-construction. This study asserts that the key to promoting the use of new ports is to develop, improve, and utilize the intermodal network in Bangladesh. We developed a Monte Carlo simulation-based model to visualize the geospatial transition of the port hinterland according to the changes in intermodal service frequency and generate modal share and freight volume under different scenarios. The results show that waterways are essential to achieve a freight shift to the Matarbari port, while the railway contributes less to its competitiveness because of geospatial characteristics.