Evaluation of traffic congestion mitigation techniques using an entropy-TOPSIS integrated method

Road traffic congestion is a major issue in many developing countries, including Pakistan. In Pakistan, roads now handle 96% of freight, replacing rail as the main transport mode. This study uses ArcGIS’s Important Zones Analysis and Multi-Criteria Analysis Techniques to determine Peshawar’s important routes. The key route was identified, and congestion spots along it were further examined using passenger car unit (PCU) analysis, volume-to-capacity ratios, capacity studies, and Level of Service (LOS) calculations. An integrated strategy based on the Shannon Entropy method and the TOPSIS technique was used to rank high traffic congestion areas. Fuzzy TOPSIS analysis results revealed that Amin Hotel with closeness coefficient (C i = 0.85) was identified as the most congested location, followed by PC and Jalil Kabab sites. The city exceeded its capacity limits, leading to the blocking of major roads during peak hours, according to the results. Main causes include BRT route infrastructure, inadequate parking, poor lane markings, incorrect police checkpoint placement, irregular road shapes, and fixed obstructions like electric poles. The most congested area was found ‘Amin Hotel Point’ (Rank-1), while other significant locations such as ‘PC Hotel’, ‘Army Stadium’, and ‘Jalil Kabab House’ were ranked 2–4. Study’s findings can serve as benchmark for ranking and targeted traffic interventions and policy measures for mitigating congestion in other developing urban contexts.