INTERACTIVE MODEL OF GOODS TRANSPORTATION.

The goods movement pattern for different commodities on a regional basis is analyzed through an operational model. It is assumed that freight transportation demand is a function of production and consumption pattern in and outside the region of study including the availability of the modes of transportation. In order to derive the production and consumption pattern in the study area, factor analysis technique is a potential tool to classify the broad categories of commodities commensurate with the production - consumption pattern. Factor analysis carried out on the available secondary data produced composite factors and an orthogonal rotation based on varimax criterion revealed only four meaningful components. Separate attraction constrained gravity models are developed for two dominating groups of commodities and also for total commodities.