Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, Ministry of Communication

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

THE PROJECT ON THE REVISION AND

UPDATING OF THE STRATEGIC TRANSPORT
PLAN FOR DHAKA

Aug-Nov 2014
Report on the Household Interview Survey
Methodology and Implementation Records

DevConsultants Limted
House # 4, Road No. 13
Baridhara, Dhaka-1212
 The Project on the Revision and Updating of the Strategic Transport Plan for Dhaka

The Project on the Revision and Updating of the Strategic

Transport Plan for Dhaka
REPORT ON THE HOUSEHOLD INTERVIEW SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND
IMPLEMENTATION RECORDS

1. Strategic Transport Plan for Dhaka: Background

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Study Team (i.e. JICA Study Team) is conducting
the “Project on the Revision and Updating of the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for Dhaka,
Bangladesh” (i.e. the study) in cooperation with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA)
under the Ministry of Communication of the Government of Bangladesh.

In 2011, Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA) had a population of 9.3 million. Currently, urban
transportation in DMA areas rely heavily on road transport, and traffic in the city is characterized by a
chaotic mixture of cars, buses, auto-rickshaws, rickshaws, motorcycles, etc. This condition has
resulted to serious traffic gridlocks and problems in DMA which in turn has added to the city’s growing
social and economic problems, such as posing serious health hazards to its citizens due to air
pollution. With Bangladesh’s continued development and the continued increase of its population the
number of privately owned automobiles is expected to rise in the coming years and these phenomena
will worsen the traffic gridlock and pollution problem in the city. Therefore, improving the urban (public)
transportation system in DMA has become a critical issue to ease traffic congestion and arrest
environmental deterioration.

The Government of Bangladesh formulated the “Strategic Transport Plan for Dhaka (STP)” in 2005
with the support from the World Bank. The implementing agency is the Dhaka Transport Coordination
Authority (i.e. DTCA), known then as the Dhaka Transport Coordination Board. The STP included a
“20-Year Urban Transportation Policy (2004-2024)”, and the identification of priority issues, such as
the improvement of mass transit systems (e.g. buses and rail transportation), development of urban
expressways, and the establishment of an institution that will implement and maintain the necessary
transport projects. Since the STP is the official transport framework approved by the GOB, it donors
were expected to provide assistance based on the provisions of the STP to improve the urban
transportation situation.

As for visions on the transportation network plan, the STP, which was formulated in 2006, identified
three BRT lines (i.e., BRT Lines 1, 2, and 3) that were supposed to commence before 2010. However,
except for MRT Line 6 and BRT Line 3 above, other projects envisioned in the STP have yet to take
off the ground. Compounding the lack of transport development is the fact that some new towns have
sprouted in the study area even as other towns are being planned to rise up in the area under the
jurisdiction of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK). Another development that happened during
this interregnum was the expansion of the DTCA’s jurisdiction from covering just the Dhaka
Metropolitan Area, into expanding its covering into the neighboring districts of Gazipur, Manikganj,
Munshigabi, Narayanganj, and Narshindi. These changes necessitate the need to review and update
the STP, and subsequently the introduction of this study.

The objectives of the Study are:

(i) To revise and update the STP which was approved by the GOB eight years ago, and

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(ii) To select plans and formulate a roadmap that would consist of high priority projects to
solve current urban transport issues.

2. HIS Background, Objectives, Areas and Items

This Household 1 Interview Survey (HIS) was planned as part of the JICA-supported STP revision
project, and implemented by the JICA Study Team through engaging a local consultant. The survey
was aimed to obtain basic data in aid of formulating comprehensive urban and transportation plans,
and results were expected to provide an essential database from which to cull existing travel behaviors
of people and to forecast future traffic demand. All the survey data collected were planned to be
processed and used in developing database for the Study. Furthermore, the data can potentially be
utilized in other transport planning projects for Dhaka as well.

The study covered RAJUK including DMA and DCC (both North and South) areas 2. These included
urban centers as well as sub-urban and peri-urban (i.e. rural areas demonstrating urban
characteristics) areas across and along the Dhaka City Corporations (north and south), Narayanganj
City Corporation, Gazipur City Corporation, and number of Pourashavas and Union Parishads
adjacent to those constituted the greater Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA) and then Rajdhani Unnayan
Kartipakha (RAJUK) areas.

The primary objective of HIS was to

acquire information on daily travel
characteristics of the residents in RAJUK
areas including DMA and DCCs (see
map aside). More sharply, the purpose of
HIS was to provide information suitable
for gaining an in-depth understanding of
the travel behaviors of households and
individuals to inform the revision of the
STP. In specific, the objectives were to:

a) Obtain basic data in aid of

formulating comprehensive
urban and transportation plans;
b) Creating an essential database
of the urban dwellers having
diversified choices and
behaviors of people towards
traffic use; as well as
c) Knowing and ensuring that urban
and transportation plans are
redesigned based on informed knowledge related to travel behaviors of the people and
forecasted future traffic demands.

1 Persons, either related or unrelated, living together and taking food from the same kitchen constitute a household. A
single person living and eating alone forms 1-person household. (Source: Population Census) Therefore, live-in
servants, maids, housekeepers or lodgers should be considered as household members.
2 Primarily the decision was to carry out HIS in only RAJUK except DMA and DCC areas but subsequently a changed
decision was taken by the JICA Study Team to include (representative) DCCs and DMA areas as well.

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The HIS consisted of the four survey items. There was one form for each item. The survey forms were
drafted by the JICA Study Team and was planned to be used by the locally appointed consultants
having necessary modifications in those through necessary discussions during the preparation phase.
The survey items were as below:

(a) Form-1 Household Information: covers the socio-economic characteristics of the

households, location of residence, ownership of housing, payment for electricity, etc.

(b) Form-2 Household Member Information: covers the socio-economic characteristics of each
household member regardless of gender and/or his/her age, gender, education level, driver
license, occupation, employment sector, work place, work or school address, personal monthly
income, etc. The form also includes questions about willingness to participate in a
supplementary survey using call records of the member’s mobile phone.

(c) Form-3 Household Vehicle Information: covers the number of vehicles/automobiles owned
by the household and household member who mostly uses the vehicles.

(d) Form-4 Trip Records: covers the characteristics of weekday trips made by each household
member regardless of gender or his/her age including trip origin and destination, trip purpose,
travel mode, transfers, as well as departure and arrival times.

3. Survey Methodology

The HIS involved a three stage professional engagement, as are: (a) preparation, (b) taking-off the
field surveys, and (c) encoding, data entry and error checking as guided by the TOR. Preliminary
details of the stages were as below

(a) Preparation

Data collection tools were supplied by the JICA Study Team, and translated by the Consultants under
supervision of the Survey Chief. After completing the translation of tools, two batches of 3-day
extensive training and 1-day pilot testing were completed. The training programme was divided into
two batches to comfortably accommodate the large number of surveyors’ groups (i.e. 96 surveyors,
14 supervisors, 32 data encoders, 2 coordinators and 2 core professional staff). As such, a total of 6
days (for two different batches) were spent for training including pilot testing of the questionnaire. Pilot
testing was completed at the third day of each training programme. Such pilot testing was conducted
in the three spots adjacent to the district of Dhaka and selected based on geo-physical characteristics
of the HIS areas such as, sub-urban area (comparatively easy to access), fringe/densely populated
areas (offering medium challenges to access), and core areas (difficult to access). Field testing also
followed other procedural requirements of the survey as indicated in the TOR and RFP clarification,
for example, providing survey manuals, zone code tables, data entry and error checking system, etc.

(b) Taking-off field surveys

A systematic random sampling strategy was adopted for the survey. A total of 16,000 sample
households were targeted based on 0.75% sample rate, and which covered about 67,000 persons.

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Table 1.1 Survey areas, population and distribution of sample size

Greater areas Districts Key feature Estimated Sample

(organized as CC areas population 3 household
are reconstituted)
DCC (North & South) Dhaka Representative (26 Wards) 6,702,464 3,000
Savar Pourashava 9 Wards 286,000 465
Badda 4 Unions 180,554 561
Dhakshinkhan (including 1 Union (Dhakshinkhan-part) 343,010 426
Biman Bandar)
Turag 1 Union (Harirampur) 157,316 255
Demra 3 Unions 192,369 368
Jatrabari 2 Unions 307,509 420
Kadamtali 3 Unions 424,463 436
Kamrangirchar 1 Union (Sultanganj) 93,601 152
Keraniganj 11 Unions 794,360 1,292
Khilgaon Union 21,378 95
Khilkhet Union 16,862 45
Sabujbagh Union 62,312 155
Savar Upazila 12 Unions 1,285,836 1,643
Uttarkhan 1 Union (Uttarkhan) 78,933 128
Narayanganj City Narayanganj Ex Narayanganj Pourashava 286,330 465
Corporation (NCC) Narayanganj Sadar Upazila 1,323,600 1,268
Bandar Upazila 312,841 239
Kadamrasul Pourashava 9 Wards 166,280 271
Siddhirganj Pourashava 9 Wards 256,760 417
Tarabo Pourashava 9 Wards (Rupganj Thana) 150,709 249
Rupganj Pourashava 9 Wards 500,860 488
Sonargaon Upazila (p) 4 Unions 328,984 272
Gazipur City Gazipur Ex Tongi Pourashava 476,350 772
Corporation (GCC) Ex Gazipur Pourashava 179,037 347
Gazipur Sadar Upazila 1,625,768 1,575
Kaliganj Pourashava 9 Wards 45,430 92
Kaliganj Upazila (part) 2 Unions 109,939 104
TOTAL: 16,709,855 16,000

Table 1.2 Sample distributions among the survey districts and zones

Greater District s Population Sample distribution Numbers of Zones

Dhaka 10,946,967 9,441 94
Gazipur 2,436,524 2,890 40
Narayanganj 3,326,364 3,669 58
Total 16,709,855 16,000 192

(c) Data encoding, entry and error checking

After completing the data collection work, open ended questionnaire were coded. Thereafter, data
were entered in MS-Access data entry format and the entered data were cleaned by the Statistician
i.e. the data analyst of the team. After completion of data cleaning at least 1% data were checked

3 Source: Excel file on ‘RAJUK population data’ provided by the JICA Study Team

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thoroughly by the Statistician. Descriptive statistics were collected, complied and submitted to the JICA
Study Team for reporting purpose.

A standard quality control protocol for undertaking the social survey was followed, which included a
three-tier check by the Statistician and the Team Leader. During data collection, at the end of the day,
field enumerators were guided to check the filled-in questionnaire by interchanging each other under
the direct supervision of the field supervisors. The Supervisors (Quality controllers) undertook revisit
at least 1% respondents and undertook spot checks at least 1% of the respondents. If any
questionnaire was found inaccurate or inconsistent by the Supervisor or Quality Controller, the
respondent was revisited by the Supervisor to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data.

3.1 Sampling method

There were four steps followed as shown below: Steps 1 – 3 were done by a supervisor in the office
prior to the survey and Step 4 was considered by a supervisor and/or surveyors in the field.

Step 1: Preparing a union/town/city map;

Step 2: Random selection of target streets;
Step 3: Assigning the sample by target streets; and
Step 4: Selecting the first household in the field

The first target house was assigned by a Supervisor or selected by Surveyors at random (i.e., the first,
second, third, fourth, or fifth house from one end of the block) sampling basis. The interviewers were
cautious that a house at the corner is not always selected. After the interview, Surveyors proceeded
to the next target house at the interval of 3/6 houses. Sometimes, the interval varied with the density
of the area.

The field survey was comprised with revision and finalizing the questionnaires, recruitment of
surveyors, supervisors, encoders/editors, and training to them. Training was offered adequate times
and resources as much as that were required in order to prepare fully the surveyor team and their
understanding of the HIS purposes and processes. The survey process included the following formal
steps:

a) Household selection,
b) Produce letter of introduction from appropriate authority,
c) Take informed consent of the interviewees,
d) Conduct face-to-face interviews,
e) Data checking and coding, among others as instructed.

3.2 Alternative Surveys

The implementation of HIS, at its later stage (during 5th-6th weeks), was constrained in accessing three
Cantonment Areas (i.e. Dhaka Cantonment, Gazipur Cantonment and Savar Cantonment) under DMA
and RAJUK jurisdictions. Being shared and discussed the issue with JICA Study Team, conduction of
surveys among these areas was suspended to allow DTCA seeking official permission from the
Ministry of Defense. Subsequently, DTCA through the Ministry of Communication, made an attempt
to negotiate on the issue with the Ministry of Defense, but that became unsuccessful. Therefore, the
survey was rescheduled and alternative areas of all the three Cantonments selected as per
instructions of JICA Study Team and DTCA. Please see the map of alternative survey areas of Dhaka
Cantonment areas, as an example below (Figure 1.1).

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Figure 1.1: Alternative survey areas for Dhaka Cantonment

The surveys, other than Cantonment areas, were completed by 24 October 2014; while surveys in
these alternative areas were conducted during November 8-12, 2014 following changed strategic
directions provided by JICA Study Team as follows.

• Surveys in alternative areas follow zone codes specified by the JICA Study Team, and were
instructed ‘not to use’ the zone codes of the original Cantonment areas.
• The random sampling rule was not applicable, and instead, that followed the sampling
method/technique as below:

- Visit rich households in the alternative areas because this alternative survey aimed to
make “mocks” of households in the Cantonment areas. Surveyors intended to find rich
households according to the lot area, appearance (or structure) of the house and clothes
of family members.

This had caused a gross 2-week delay in completing and delivering outputs, as stipulated, of the
Household Interview Survey (HIS).

3.3 Expected Outputs

The key deliverables of Household Interview Survey (HIS) were as the following:

a) Draft survey report in editable digital format that includes detailed survey methodologies,
implementation records (errors identified and checked, etc.) and quality control procedures;
b) Compiled database of HIS (in editable digital format) containing all relevant raw and processed
data obtained from the HIS;
c) Accomplished survey forms, and
d) Final survey report having contained all datasets, tools used and processes documented.

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4. HIS Staff Organization and Work Flow

A staff organization was formed to efficiently implement the household interviews and to process the
collected data. Its structure was as shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2 HIS Staff Organization

JICA Study Team

HIS Survey Chief

Interview Groups Data Processing Groups

Area Coordinators Data Validators

Interview Supervisors Data Coders

Interviewers Data Encoders

A Survey Chief, who was adequately experienced in conducting surveys of the similar nature,
coordinated the entire survey team under the supervision of the JICA Study Team. Major tasks of the
Survey Chief were the preparation and periodic review of the survey schedule, coordination of the
whole survey team, and submission of weekly progress reports to the JICA Study Team.

Two groups were established under management control of the Survey Chief, such as: (a) interviewer
groups by survey zones and (b) data processing group.

a) Interview Groups

There were several interview groups deployed to conduct interviews in the survey areas. Each
interview group comprised the following members:

Area Coordinators were used to prepare survey plans for the areas assigned to them by the Survey
Chief and to provide appropriate instructions to the interviewer teams. They also coordinated with
union/ward officials in all matters regarding the survey and directly supervised the interview
supervisors. At the end of each survey day, Area Coordinators collected all survey forms from the
supervisors and turned over accomplished forms to the data processing group on daily basis.

Supervisors of each interview team were assigned for several unions/wards at a time by their
respective area coordinators. They prepared a survey plan for the unions/wards, supervised the
interviewers closely, and checked collected survey forms on the spots. A supervisor was responsible
for handling more or less 10 interviewers. They also supervised the performance of the interviewers
during the survey, and collected accomplished forms from the interviewers as well as corrected them
before submitting to the coordinator.

Interviewers were responsible for visiting households in their assigned areas and conducting
interviews with household members according to the survey forms and instructions provided. Six-eight

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interviewers were grouped under one supervisor depending on the sample households in the areas
assigned for them.

b) Data Processing Group

The data processing group was consisted of three subgroups, namely Data Validators, Data Coders,
and Data Encoders. The group activities, as assigned to them, were coordinated and closely
supervised by a Data Encoding Supervisor, and the entire team was headed by a Database Specialist
who was responsible for designing a database system specifying the coding system and the encoding
process. Numerical codes as well as characters for each data item were used in the coding system.

Data Validation Group: This group received the accomplished survey forms from the area
coordinators. They sorted the forms by batches representing a survey area. After sorting the forms,
they checked each accomplished form to ensure completeness of information, logical sense of data,
and validation for consistency and accuracy.

Data Coding Group: This group was responsible for writing the appropriate code on the coding boxes
in the survey forms. They were strictly guided to follow the coding system established by the database
specialist. Coders checked the accomplished survey forms and converted every answer into numerical
codes. They also provided codes to the union/ward where each respondent lives, works, travels
to/from, and makes transfers.

Data Encoding Group: This group was responsible for encoding or entering the coded data written
by the coders into the computer, following the encoding process of the database system established
by the database specialist. When the software indicates an error, the encoder reviewed relevant
answers and through their supervisors communicated with coders/validators/interviewers to correct
the errors.

To clarify each member’s tasks described above, major work flows and the reporting process are
shown below (Figure 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5).

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Figure 1.3 Work Flow for the Interview Survey

Survey Chief

Prepare and review

the survey plan
Area Coordinator

- Prepare survey plan

for the assigned area Submit completed survey
forms
- Prepare maps
Interview Supervisor Quickly check submitted
- Assign union/ward survey forms
- Prepare survey plan
for the assigned Submit collected
unions/wards survey forms

- Prepare detailed maps Interviewer

A i i / d
- Conduct interviews in the
assigned unions/wards

- Call/Visit and complete

survey forms

Figure 1.4 Work Flow for Data Validation, Coding, and Encoding

Area Coordinator

Collected
survey forms
Validation Supervisor Validator

Checked Data validation

survey forms

Coding Supervisor Coder Interview Team

Coded Data coding

survey forms Communications
to complete data
Encoding Supervisor Encoder

Data encoding

Error check

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Figure 1.5 Work Flow for Weekly Reporting of HIS Progress

Interviewer

Everyday
after interview Submit accomplished survey forms

Supervisor
Quickly check submitted forms

Sunday
Submit weekly progress

Area Coordinator Validation/Coding/

Encoding Supervisors Sum up weekly progress

Monday Submit weekly progress

summary

HIS Survey Chief

Compile weekly progress report

Prepare and submit

Tuesday
weekly progress report

JICA Study Team

Approve weekly progress report

5. Surve y Schedule

Prior to training and field surveys, the Consultant established an office in Dhaka (i.e. the office of ACS
International at House B-134, Road 22, New DOHS Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206) to serve as Project Office
for HIS activities.

Two separate training batches, each of three days, were organized and conducted for field survey
teams accommodating 70-75 trainees in first batch and 65-70 trainees in second batch. These training
programmes followed first two days of each batch for briefing, discussion and dry-runs to ensure better
understanding of the survey objectives, forms and conditions in the survey areas. Third day of each
batch was used to pilot testing of questionnaire followed by debriefing of field experience and lessons
learnt. These together with results of the dry-runs were used to finalize the survey
forms/questionnaires being appropriately consented by the JICA Study Team.

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Table 1.3 Survey Implementation Schedule

Activity Timeframe
Review and Translation of Survey Forms and Manuals Aug 14-17, 2014
Recruitment of Survey Team Members Aug 15-21, 2014
Preparation for training Aug 23-26, 2014
Training of field survey teams Aug 27-29, 2014
Finalization of survey forms/questionnaire and survey schedules Aug 29-30, 2014
Communication with local authorities and logistic mobilization for Aug 29 – Sep 1, 2014
field surveys
Actual field survey (most except Cantonment areas) Sep 2 – Oct 24, 2014
Actual field survey (alternative of Cantonment areas) Oct 11 -12, 2014
Call back and editing Simultaneously with field
survey
Data validation, coding, encoding and primary processing of Oct 15 – Nov 13, 2014
completed questionnaires
Preparation and submission of draft HIS report on methods and Nov 16 – 25, 2014
process
Sharing and iteration of HIS datasets Nov 15 – Dec 30, 2014
Submission of cleaned datasets Jan 15, 2015
Submission of final revised HIS report on methods and process Jan 15, 2015

6. Field Survey Implementation

Survey interviewers performed their duties under the direct supervision of supervisors. All problems
they encountered during the survey were reported and discussed with their supervisors. Field survey
was implemented as described below.

A. Preparation for the Interview s

Recruitment of HIS Staff

The Consultants undertook appropriate measures to recruit the following HIS staff: (a) Supervisors
and (b) Interviewers. Based on the target sample size, the number of interviewers was determined. A
ratio of 6-8 interviewers per supervisor was considered reasonable in terms of effective supervision.
Supervisors and interviewers selected were academically and professionally qualified with reasonable
experience as interviewer, with good communication skills in Bengali, proper behavior on how to deal
with people and with presentable personality. The Survey Chief was responsible to ensure that
supervisors and interviewers recruited are properly selected based on the competency criteria set by
the JICA Study team.

Training of Survey Staff

The HIS staff were properly trained by the Survey Team in order to ensure good quality of survey
performance and output. Training of supervisors and interviewers was provided by the Survey Chief
being assisted by survey coordinators and database specialist where JICA Study Team actively
participated. In case of any clarify required, JICA Study Team provided necessary guidance and
explanations. The training was provided in two stages: (a) lecture type where the lecturer explained
survey purpose/objectives, survey procedure and proper filling up of data items in the survey forms
(trainees were encouraged to participate actively in the lecture, clarify things by asking questions and

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share knowhow with their peers); (b) practice interview (dry-run) among peers using the survey forms
to enhance understanding of the survey. After the practice interview, trainees discussed among
themselves, with the guidance of the Survey Chief and Coordinators, lessons learned and mistakes
corrected.

Other than field survey teams (e.g. interviewers and supervisors), data encoding groups (e.g.
validators, coders, and entry operators) were also trained by getting them participated in the training
programmes. This was done as part of potential risk mitigation measures such as enabling consultants
to immediately replace any survey staff in the field, prompt recovery of drop-out (if happens), and to
ensure greater clarity among staff on the survey purposes and procedures to increase overall encoding
efficiency.

Third day of each training batch was used to field testing of survey forms/questionnaires. First, the
staff team was briefed on the process and procedures related to respondent identification and
selection, survey organization and conduction, and then on how to fill-in and complete the survey
forms as per standard guidelines. After completion of pilot field survey, participating staff get back all
together and took part in a de-briefing session on the mistakes, problems encountered, and lessons
learnt to replicate for actual filed survey. The finishing of the third-day event was earmarked by
facilitating a joint planning exercise on field survey schedules and administration orientation (i.e. MIS
tools and plans), so that field staff are enabled with the consultant’s management protocol.

Coordination with Local Officials

Prior to conduction of the HIS, the Consultant informed each union/ward regarding the survey
schedule. The union/ward office in turn informed the Chief (please refer to footnote 4) of the
undertaking. The coordinators and supervisors then met each Chief to introduce them, initiate contact
for further coordination activities, and explain the survey purpose/objective and general survey
procedure. They explained to the Chief that they are seeking assistance in the conduct of the survey
and that during the actual survey; they will be coordinating more as far as survey activities are
concerned.

Assignment of Survey Areas

The interviewers, to the extent possible, surveyed the target number of households in each union/ward
as assigned to them, with a minimum of 5 completed interviews per day per person.

Cooperation with Union/Ward Chief 4

Interviewers were assigned to certain union/wards. It was advisable for them to get some orientation
from the union/ward chief at the beginning of the survey. When it was difficult to locate the target
household or when interviewees refuse to be interviewed, supervisors were asked to seek helps from
the union/ward chief. Mobile phone numbers of the union/ward chief were obtained so that problems
can be solved as soon as possible. However, discretion was used in asking such help too many times.
Supervisors and interviewers tried to solve the problems by themselves.

4 Currently Unions and Pourashavas (in the sub-urban areas) have elected Chiefs (i.e. Union Parishad Chairman) but

Wards under Dhaka City Corporations (of both North and South) have no such elected Chiefs, where Ward
Commissioners’ Offices are presently run by respective Secretaries of permanent structure and they are discharging
additional duties of the elected Chiefs.

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Survey Time Schedule

The surveys were conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on every Monday to Friday. Sunday in each
week was declared off-day; while survey on Saturday was used for call-back only. At least one hour
before the start of a survey, the supervisor and interviewers met at place where they all feel
comfortable for dispatching schedule, checking of survey forms that distributed past evening, and
dissemination of final instructions. During the survey period, supervisors closely monitored the
performance of interviewers and made corrective actions on problems as arisen during the survey.

Trip information period was considered as per the following rules:

The 24-hour period for which trip information had to be collected begins at 3:00 a.m. and extends until
3:00 a.m. the following day. For example, when trip data for Wednesday was needed, the trip data
covered 3:00 a.m. Wednesday up to 3:00 a.m. Thursday. Target sample date is shown in the table
below.

Survey day (today) Target day (previous day)

Monday Sunday
Tuesday Monday
Wednesday Tuesday
Thursday Wednesday
Friday Thursday
Saturday Only for callback survey
Sunday Day-Off

B. Surve y P rocedure in the Fie ld

General Guidelines for Interviewers, as stated below, were strictly followed/adhered by the field
survey staff deployed by the local Consultant

(i) Wear the supplied uniform and the ID card while conducting the survey.
(ii) Information obtained from interviews must be considered STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and
must not be shown to any other person except certain members of the JICA Study Team.
(iii) When explaining HIS to the interviewees, also explain that the survey data gathered will
be used only for transportation planning in Dhaka and not for purposes of taxation,
investigation, law enforcement etc. Refer the interviewees to the letter from the DTCA and
JICA Study Team to the union/ward chief.

Survey Materials to be Supplied by the Consultant

The following materials were supplied by the Consultant to the Survey Team members:

(i) HIS Survey Manual;

(ii) Survey forms;
(iii)Envelopes;
(iv) Copies of the letter from the DTCA and the JICA Study Team to the concerned union/ward
chief regarding the survey;
(v) ID card;
(vi) Uniform;

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(vii) Umbrella;
(viii) Pencil;
(ix) Clipboard;
(x) Stickers for surveyed houses; and
(xi) Plastic covers to keep survey materials dry.

Selection of Target Households

Samples from each union/ward were taken from at least three different streets. The streets from which
samples were taken were then randomly selected.

The first house surveyed was randomly selected but surveyors were kept cautious of not always
selecting households from the corner of the street. Succeeding samples were selected based on the
density of the area. That is, respondents in low density areas (with lot areas of more than 500 sq.m.)
were selected at an interval of three houses (i.e. every fourth household was approached for
interview). Households those in high density areas (with lot areas of less than 500 sq.m.) were
identified at an interval of six houses. In case of refusals to be surveyed, the next target house was
approached (i.e. the interviewer used to skip another three or six houses) and sought an interview at
the fourth (or seventh) household.

Coordination with Union Parishads and Wards under Municipalities/CCs

One to two days prior to the actual survey in a given union/ward, the coordinators and supervisors
revisited the union/ward chief to prepare the activities to be done during the survey, to wit: (a) selection
of households to be interviewed (the union/ward can give suggestions on this; however the selection
process shall follow acceptable statistical random sampling techniques); (b) assistance to the
interviewers in moving around the area (for safety purposes) and in having access to selected houses
where household members will be interviewed.

Supervisors and interviewers maintained close coordination and pleasant relationships with
union/ward personnel.

Conduction of Interviews

It was considered essential that interviewers are polite at all times. Interviewers always used to show
their ID cards before entering the houses and conduction of surveys. They were prepared to interview
under inconvenient circumstances as well. They were guided to be friendly with the person(s) they
interview. Discussions on politics, religion, or any other controversial subjects and arguments or
prolonged discussions on any question were cautiously avoided. Apart from these, as mentioned
before, interviewers were used to adhere to the following:

(i) Visit the target household. Visit a house next door if the following circumstances are
encountered:

• The house looks vacant; or

• All members of the household are out.

(ii) Explain the interview form to the household head or to a responsible adult household
member if the head is not around.

(iii) If an interviewee refuses to be interviewed, explain to him/her that the information s/he will

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provide will be treated with strict confidentiality and that it will not be available to any
person, and that it is to be used for transport planning only. If after all tactful means have
been resorted to, interviewees still do not give the necessary information, interviewers
should visit a house next door. Interviewers should not lose their temper or argue with
interviewees.

(iv) If a target household agrees to be interviewed, ask for the name of the household head,
address and phone number and fill in Form 1.

(v) Ask the interviewee directly following the questions in the questionnaire (or survey form),
i.e., Forms 1 to 3 (household head) and Form 4 (every household member). If a household
member is not present during the interview, interviewers should:

• Schedule a revisit to interview the absent member; or

• Get the contact number of the absent member to arrange an interview with him/her by
phone or in person

After the interviewer makes an appointment for the revisit or callback, take note of the
schedule and items to be interviewed.

(vi) When interviewing, interviewers should:

• Use a Mongol pencil to record information;

• Write legibly and firmly;
• Not get the forms wet;
• Follow the numerical sequence of the items in the forms during the interview and
complete all entries for one interviewee before moving on to the next interviewee;
• Enter the appropriate code, check (), or words in accordance with the interviewee’s
reply to some questions; and
• Erase properly and completely errors made and write the correct answer in the spaces
provided for.

(vii) When an interviewer revisits a household, s/he should be able to: (i) interview the member
absent during the first visit, and/or (ii) get the information missed on the first visit.

(viii) Upon completion of the interviews, place all forms in an envelope for safe keeping. The
sample number and other information should be written on the outside of the envelope for
easy identification. The Consultant should provide the format for uniformity. A sticker
should also be posted on the front wall or gate of the house indicating that the said
household was either already interviewed or refused to be interviewed.

7. Challenges Encountered and Resolving Strategies

During field surveys, there were a few concerns/challenges encountered by the survey team which
they were advised, upon the project office is noticed, to engaging/adopting alternative strategies.
Those are presented in Table 1.4 below.

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Table 1.4 Challenges Encountered and Action Standards

Issues Challenges encountered Action standards

Survey zoning as per old LGI HIS zones and corresponding code
systems lists supplied by the JICA Study
Team was prepared based on old
DMA divisions such as one DCC,
Tongi and Narayanganj were
treated as Pourashava, and some
sub-urban areas considered out of
CCs, etc.
The lists were updated (in
consultation with Study
Team) according to latest
geographic divisions (e.g.
DCC is now divided into
DCC North and South,
Tongi Poursahava is
merged with Gazipur CC,
Narayanganj is now a City
Corporation, etc.) before
survey planning,
conduction and
administration

Interruption of surveys due to
two episodes of country-wide
political strike (i.e. hartals)
The start of survey was suspended Survey started on Sep 2,
at its very first day (Sep 1, 2014) 2014
due to political strike i.e. hartal
called on 30 Aug;
Second countrywide strike called on Survey rescheduled/
Sep 18, 2014 and that caused a 3- resumed from Sep 21,
day delay of surveys; 2014

Third strike was called on Nov 6-8, Resumed and completed

2014 and that further caused a during Nov 11-12, 2014
delay in conduction of pending
surveys in alternative areas.

Denial of access to
Cantonment areas in Dhaka,
Gazipur and Savar
Survey was originally scheduled to
be conducted during 5th and 6th
week, but eventually delayed
expecting that the an inter-
ministerial communication (between
MoC and MoD) would be resolving
Initiative failed, and survey
was rescheduled and
completed on November
11-12, 2014 in the
alternative areas (which
was thoroughly shared and
consulted with the Study
Team)

8. Post-inte rview Activities

Checking the Day’s Work

After completing each day’s work, interviewers checked if entries in the forms were correct and
consistent with other entries. The forms they submitted to their supervisors were checked twice. Forms
with mistakes or missing were returned to interviewers for their re-interviews.

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Callbacks

When interviewers failed to interview some members of a household, they wrote “Needs a callback,”
as the case was, in the remarks portion of the sampling list. For callbacks, interviewers made a return
visit at the earliest opportunity. They informed the household member(s) when they intend to return,
and accordingly they completed the callback surveys.

Interviewers were instructed to make at least three callbacks at different times to schedule a revisit. If
the interviewer fails to contact the household members on the third call, they were guided to revisit the
household and try to interview the members who were absent during the first visit.

Submission of Survey Forms

Interviewers were required to submit all survey forms, regardless of being completed or uncompleted,
to their supervisors and discuss problems encountered during the interviews. In cases where
interviewers could not make on-the-spot decisions, they contacted their supervisors for instructions as
soon as possible.

Interviewers were required to submit completed survey forms to their respective supervisors at the
end of the daily survey. All forms belonging to a household were put in one envelope. Interviewers
were expected to interview five households or more a day and also to revisit interviewed households
to complete their survey forms. Supervisors conducted a quick check of accomplished survey forms
submitted by interviewers at the end of a survey day. This involved a general verification of the number
of forms and the completeness of data provided.

Data Validation

Data validators from the data processing group, upon receipt of survey forms, conducted a more
detailed manual check of the data provided in the survey forms and which were initially checked by
interviewers and their supervisors: Such data validation included the following checks:

(i) Completeness of information (i.e., all required data written in the forms);
(ii) Correctness and consistency of information, such as:
• age and education level of household members;
• occupation and personal monthly income of household members;
• origin, destination, and transfer points (a reference map of the survey area should be
available);
• origin, destination, and transfer points in relation to modes used and routes taken;
• travel time and transportation cost versus origin-destination patterns;
• number of household members versus number of accomplished individual forms,
among others.

When data validators encountered data inconsistencies, they conferred with coordinators/ supervisors
and interviewers to resolve the same.

9. Data Management

A. Data Coding

The purpose of coding was to translate the data collected by the interviewers into certain combinations
of numbers, known as codes, which are compiled to enable analysis by a computer.

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For easy coding operations, the interview form was designed so that several of the entries made by
the interviewers are self-coding, such as answers to inquiries about relationship to the household
head, education level etc. Where answers to inquiries are in the form of survey staffs, addresses,
occupation or employment sector, it is necessary to determine appropriate numerical codes.

Proper number codes for each item were carefully selected. In writing the codes, neatness and
legibility were considered very important, since poorly formed or indistinct numerals can be easily
misinterpreted by encoders, resulting in errors and inefficient work. Following are coding tasks
accomplished by the team.

As signment of Tasks

Survey staffs, addresses, occupation and employment sector were coded. Number codes
were written on the interview form according to the code table.

As signment of Code Numbers per Question

For coding, different colors of ballpoint pen were used for first, second, and third check. Data
amendment made during the course of checking. When it was difficult to judge which
amendment is to be followed because amendments are written over others, the priority was
given in the following order for example:

• First Priority Blue color (second check)

• Second Priority Red color (first check)

Number codes were written neatly and legibly on interview forms. Number codes of addresses,
origins, destinations, and places where travel mode changed (i.e., transfer points) were
obtained from the Zone Code List provided by the JICA Study Team. Coders took utmost care
in selecting correct number codes. Whenever coders find questionable items or mistakes in
the data in the interview form, they used to consult their supervisors.

Submission of Coded Surve y Forms and Progress Report

Coded survey forms and progress report including number of coded survey forms and
number of incomplete survey forms were submitted to coding supervisors at the end of the
survey day.

Ac tion on Errors Fo und during Data Enc oding

Some of the survey forms returned from data encoding supervisors because of data error,
which were checked by coding supervisors, and therefore, returned the coded survey forms to
coders who worked on the survey forms. If the error came from the Interview Group, they were
handed over to the concerned area supervisors to correct.

B. Data Encoding

The purpose of data encoding was to input the number codes to electronic files using a data entry
software (i.e. MS Access TM). Data check was also done through the process, as narrated below.

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As signment of Tasks

Encoded data were input by data encoders according to the database input system. Not only
data entry was processed but also several range of (category) error check was done through
the database input system. Logical error check was done by logical check program prepared
by the JICA Study Team after data entry and supplies from the local consultant (e.g. database
specialist).

Data Encoding and Error Handling

Coded data were entered according to the input system, and data input was done accurately
and speedily.

There were two types of data checks. The one was range check which verified that the input
data is within a valid range, and the other was logical check which finds conflict between/
among data.

When an error message showed up, the input data were checked if correct. If the entered data
was not correct, data were re-entered correctly. When the error message again showed up
even though the data was inputted correctly according to the code, the coded survey form was
handed over to the data encoding supervisor. The supervisor then checked the problem and
determined where the error emanated and handed it to the concerned supervisor.

Submission of Progress Report

Input data and progress report, including the number of input records and number of
incomplete coded forms, were submitted to the data encoding supervisors at end of each work
day.

10. HIS Implementation End Status with Weekly Record

The HIS survey was implemented for eight weeks (see Table 1.5), with 6 working days per week.
Mondays until Fridays were utilized as interview days while Saturdays were used for call-back surveys
only. Sundays were off from the survey works.

Initially, the survey was supposed to be implemented for 6 weeks; however, due to some issues (such
as political strikes ‘hartals’ and undertaking surveys in alternative areas resulting from denial of survey
access to Cantonment areas) encountered on field, fieldworks were retrospectively extended by two
more weeks.

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Table 1.5 HIS Survey End Status with Weekly Records

SL Greater Survey Areas Sample Actual % Distribution of Survey Completion (Achievements) by Work-Weeks
(organized as CC areas size sample achie W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8
are reconstituted) targeted surveyed ved Sep 2-6 Sep 8-13 Sep 15-17 Sep 22-27 Sep 29-O2 Oct 13-18 Oct 20-24 Nov 10-11
1 DCC (North & South) 3,000 3,025 101% 365 414 466 460 477 454 285 104
2 Savar Pourashava 465 482 104% - - - - 177 233 72 -
3 Badda 561 561 100% - 96 162 303 - - - -
4 Dhakshinkhan 426 428 100% 142 192 94 - - - - -
5 Turag 255 255 100% - - - - - 116 139 -
6 Demra 368 359 98% 142 141 76 - - - - -
7 Jatrabari 420 418 100% 82 185 151 - - - - -
8 Kadamtoli 436 444 102% 138 137 169 - - - - -
9 Kamrangirchar 152 152 100% - 87 65 - - - - -
10 Keraniganj 1,292 1,293 100% 144 180 91 212 134 435 97 -
11 Khilgaon 95 95 100% - - - - - 95 - -
12 Khilkhet 45 46 102% - - - - 46 - - -
13 Sabujbagh 155 152 98% - - - - 152 - - -
14 Savar Upazila 1,643 1,631 99% 280 365 287 385 296 - - 18
15 Uttarkhan 128 129 101% - - - 129 - - - -
16 Narayanganj CC 465 478 103% 39 129 122 - 188 - - -
(Ex Pourashava, Sadar 1,268 1,266 100% 126 221 243 236 198 242 - -
and Bandar Upazila) 239 241 101% 25 - - 141 - 75 - -
17 Kadamrasul Pourashava 271 266 98% 121 145 - - - - - -
18 Siddhirganj Pourashava 417 421 101% - - - 73 212 136 - -
19 Tarabo Pourashava 249 249 100% - - 23 - 129 - 97 -
20 Rupganj Pourashava 488 481 99% - - - 104 80 111 186 -
21 Sonargaon Upazila 272 274 101% - - - - - - 274 -
22 Gazipur CC (Ex Tongi, 772 778 101% - - 114 135 140 274 115 -
Gazipur Pourashavas & 347 326 94% 210 56 - - - - - 60
Sadar Upazila) 1,575 1,553 99% - 251 272 252 277 163 338 -
23 Kaliganj Pourashava 92 94 102% - - - - - 94 - -
24 Kaliganj Upazila (part) 104 104 100% - - - - - - 104 -
TOTAL: 16,000 16,001 100% 1,814 2,599 2,335 2,430 2,506 2,428 1,707 182

NOTE:
i. Differences exhibited between targets and achievements in survey areas are mainly because of massive reconstitution of Dhaka City
Corporation, Narayanganj City Corporation, and Gazipur City Corporation areas, where sample frames used for the HIS were
prepared before such reconstitution takes place (but the survey undertaken confirms that selected geographic areas are kept
unchanged).
ii. Surveys were kept off during major Bangladeshi festivals (e.g. EID for Muslims and Puja for Hindus) during October 2-12, 2014; while
October 2, 2014 was offered to the Interviewers and Supervisors as optional for them to use

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