Route Planning for Field Verification
A Patwari starts from the tehsil headquarters at 7:00 a.m. to verify four villages, A, B, C and D. Village B is 8 km east of the headquarters, but the direct road is closed; the only alternative is 6 km north to a bridge and then 10 km east to B. From B, village A is 6 km north. From A, village C is 5 km west. From C, village D is 4 km south. The Patwari travels by motorcycle at 10 km/h and must spend 30 minutes at each village. Appointments are fixed: B at 9:00 a.m., A at 10:00 a.m., C at 11:00 a.m., and D at 12:00 noon. The motorcycle has fuel for only 20 km, but a fuel station is located at B. The return route from D to headquarters is 9 km direct, and the Patwari must be back by 1:00 p.m.
1. Calculate the total distance and travel time for the route HQ → B → A → C → D → HQ, and check whether all four appointments and the 1:00 p.m. return can be met.
Read the worked answer
Distances: HQ → B = 6 + 10 = 16 km; B → A = 6 km; A → C = 5 km; C → D = 4 km; D → HQ = 9 km. Total = 16 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 9 = 40 km. Travel time at 10 km/h = 4 hours. Service time = 4 × 30 min = 2 hours. Total = 6 hours. Starting at 7:00 a.m. gives a finish at 1:00 p.m., but the return leg alone takes 0.9 hour, so arrival at HQ is about 1:06 p.m. if D service ends at 12:18 p.m. Appointment check: B at 8:36 a.m. (before 9:00), A at 9:42 a.m. (before 10:00), C at 10:42 a.m. (before 11:00), D at 11:48 a.m. (before noon). The appointments fit, but the 1:00 p.m. return is missed by about 6 minutes.
2. Identify the fuel problem and propose the least disruptive solution.
Read the worked answer
At B the motorcycle has covered 16 km, so it can refuel within the 20 km range. After refuelling at B, the remaining route is B → A → C → D → HQ = 6 + 5 + 4 + 9 = 24 km. With a range of only 20 km, the motorcycle will run short by 4 km before reaching HQ. The least disruptive solution is to carry a small amount of spare fuel from B, sufficient for at least 4 km, or to arrange a refuel at C if a safe source is available. If neither is possible, D should be rescheduled rather than risk running dry on the return leg.
3. If the fuel station at B is closed, what should the Patwari do?
Read the worked answer
The route cannot be completed as planned because the first leg alone is 16 km and the total is 40 km, against a 20 km range. The Patwari should not start the full circuit. He should refuel at or near headquarters before leaving, or carry approved spare fuel. If that is not possible, he should reorganise the day: visit B and A only if their combined distance can be covered with the available fuel and a safe return, and reschedule C and D with intimation to the applicants. The decision should be recorded, because skipping an appointment without notice can cause avoidable inconvenience and later complaints.