“Bengaluru Drops to Sixth Position Globally in Traffic Slowness, Falling from Second Spot : Report”
In a recent analysis by Amsterdam-based location technology specialist TomTom, Bengaluru has slid to the sixth position in the global rankings of the world’s most congested cities, marking a slight improvement from its second-place standing in 2022. However, the city remains India’s most congested, grappling with severe traffic challenges that contribute to an annual loss of Rs19,725 crore.
In a recent analysis by Amsterdam-based location technology specialist TomTom, Bengaluru has slid to the sixth position in the global rankings of the world’s most congested cities, marking a slight improvement from its second-place standing in 2022. However, the city remains India’s most congested, grappling with severe traffic challenges that contribute to an annual loss of Rs19,725 crore.
According to TomTom’s data, the average time to cover 10 kilometers in Bengaluru in 2023 was around 28 minutes and 10 seconds. This marks a slight improvement from the previous year when the city was ranked the second slowest globally, with an average time of 29 minutes and 9 seconds to cover the same distance. The average speed in Bengaluru stands at 18 kmph, slower than any other Indian city.
Despite the drop in global rankings, Bengaluru’s traffic situation remains a cause for concern, with London securing the top spot in the list of the most congested cities globally, boasting an average speed of 14 kmph. Bengaluru is followed by Dublin (16 kmph), Milan (17 kmph), Lima (17 kmph), and Toronto (18 kmph) as slower cities, according to the TomTom report.
Bengaluru’s traffic challenges are further exacerbated by its status as the Indian city with the highest number of private vehicles, surpassing even the national capital, New Delhi. With approximately 23 lakh private cars contributing to the city’s traffic, close to 2000 new vehicles are registered in Bengaluru every day.
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, acknowledged the monumental challenge faced by the government in maintaining the roads amidst such heavy vehicular traffic. He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing this issue, citing plans to use white topping for road repairs, providing endurance for 30 to 40 years.
Notably, Bengaluru suffers a staggering annual loss of Rs19,725 crore due to various factors related to traffic, including delays, congestion, stoppages, time loss, and fuel loss, as highlighted in research conducted by traffic and mobility expert MN Sreehari and his team.
As Bengaluru grapples with its traffic woes, the government faces the uphill task of implementing effective measures to alleviate congestion, improve traffic flow, and mitigate the economic losses associated with the city’s notorious traffic jams.
Sources By Agencies
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