
According to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, Kolkata has overtook Bengaluru to take this spot on the list of India’s most congested cities. The report also highlights the serious traffic problems Indian cities confront, which are mostly caused by ageing infrastructure and fast urbanisation.
In Kolkata, the average speed is a meagre 17.4 km/h, which means it takes nearly 34 minutes to cover just 10 km! Bengaluru and Pune, which are also experiencing severe traffic, are next in queue. The average travel time for a 10-kilometer drive in Bengaluru is 34 minutes and 10 seconds, whereas in Pune, it takes 33 minutes and 22 seconds.
With travel durations ranging from 29 to 32 minutes for the same distance, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai are also prominent cities on the list. New Delhi, however, is a conspicuous exception. Despite its vast population and metropolitan dimensions, the city reports a significantly better average travel time of 23 minutes for 10 kilometers.
The TomTom Traffic Index takes into account both static and dynamic factors when evaluating congestion; static factors include the physical road infrastructure and city layouts, while dynamic factors account for peak-hour traffic, weather, and urban mobility patterns. London is the first European city to make the list of the top five cities with the slowest traffic speeds, along with Kolkata and Bengaluru.
According to Ralph Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom, worsening congestion is caused by poor road planning, inadequate infrastructure, and the growing pressures of urbanisation. He stresses the necessity for cities to rethink their infrastructure and urban planning in order to effectively address these issues.
This report emphasises the importance of strategic urban planning in India’s rapidly growing cities. Upgrading infrastructure and implementing sustainable urbanisation strategies can improve daily commuting and overall quality of life. Kolkata’s ranking as the most congested city in India serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to find innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.