India’s Biggest Cities Face Severe Traffic Congestion as Bengaluru Tops the Latest Rankings

Traffic congestion continues to be a major challenge for India’s rapidly growing urban centres, with new traffic data showing that commuters in several major cities are losing significant amounts of time on the road.

According to the latest TomTom Traffic Index, Bengaluru remains India’s most congested major city, recording a congestion level of 74.4%. Pune follows closely at 71.1%, while Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata also feature among the country’s most traffic-heavy cities.

The figures highlight the growing pressure on India’s urban transport systems as increasing vehicle ownership, population growth, road construction and daily commuting demand place additional strain on existing infrastructure.

Bengaluru Leads India’s Congestion Rankings

Bengaluru recorded the highest congestion level among the Indian cities included in the latest index.

The city’s congestion level stood at 74.4%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared with 2024. During rush hours, commuters lose an estimated 168 hours a year because of slow-moving traffic.

The problem becomes particularly visible during peak periods. A journey that might normally take a short amount of time can become considerably longer when thousands of vehicles compete for limited road space.

Pune Records the Sharpest Increase

Pune ranks second with a congestion level of 71.1%.

The city recorded the largest increase among the leading Indian cities, with congestion rising by 5.4 percentage points compared with 2024. Commuters lose approximately 152 hours annually during rush-hour periods.

Rapid urban development and increasing travel between residential and employment areas have contributed to growing transportation pressure in the Pune metropolitan region.

Mumbai and Delhi Also Under Pressure

Mumbai recorded a congestion level of 63.2%, while New Delhi stood at 60.2%.

Although Mumbai’s congestion level declined compared with 2024, the city remains one of India’s busiest urban transportation environments. New Delhi, meanwhile, recorded an increase of 3.5 percentage points from 2024.

The capital’s congestion problem has also been visible in recent days, with heavy traffic reported around several major corridors during the Raksha Bandhan travel rush.

Kolkata, Jaipur and Chennai Feature Prominently

Kolkata recorded a congestion level of 58.9%, followed by Jaipur at 58.7% and Chennai at 58.6%.

Hyderabad recorded 55.5%, while Ernakulam registered 54.5%.

The figures demonstrate that congestion is not restricted to India’s largest metropolitan areas. Medium-sized and rapidly expanding urban centres are also experiencing growing pressure on their road networks.

Festivals Add Temporary Pressure

Recent traffic conditions in Delhi-NCR illustrate how special events and festivals can intensify an already difficult transportation situation.

The Raksha Bandhan rush resulted in heavy traffic on several important routes, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, MB Road, Kalindi Kunj, Pragati Maidan and the Akshardham area. Authorities advised commuters to plan journeys carefully and avoid certain congestion-prone routes.

Similar short-term congestion can occur during major festivals, sporting events, demonstrations, adverse weather and large public gatherings.

Construction Creates Additional Bottlenecks

Infrastructure work is another important factor affecting traffic movement.

In South Delhi, several road and infrastructure projects are currently taking place simultaneously. Work on portions of the Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road and other corridors has reduced available road space and created additional delays.

Traffic experts have suggested completing construction in phases, deploying more workers and opening completed sections quickly rather than allowing multiple bottlenecks to develop at the same time.

Economic Cost of Traffic Jams

Traffic congestion is not merely an inconvenience for commuters. It can also affect productivity, fuel consumption and business operations.

India’s Economic Survey has previously highlighted congestion pricing and demand-based parking as possible tools for managing traffic in densely populated business districts. It has also recommended strengthening public transport, expanding city bus fleets and increasing the use of electric buses.

Longer travel times can also increase fuel consumption and contribute to higher emissions, making traffic management an important environmental issue.

Public Transport Could Play a Bigger Role

Urban planners increasingly view mass public transportation as an important part of the solution.

Metro systems, city buses, electric buses, suburban railways and shared mobility can reduce the number of private vehicles competing for road space when they provide reliable and convenient alternatives.

Better pedestrian infrastructure and safer cycling networks can also help reduce dependence on short-distance car and motorcycle journeys.

Technology and Traffic Management

Technology is becoming another important part of modern traffic management.

Real-time traffic information, adaptive signals, intelligent transportation systems and digital navigation tools can help authorities identify congestion earlier and redirect traffic.

However, technology alone cannot solve the problem if the number of vehicles continues to grow faster than transportation infrastructure.

A Growing Urban Challenge

India’s congestion figures underline a wider challenge facing the country’s cities. Economic growth and urbanisation are increasing mobility demand, but road space in densely populated areas cannot expand indefinitely.

The latest rankings show that Bengaluru currently faces the highest congestion among India’s major cities, while Pune has experienced one of the sharpest recent increases.

For Indian cities, the long-term solution is likely to require a combination of better public transportation, smarter road planning, coordinated construction schedules, parking management and improved traffic enforcement.

Until those measures take effect at scale, millions of commuters across India’s major urban centres are likely to continue spending a significant part of their working and personal lives navigating crowded roads.