Traffic is choking Indian cities. But there may be a radical solution

India Today

22-07-2025

Major Indian cities are now among the slowest in the world. Despite building more roads, traffic jams are getting longer — and deadlier. Some cities are beginning to consider congestion pricing, a policy tool used globally but never seriously tried in India.Why it matters: Urban Indians lose hundreds of hours a year just sitting in traffic, time that could go to work, rest, or family. The traffic crisis is also a public health emergency: even cities once thought to have clean air are now seeing spikes in pollution-related deaths.advertisementAnd the cost is uneven. The car-owning elite clog roads while most Indians still rely on buses or walking. Without radical fixes like congestion pricing, cities could grind to a halt.
In numbers117 hours: the time an average Bengaluru commuter lost in rush hour in 202434 minutes 33 seconds: the time it takes to travel 10 kilometres in Kolkata, the slowest city in India40: the number of cars per 1,000 people in India67 per cent: tier-2 city commuters relying on private vehicles1975: The year Singapore first introduced congestion pricing30 per cent: Traffic reduction in Singapore after three decades of pricingIn-depth: 'What the hell is happening?' one frustrated commuter asked, stuck for 10–15 minutes in unmoving traffic. It wasn't even peak hour. Just another day in a major city, where slowdowns, fumes, and frayed nerves are the new normal.The data agrees. TomTom's 2024 Traffic Index found Kolkata and Bengaluru among the world's worst cities for traffic. Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai weren't far behind. But the real damage is invisible: hours lost, toxic air, and rising stress.Even in places like Hyderabad, long thought to be relatively light in traffic, things are changing. Bengaluru residents now lose more than two full working weeks every year to congestion. Mumbai? Nearly 13 working days. And it's not just a metro problem. Jaipur commuters lost 82 hours in 2024. Smaller cities are catching up, and fast.Data from Numbeo shows that commute times in Indian cities have barely improved, and in some cases, things are getting worse. Kolkata still has the longest average travel time, at nearly 60 minutes, over five years. Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru haven't seen much change either.But the inefficiency index tells a bigger story. It measures how much people rely on private vehicles instead of public transport. In cities like Bengaluru and Pune, the index jumped sharply in 2025 (as of April), pointing to growing car dependence. Even Hyderabad, once considered better managed, is seeing its score rise again.The why: India has 34 cars per 1,000 people, a low number globally, but one that's rising fast. The real issue isn't just volume. It's who owns the cars. Urban roads are increasingly dominated by the privileged few, while public transport lags.advertisementData from PRICE's ICE360 survey reveals the imbalance: 67 per cent of tier-2 city commuters use private vehicles, compared to 51 per cent in metros. Public transport systems haven't kept pace. And the environment is paying the price.Stop-and-go traffic burns more fuel and belches out more pollution. Studies show emissions at intersections in Indian cities can be up to 29 times higher than on free-flowing roads. PM2.5, NOx, VOCs — the alphabet soup of toxins — rise when traffic does.A first-of-its-kind multi-city study published in The Lancet Planetary Health reveals the deadly health toll of urban air pollution. Cities with the highest pollution loads also saw a larger share of deaths linked to it.In Delhi, air pollution was responsible for 11.5 per cent of all annual deaths, the highest among cities studied. Bengaluru, by contrast, had lower pollution levels, yet still saw 4.8 per cent of deaths attributable to poor air quality. What's striking is that Bengaluru's residents were exposed to only 30 per cent of the daily air pollution levels that people in Delhi faced.advertisementThe study highlights that even short-term spikes in pollution — the kind that traffic congestion often causes — can trigger serious health consequences across cities, regardless of their baseline pollution levels.And yet, there's little accountability.Big picture: Local governments have tried widening roads, building flyovers, and changing routes. It hasn't worked. That's why some are turning to a once-radical idea: congestion pricing.Under this system, drivers pay a fee to enter high-traffic zones, especially during peak hours. The idea is simple. If road space is limited, those who use it should pay. And that money can fund better buses, trains, and cycling paths.The concept isn't new. Singapore began charging drivers in its central business district in 1975. Today, it runs a dynamic, camera-based pricing system that adjusts tolls by hour and demand. Traffic is down by over 30 per cent. London introduced its own scheme in 2003 and now charges 15 to enter the central zone during weekdays.India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs floated the idea as far back as 2013. But no city has implemented it. Instead, most have chosen more roads, more flyovers — and more congestion.advertisementExpert opinion: Experts say this can work, but only if done right. That means pricing has to be fair, public transport must improve, and exemptions need to be carefully designed. Because congestion pricing is not just a tax, it's a message: both your time and your city's air are valuable.- EndsTrending Reel