+
Kolkata Tops India's Most Congested Cities List
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Kolkata Tops India's Most Congested Cities List

Kolkata surpasses Bengaluru to become India’s most congested city, according to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index. Globally, Kolkata ranks as the second slowest-moving city, just behind Barranquilla in Colombia.

The annual report by Dutch technology firm TomTom evaluated traffic conditions in over 500 cities across 62 countries. Kolkata’s average vehicle speed of 17.4 kmph meant it took 34 minutes and 33 seconds to complete a 10-kilometer journey, placing it at the top of India’s congestion rankings.

Bengaluru follows at third globally, with drivers averaging 34 minutes and 10 seconds for the same distance. Pune secured the fourth spot, with commuters taking 33 minutes and 22 seconds.

Barranquilla, the global leader in congestion, recorded the lowest average speed of 16.57 kmph, requiring 36 minutes for a 10-km drive.

Three Indian cities—Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune—feature in the top five globally for slowest average speeds, with London, the first European city, rounding out the list at fifth place.

Other Indian cities also showed significant congestion. Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai reported travel times of 32, 30, and 29 minutes, respectively, for a 10-kilometer journey. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, and Jaipur averaged near 28-30 minutes.

New Delhi stands out with a significantly better performance, averaging 23 minutes for a 10-kilometer journey, highlighting disparities in urban mobility across Indian metros.

The TomTom report analyzed over 458 billion miles of driving data, considering static factors like road infrastructure and dynamic elements such as peak-hour traffic and weather. "Urban design and peak traffic hours significantly shape city mobility," it noted.

With urbanization on the rise, the findings underscore the critical need for effective traffic management and infrastructure development in India’s cities.

Kolkata surpasses Bengaluru to become India’s most congested city, according to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index. Globally, Kolkata ranks as the second slowest-moving city, just behind Barranquilla in Colombia. The annual report by Dutch technology firm TomTom evaluated traffic conditions in over 500 cities across 62 countries. Kolkata’s average vehicle speed of 17.4 kmph meant it took 34 minutes and 33 seconds to complete a 10-kilometer journey, placing it at the top of India’s congestion rankings. Bengaluru follows at third globally, with drivers averaging 34 minutes and 10 seconds for the same distance. Pune secured the fourth spot, with commuters taking 33 minutes and 22 seconds. Barranquilla, the global leader in congestion, recorded the lowest average speed of 16.57 kmph, requiring 36 minutes for a 10-km drive. Three Indian cities—Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune—feature in the top five globally for slowest average speeds, with London, the first European city, rounding out the list at fifth place. Other Indian cities also showed significant congestion. Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai reported travel times of 32, 30, and 29 minutes, respectively, for a 10-kilometer journey. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, and Jaipur averaged near 28-30 minutes. New Delhi stands out with a significantly better performance, averaging 23 minutes for a 10-kilometer journey, highlighting disparities in urban mobility across Indian metros. The TomTom report analyzed over 458 billion miles of driving data, considering static factors like road infrastructure and dynamic elements such as peak-hour traffic and weather. Urban design and peak traffic hours significantly shape city mobility, it noted. With urbanization on the rise, the findings underscore the critical need for effective traffic management and infrastructure development in India’s cities.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s Surat-Vapi Section Set for 2027

The first section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, linking Surat and Vapi, is targeted to begin services in 2027. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2026, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that an inauguration could take place around the middle of 2027. The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) said the train being manufactured in India is expected to reach the tracks around April or May 2027. The train will undergo extensive testing before the section is opened for passenger services. The project began construction in 2021 and includ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Indian Railways Approves Four Projects Worth Rs. 7.36 bn Across Four States

Indian Railways has approved four projects with a combined value of Rs. 7.36 bn across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The programme covers train protection, signalling, electric traction supply and a road overbridge, with each project assigned to a different railway zone. In Uttar Pradesh, Rs. 2.52 bn has been approved to extend the Kavach 4.0 automatic train protection system across 607.7 km in the Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway. The system monitors train movements and can apply the brakes if a driver fails to observe a signal or exceeds a safe speed. The w..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Chandru Raheja Sells 1.49% Stake in Mindspace REIT for Rs. 5 bn

Billionaire Chandru Lachmandas Raheja has sold a 1.49 per cent holding in Mindspace Business Parks REIT for Rs. 5 bn through a bulk deal on the BSE. The transaction involved 9.9 mn units and was executed at an average price of Rs. 505 per unit, according to exchange data. Following the sale, units of Mindspace Business Parks REIT were trading 0.18 per cent lower at Rs. 504.05 on Tuesday. Exchange data did not identify the buyers involved in the transaction. Raheja is the chairman of real estate company K Raheja Corp. The sale involved 99,00,990 units, representing 1.49 per cent of the Mumbai-b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code