This metro is now 3rd most dangerous city in India. The answer isn't Delhi or Mumbai

Representative photo

A national crime report has revealed that Bengaluru now holds the dubious distinction of being the third most violent major city in India, trailing only Delhi and Mumbai, with its rate of serious offences showing a dramatic and sharp increase.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) ‘Crime in India 2023’ report, Bengaluru recorded 3,528 violent crimes last year.

As detailed in a TOI report, this places it firmly behind Delhi (11,014) and Mumbai (4,750), but significantly ahead of its southern peers - Hyderabad (1,483), Chennai (973) and Kolkata (919).

The contrast becomes starker when examining trends. While Delhi and Mumbai have seen slight declines in such crimes and Chennai continues its downward trajectory, Bengaluru has experienced a startling 47% surge in violent offences between 2021 and 2023.

The NCRB classifies murder, rape, kidnapping, abduction, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity and arson as violent crimes, using them as a key marker of urban public safety.

A comparative analysis of city crime profiles from the report underscores Bengaluru’s precarious position. The city registered 219 murders in 2023, a figure lower than Delhi (500) and Mumbai (300) but noticeably higher than Chennai (132) and Hyderabad (148).

This pattern repeats across other categories: Bengaluru saw 277 rapes, compared to Delhi’s 1,210, but well above Chennai’s 98. In kidnapping and abduction, the city reported 1,089 cases, far outstripping Chennai's 498.

Robberies also tell a troubling story, with Bengaluru logging 1,123 incidents, a number dwarfed by Delhi’s 2,917 but leaving other southern metros far behind.

Experts, however, caution against simplistic comparisons. They suggest that a portion of the rise could be attributed to improved reporting mechanisms, particularly with the widespread adoption of online complaint systems and greater public awareness.

Nevertheless, the TOI reported indicated that the numbers also reflect the profound strains on a city that has undergone rapid, expansive growth.

Bengaluru’s transformation from a quiet administrative centre to a bustling, economically magnetic megacity has brought with it the churn and anonymity that often correlate with higher rates of violent crime.

The city is struggling with stretched urban infrastructure, a factor frequently cited by urban planners as contributing to gaps in public safety.

This creates a southern paradox. As Bengaluru’s numbers climb, neighbouring Chennai has slashed its violent crime cases by a third over three years and Hyderabad, while seeing a modest rise, remains far below Bengaluru’s tally. Kolkata, another major metro, reinforces its reputation for safety with fewer than a thousand such cases.

At a national level, the overall figure for violent crime has held relatively steady at around 4.3 lakh incidents since 2022, making Bengaluru’s sharp surge all the more conspicuous.

For the city’s residents, the statistics resonate with frequent media reports of chain-snatching, street robberies and sexual assaults.

While police authorities maintain that higher reporting rates are a positive sign of systemic engagement, urban planners contend the data points to critical deficits in foundational safety infrastructure, including street lighting, comprehensive CCTV coverage, consistent police patrolling and robust community policing initiatives.