Kolkata has emerged as India’s most congested city in 2024, according to the traffic index released by TomTom, a Dutch location technology specialist.
In previous years, Bengaluru was India’s most congested city. However, in 2024, Kolkata overtook Bengaluru to claim the title of the country’s most congested city.
The report highlights that drivers in Kolkata needed an average of 34 minutes and 33 seconds to cover a distance of 10 km last year. Bengaluru followed closely, with an average travel time of 34 minutes and 10 seconds for the same distance.
Also, read: Tech hub Bengaluru ranks 6th most congested city globally in 2023: TomTom report
While Kolkata's average speed was 17.4 kmph in 2024, Bengaluru recorded a slightly higher average speed of 17.6 kmph during the same period.
Globally, Barranquilla in Colombia ranked as the city with the lowest average speed. Drivers in Barranquilla traveled at an average speed of 10.3 mph, taking 36 minutes to complete a 10 km journey.
In India, three cities—Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune—featured in the top five globally for the slowest average speeds.
Kolkata ranked second globally, while Bengaluru and Pune, with an average travel time of 33 minutes and 22 seconds to cover 10 km in 2024 at an average speed of 18 kmph, secured the third and fourth positions, respectively. London, the first European city on the list, ranked fifth.
In India, other top congested cities are: Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai, with average travel times of 32 minutes, 30 minutes, and 29 minutes for a 10 km journey, respectively.
Cities like Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, and Jaipur also emerged as slower cities, with Ahmedabad and Ernakulam matching Mumbai at 29 minutes, and Jaipur recording 28 minutes for the same distance. Surprisingly, New Delhi ranked much lower, with an average travel time of just 23 minutes for 10 km.
The report observed a broader trend of increasing travel times, with 76 percent of the 500 cities analysed experiencing a decline in average speeds compared to 2023.
The TomTom Traffic Index uses a robust methodology, incorporating data from over 458 billion miles of driving across 500 cities in 62 countries. By analysing both static and dynamic factors, the report offers a comprehensive view of traffic patterns and congestion. "Static factors, such as road infrastructure and urban design, combine with dynamic influences like peak-hour traffic and weather conditions to shape urban mobility", it said.
Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom, explained that outdated infrastructure, inefficient road planning, and the growing demands of urbanisation have increased traffic congestion. He stressed the need for sustainable transportation solutions to address these challenges.
Also, read: Whitefield line boosts Bengaluru Metro's average daily ridership by 80K; cuts traffic congestion by 14%
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