Kolkata beats Bengaluru as India's most traffic-congested city in study. 'It's bullsh**,' say netizens

The data used in the study was reportedly collected using more than 600 million connected devices. (File photo)

Kolkata has beaten Bengaluru -- a city that frequently makes headlines due to its traffic woes -- as the world's second most traffic-congested city in the world an international agency. According to TomTom Traffic Index 2024, Bengaluru ranked third on the list while Barranquilla in Colombia topped it.

But, as the news spread of Kolkata beating the likes of Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune in traffic woes, social media users called the report "bullshit" with several users who have had lived in some of these cities stating that the traffic in Kolkata is far better than most of the others, especially Bengaluru.

After senior journalist Faye D'Souza shared the news on Instagram, social media users appeared to unite in Kolkata's defense.

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A post shared by Faye D’Souza (@fayedsouza)

Masterchef India contestant Oindrila Bala (oindrilabala) commented: "Huh? From when? Roads are terrible across the metros in most other cities but Kolkata traffic is nothing compared to Bangalore and Mumbai." "I have lived in all 3 cities and Kolkata's traffic condition is faaaarrr better than Bangalore," added another user (mayuri.jpeg).

Neha Daga (neha_dagaa) said, "Compared to Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata's traffic is far better. I drive on a daily basis, and never felt this and neither we have to sit for hours in our car to travel just
2 km."

"As a resident of Kolkata who has visited Bengaluru and Mumbai multiple times in the past year, I disagree!" added Instagram user (@nayanikachowdhury_) Nayanika Chowdhury. "This isn't possible. I stay in Bangalore and Kolkata throughout the year and Bangalore is much much worse," added Mohana Dasgupta (@mohanadasgupta).

The report was also trolled online.

"What bullsh##, please feed some Chom Chom to Tom Tom," wrote illustrator Sayani Ray (@f.i.r.eb.e.e). Chomchom is a popular traditional Bengali sweet.

"Was this study done by unpaid interns?" asked Instagram user Priyankar Patra (@priyankarpatra).

The TomTom Traffic Index 2024 provides insights into traffic situations in 500 cities across 62 countries regarding their travel times and levels of congestion and how it affects commuters. The data is collected using more than 600 million connected devices, which could include an in-car navigation system or through a phone, the Times of India reported.