BENGALURU: Traffic congestion in Bengaluru has reached unprecedented levels, with the average daily congestion length skyrocketing to 1,638 km as of August. This marks a nearly fourfold increase from January 2024, driven by a combination of monsoon rains, roadwork, vehicle breakdowns, and a surge in private vehicles.
The average congestion length was 465 km in January but escalated to 1,168 km by July and further surged to 1,638 km in August. On a monthly scale, overall congestion ballooned from 14,423 km in January to 36,194 km in July. Vehicle speeds have plummeted from 20.6 km/h in January to a sluggish 18.6 km/h in August.
Traffic officials attribute the congestion to multiple factors, including heavy rains causing waterlogging and potholes, an increasing number of private vehicles, and frequent bus breakdowns by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The BMTC reported 1,443 bus breakdowns as of August 20, with the highest incidents in May, June, and July.
Monsoon rains exacerbate the problem, with daily congestion rising from about 450 km in the summer months to over 1,100 km during the monsoon. The Outer Ring Road and tech corridors like Whitefield and Electronic City are among the worst-hit areas.
Urban mobility experts criticize the lack of integrated public transport solutions, citing the incomplete Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project and slow metro expansion as contributing factors. Bengaluru now surpasses New Delhi with over 23 lakh private cars, contributing to the city’s traffic crisis.
In response, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya has urged Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to address the traffic issues urgently. Experts suggest policy changes, including promoting work-from-home options to reduce traffic and emissions.
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