Bengaluru has been named the world’s third slowest city for traffic in the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, a report by the Dutch location technology firm TomTom. According to the report, commuters in Bengaluru now take an average of 30 minutes and 10 seconds to travel just 10 kilometers, a time surpassed only by Barranquilla in Colombia (36 minutes and 6 seconds) and Kolkata (34 minutes and 33 seconds).
The report highlights a steady worsening of Bengaluru’s traffic conditions. In 2023, the average time to cover 10 kilometers was 28 minutes and 10 seconds. By 2024, this figure had increased by 50 seconds.
Pune also joined the global list of slow-moving cities, ranking fourth, while Kolkata secured the second spot globally and remains India’s slowest city.
October 5, 2024, emerged as Bengaluru’s most congested day of the year. On that Saturday, drivers spent an average of 39 minutes and 21 seconds to travel 10 kilometers, with congestion levels peaking at a staggering 58%.
Morning rush hours in the city were particularly challenging, with commuters averaging 38 minutes and 50 seconds to cover the same distance at a speed of 15.5 km/h. Evening traffic was even worse, with travel times averaging 41 minutes and 59 seconds and congestion levels soaring to 68%.
On a domestic scale, Bengaluru ranked as India’s second slowest city, trailing only Kolkata. Globally, London remained the most congested city, with an average speed of 14 km/h, followed by cities such as Dublin (16 km/h), Milan (17 km/h), Lima (17 km/h), and Toronto (18 km/h), all recording slower speeds than Bengaluru.
Bengaluru's traffic woes are intensified by the rising number of private vehicles on its roads. As of March 2023, the city had 23.1 lakh private vehicles, surpassing New Delhi’s count of 20.7 lakh.