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India is a highly popular country with iconic landmarks and the best places to visit, many different sorts of foods to taste, excellent entertainment, and many other things.

However, when it comes to traffic congestion, India ranks among the worst in the world.  Several major Indian cities, like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Pune, face extremely severe traffic congestion which will have a significant influence on the country.

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Top 10 of country which has worse traffic congention

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Statistic cities with the most traffic congestion in 2020

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Statistic cities with the most traffic congestion in 2020

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The (%) of congestion level - the additional travel time required to go from one location to another over the estimated time.

1. Moscow, Russia (54%)
2. Mumbai, India (53%)
3. Bogota, Colombia (53%)
4. Manila, Philippines (53%)
5. Istanbul, Turkey (51%)
6. Bengaluru, India (51%)
7. Kyiv, Ukraine (51%)
8. New Delhi, India (47%)
9. Novosibirsk, Russia (45%)
10. Bangkok, Thailand (44%)

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Global traffic congestion ranking has 3 Indian cities in top 10

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Global traffic congestion ranking has 3 Indian cities in top 10

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During the Covid-19 pandemic, when statewide limits were imposed, road traffic flows were nonexistent. Looking at the congestion of three main cities in India in the 10 congestion index graphic shows that economic activity and use of private automobiles have increased again in the six months since the outbreak.

However, with the new standards and changes in the method of working that have been adopted by employees of IT companies ; work from home, it is no longer affects city congestion as it used to. It has aided the city's progress, with a 51 percent drop in congestion compared to 71 percent in 2019.

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NEW DELHI: The traffic congestion in four big Indian cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune - is crawling back close to the pre-pandemic levels, particularly in the past six months since unlocking started in phases, according to a report by a global location technology specialist. Mumbai ranked second in the world, Bengaluru sixth, Delhi eighth and Pune at number 16 among 416 cities across 56 countries on traffic congestion level parameters.
Moscow recorded the maximum congestion across the globe in 2020.
The presence of the three Indian cities in the top 10 of the TomTom Traffic Index is also being seen as an indication of a quicker revival of economic activities, while at the same time a greater preference by city dwellers to use personal vehicles over public transport. In 2019, Bengaluru topped the list among all the cities across the globe while Mumbai, Pune and Delhi came 4th, 5th and 8th, respectively.
The tenth edition of the global traffic index released on Wednesday said the overall congestion level in Mumbai was 53%, which was 12% less than that of 2019. Bengaluru saw a 20% drop in traffic congestion even as New Delhi saw a barely 9% reduction in congestion during the pandemic-hit year compared to the previous year. Pune recorded a 17% dip in traffic congestion last year compared to 2019.
Congestion level percentage is the extra travel time a driver experiences when compared to an uncongested situation.

The road traffic trend shows that there was "zero" congestion on Mumbai roads in April soon after the nationwide strict lockdown was imposed. The traffic on Mumbai roads started increasing from June and has been going up steadily. "Going by the trend, it seems that economic activities in Mumbai have completely resumed," said Parag Bedarkar, manager (enterprise sales) of TomTom.
In the case of Delhi, the congestion level in April was 6% and it saw a quick increase in road traffic in May. Werner van Huyssteen, TomTom's general manager, said like all other cities Delhi was not an exception. "Increased traffic on the road is a clear indicator of economic activities. We saw how road traffic reduced during the peak of pandemic and now we see a return of the congestion, but certainly we don't see the congestion level soon reaching what it was before the onset of pandemic. That's also because of the change in the working environment in India and how we do business more efficiently," Werner said.
The trend seen in Bengaluru corroborates this. The city with high concentration of IT companies where work from home has become the new normal, has seen the maximum decline in congestion level at 51% compared to 71% in 2019.
According to the report coronavirus-induced lockdowns caused annual traffic congestion to fall in most countries for the first time in at least 10 years.

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Global traffic congestion ranking has 3 Indian cities in top 10 | India News - Times of India

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NEW DELHI: The traffic congestion in four big Indian cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune - is crawling back close to the pre-pandemic levels, particularly in the past six months since unlocking started in phases, according to a report by a global location technology specialist.

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Mumbai

- Mumbai has been named the world's second most crowded city in 2020.
- The overall amount of congestion in the city is 53%, which is a 12% improvement over 2019.

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Cost incurred that cause by traffic jams

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Cost incurred that cause by traffic jams

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Congestion in major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata not only causes misery but can also result in financial loss. It is predicted that his country will incur a loss of $ 22 billion as a result of the time spent traveling, which takes roughly 1.5 hours. The losses are computed using the cost of car fuel as well as the loss of employee productivity, which includes working hours, opportunity costs, pollution, and health expenditures that must be incurred each year. Furthermore, when a city's peak time arrives, it is predicted that there is 149 percent more extra time that must be faced in commuting a certain distance than the average experienced by Asian countries, which is 67 percent.

This traffic congestion is also said to be caused by an overcrowded city. As we all know, India is one of the nations with a large population, and they have all carried out rapid economic growth in their country. As a result, there is an increase in the household of a family where it encourages their thinking to finance their own car transportation. As a result, it is estimated that the country's transportation demand has expanded eightfold since 1980, putting additional strain on the road network. Adding to the growing pollution problem, it is compelling the government to take more harsh measures in the interests of the country's economy and people.

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India's biggest cities may be losing up to $22 billion annually to traffic congestion, and its commuters are bearing the burden.

On average, travellers in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata spend 1.5 hours more on their daily commutes than their counterparts in other Asian cities during peak traffic times, according to an April 18 report released by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and commissioned by Uber.

In fact, peak-hour congestion, which implies the additional time taken during peak traffic to travel a given distance, in these four Indian cities is estimated at 149%, much higher than the Asian average of 67%.

The cost of congestion was calculated on the basis of fuel burned and productivity loss, which includes the man-hours and opportunity cost, pollution, and accidents (health costs) incurred on an annual basis.

Commuting woes

Indian commuters have struggled for years now.

Transport demand in India has increased by almost eight times since the 1980s as rapid economic development and increasing wealth among households has led to higher vehicle ownership. This is higher than anywhere else in the Asia-Pacific region, according to BCG.

"(Traffic congestion is) partly attributable to India's large population and high population density, as well as an under-developed public transportation network, especially rail-based transport," the BCG report says.

While public transport in cities like Delhi and Mumbai has been improving in relative terms over the years, particularly with an expanding metro network, this just hasn't been enough. "The reliance on cars is expected to increase, adding more pressure to road networks," the report said.

The Boston Consulting Group

Matters are worse in Bengaluru and Kolkata which have witnessed a more recent population explosion.

Add to all this, a worsening pollution crisis which has often forced local governments to take dramatic measures.

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Traffic jams in just four Indian cities cost $22 billion a year

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India's biggest cities may be losing up to $22 billion annually to traffic congestion, and its commuters are bearing the burden. On average, travellers in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata spend 1.5 hours more on their daily commutes than their counterparts in other Asian cities during peak traffic times, according to an April 18 report released by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and commissioned by Uber.

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Bengaluru

- Bengaluru has been named the world's sixth most congested city in 2020.
- It has achieved a 51% increase over last year, which implies a 20% drop.
- Its represents little gain considering Bengaluru was the top city in India on the congestion percentage table the previous year.

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Why is India's traffic still considered to be among the worst in the world?

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Why is India's traffic still considered to be among the worst in the world?

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Being trapped in traffic is an extremely unpleasant experience for Indians, who have to deal with it no matter where they are. Even more so if they live in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, or Pune, which are among the top ten cities with the worst traffic congestion in the world, according to the latest TomTom world traffic statistics. Those city has been on the list of places with significant traffic congestion for four years in a row. This causes a person to be late for an appointment since the journey takes longer than it should. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decrease and increase in some cities.

This issue arise a long time ago, but despite certain actions which have been taken, it has not shown any progress. It was discovered that it occurred since there was no reform on the way to its resolution. Those in charge only utilize one strategy, which is to increase roadways. Since road space becomes more available, people will prefer to buy their own vehicles rather than take public transportation, resulting in car ownership that exceeds the population establishment rate. Typically, a city should seek steps to limit the usage of its own vehicles, such as expanding public transportation and encouraging people to walk or cycle to nearby destinations. This will help to alleviate traffic congestion to some extent. However, if no further efforts are taken, traffic congestion will intensify in the future.

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Sitting through traffic is among the least pleasant things we do. And some cities have it so much worse than others. If you're stuck in a traffic jam in Mumbai, Bengaluru or Delhi, you're on one of the world's Top 10 most-choked roads, according to the latest TomTom traffic index report.

Everyone agrees that mass transit is the answer. Yet bus ridership in India's metros has declined by 20% over the last decade.

The index has been providing insight on traffic congestion levels across 400 cities around the world for 10 years. It's powered by real-time traffic data and put together by the Amsterdam-based location technology provider TomTom International, which uses data from around 600 million connected devices to calculate, for example, how much extra time a driver will spend in traffic during rush hour in Mumbai.

Over the past four years, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru have consistently featured on TomTom's top 10 most congested cities in the world for traffic. Mumbai, in fact, was at #1 in 2018 and has remained in the top five since.

The pandemic did temporarily ease the gridlock in 2020. Of the 400 cities surveyed, 387 experienced a significant decrease (average of 21%) in overall congestion. By contrast, only 13 cities saw their traffic jams increase.

But the top 5 remains familiar - Moscow returned to #1 after five years, with 54% congestion. Mumbai shares second place with Bogota and Manila, all seeing congestion levels of 53%. (This means a trip in any of these cities would take about 53% more time than it should.) Bengaluru is at #6 (51% congestion), New Delhi at #8 (47% congestion) down a bit from its last appearance at #4 in 2018. The other Indian city to feature is Pune, at #16, with 42% congestion.

The problem isn't new; the real problem is that the solutions aren't new either, planners say.

City planners turn blindly, again and again, to the same seemingly obvious solution: create more road space. But even with more road, infrastructure has been unable to keep pace with the growing number of cars.

India's road networks have grown by about 30% over the past decade, whereas vehicle registrations have risen by almost three times. In January 2019 alone, at least a million-and-half (1,607,315) vehicles were bought and registered across the country - an average of 51,000 new vehicles a day.

"Congestion is only a symptom of a larger problem of misplaced priorities when it comes to urban planning and mobility," says Vaishali Singh, a senior associate on urban planning and design at the India arm of the US-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), a global non-profit organisation. "(Growth in) private vehicle ownership has surpassed the population growth rate in most cities. Yet cities continue to support them by creating urban highways and constructing more flyovers; instead cities should invest in high-quality public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure and incentivise people's shifts to these modes," Singh says.

As has been stated time and again, in text, numbers and viral animated graphics, a single bus, used to capacity, can take 30 to 40 cars off the street. A single Metro rake can take 20 to 30 buses off the roads (and move much faster, getting more people to their destinations in the same amount of time). Yet, buses get perhaps the least attention of any mode of public transport in India's cities.

As a result, bus ridership in India's metropolitan cities has declined by 20% over the last decade. Meanwhile, the traffic continues to take an economic, social and environmental toll. The average Mumbai resident wastes the equivalent of 8 days and 17 hours a year stuck in traffic jams. The average Delhi resident spends 7 days and 22 hours, according to TomTom's 2019 report.

Cities must focus on public transport more effectively, and simultaneously encourage a shift to non-motorised transport - walking and cycling - for short trips, making this safer and easier with wide comfortable footpaths and protected bicycle lanes, says Singh of ITDP India. "And we must disincentivise the use of private vehicles by various methods including congestion pricing."

Until then, take a book, because the jams are likely to get worse before they get better.

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Why is India's traffic still among the worst in the world?

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Indian cities came in at #2, #6, #8 and #16 on the most recent TomTom world traffic index. How did other nations ease their snarls, and what will it take for us to do so too? | Travel

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New Delhi

- New Delhi is the eighth most congested city in the world, accounting for 47% of the total at 2020.
- It has reduced congestion by 9% compared to the previous year.

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The index above represents the most recent degree of congestion experienced by cities in India in 2021, as seen in the top ten worst congestion ranking worldwide. With this data, we can observe that Indian cities are making little progress, with a fall compared to the previous year. Furthermore, unlike in the past, only two cities are included in the top ten most crowded cities in the world, namely Mumbai and Bengaluru, as opposed to four cities in the top ten ranking.

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Mumbai slips a rank in traffic congestion, is fifth globally

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Mumbai slips a rank in traffic congestion, is fifth globally

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In the Top 25 Global TomTom Traffic Index 2021 ranking, Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Pune had lower average congestion compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, Mumbai remains the city with the greatest congestion, especially during the festival season, which coincides with the rainy season, resulting in flooded roadways, adds to the city's congestion.

Because the usage of trains has been curtailed, many individuals prefer to commute by car. Although it registered the same degree of congestion as the previous year (53%), traffic congestion decreased by 22% compared to 2019. Because of the covid 19 pandemic, they have altered the way they operate; instead of going to the office, they now solely work from home, and all meetings are held online. This reduces peak-hour congestion by 23% in India.

It has now re-shown more vehicle users on the route. It is thought that this is because individuals prefer to maintain a safer social distance by driving their own cars. In 2021, India saw a surge in the buying of electric automobiles.   They are also aiming to increase the usage of electric vehicles, such as buses and automobiles, in order to reduce the country's pollution problem.

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Mumbai saw its worst traffic day on August 21, 2021

MUMBAI: Mumbai has slipped a rank to the fifth position in 2021 from fourth in 2020 globally by recording an average 18% decrease in vehicular congestion compared with the pre-Covid level in 2019, with 29% and 23% average reduction during morning and evening rush hours, respectively, stated an international congestion report released on Wednesday.
Despite a drop in congestion levels, four cities from India featured in TomTom Traffic Index's global Top 25 list -Mumbai (5), Bengaluru (10), New Delhi (11) and Pune (21).
Mumbai, though, saw its worst congestion during festivities and monsoon in 2021 when waterlogged roads led to traffic snarls, the study added. A city traffic expert said since local trains were not allowed for non-essential travel, many used roads to commute too.
Year 2021 was when changes in the work culture-work from home, online conferences and flexible hours-allowed many to avoid or offset the rush hour. As a consequence, peak hours shifted in almost 40% of the cities worldwide, the report said.
The report said India's congestion level in 2021 was 23% lower than in pre-Covid times, with a decrease of 31% specifically during peak hours.
In 2021, Mumbai recorded the same congestion levels as last year at 53%. However, the peak traffic difference saw a reduction of 22% compared with 2019. Congestion level percentage is the extra travel time a driver experiences when compared to an uncongested situation. A 50% congestion level means, on an average, travel time is 50% longer than during the baseline uncongested condition.
The other three cities from India that featured in the TomTom Traffic Index- Bengaluru, New Delhi and Pune-saw a decrease in the congestion level of 32%, 14% and 29%, respectively. India fared better than the global average of 10% decrease in congestion. "However, the number of private vehicles has increased because people found them an easier means to maintain social distance safely," it said.
At the same time, Maharashtra saw a 153% rise in electric vehicle registrations in the first nine months of financial year 2021-22, and Mumbai recorded a growth of 112% during the same period. Mumbai already has 386 electric buses and is moving to get 1,900 more. BEST has decided to get more electric AC buses as part of its ambition of going 100% electric by 2027.
Sachin Tyagi, strategic automotive business development manager, TomTom, said, "The real-time traffic information indicates that mobility options are rapidly changing as a part of the adaptable lifestyles resulting from the pandemic." Covering 404 cities across 58 countries on six continents, the index ranks urban congestion worldwide. (With inputs by Dipak Dash)

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Mumbai slips a rank in traffic congestion, is fifth globally | Mumbai News - Times of India

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Mumbai saw its worst traffic day on August 21, 2021 MUMBAI: Mumbai has slipped a rank to the fifth position in 2021 from fourth in 2020 globally by recording an average 18% decrease in vehicular congestion compared with the pre-Covid level in 2019, with 29% and 23% average reduction during morning and evening rush hours, respectively, stated an international congestion report released on Wednesday.

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Congestion levels drop in major Indian cities

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Congestion levels drop in major Indian cities

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According to the TomTom analysis, India's congestion levels are 23 percent lower than they were before the pandemic. The analysis is based on traffic flows observed in 58 countries by 2021. The usage of new mobility such as bicycles and e-scooters has expanded by the population in India after infrastructure such as roadways were developed, which is thought to happen during a pandemic. The pandemic has also caused disruptions in work habits and increased demand for online business in Indian cities. However, many people continue to utilize private automobiles in order to preserve the safety of social distance. As a result, it reduces the appeal of public transportation vehicles like buses and railroads.

There is changes in the usage of mobility based on the pattern of congestion data acquired throughout the pandemic. If noticed, it indicates a good shift, and they must aim to optimize the use of technology with solid data to further enhance road infrastructure in order to provide traffic information that is more quickly and readily available to drivers and traffic authorities. To some extent, this can assist them in identifying traffic congestion and managing it more effectively.

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India's traffic congestion levels in cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Pune were 23 per cent lower than the pre-COVID times, as per a report by TomTom Traffic Index.

Compared to 2019, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Pune saw an average decrease in congestion levels by 18 per cent, 14 per cent, and 29 per cent, respectively.

The number of most congested cities in India decreased from 13 to 6 in 2021, as per the report by TomTom (TOM2), a geolocation technology specialist. The report details traffic trends seen in 404 cities in 58 countries, throughout 2021.

The world’s most congested city in 2021 is Turkey's Istanbul, with a congestion level of 62 per cent.

During the pandemic, new mobility usages have gained popularity, e-scooter and bicycle use are increasing, supported by cycle lanes in many cities. However, while micro mobility can support inner-city mobility, most traffic pain points stem from the interurban movement. In the context of the pandemic, public transit lost much of its attractiveness as travellers favoured their private cars, seen as a safer way to maintain social distancing.

“At the heart of our location intelligence is the map. We work with big data and optimise our maps with artificial intelligence and machine learning. The real-time traffic information we collect to understand congestion patterns indicates that mobility options are rapidly changing as a part of the adaptable lifestyles resulting from the pandemic,” Sachin Tyagi, Strategic Automotive Business Development Manager, TomTom said.

He further said, “We believe that policymakers need to be cognisant of the positive change, and implement holistic norms aimed at bettering road infrastructure.”

“This will further takedown congestion levels and promote alternative sustainable transport modes, which could improve emission levels too. Adoption of better technology that utilises real-time data, bold investments, and fearless policy decisions are the key to the transformation.”

Making traffic information more readily available both to drivers and traffic authorities can help pinpoint traffic congestion bottlenecks in real-time and better manage congestion.

TomTom’s navigation software knows the traffic ahead and provides enhanced route calculations and accurate estimated times of arrival (ETA) - saving time and fuel for drivers, logistics providers, on-demand services (ride-hailing, food delivery).

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Congestion levels drop in major Indian cities: TomTom Report

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TomTom, the geolocation technology specialist, today released the 11th edition of its annual TomTom Traffic Index.

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1) The number of private automobiles on the road is rising year after year.

According to the research, up to 100,000 cars are utilized and moved on the roads practically every day, with the number increasing in the city of Delhi.

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Some of the possible major causes, effects and solutions to congestion in India. -> sources : Maps of India

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2) Road width and length are increasing at a pace of 4.53 percent every year.

It has an impact on the smoothness of the roadways owing to the imbalance caused by the growth in people. Like Delhi, its road density is roughly 155 km, with a population of 100 000 people. Thus, there are around 80 cars going every kilometre, and this number is expected to rise year after year.

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3) The average cycling time on the road is between 120 and 180 seconds.

Congestion occurs as a result of cars having to wait and line for long durations, especially at peak hours.

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The footage shows the locations of traffic congestion of Delhi in 2019. The congestion experienced may be described as terrible, with vehicles moving freely at the pleasure of the driver and without according to the rules. Cars, bicycles, motorbikes, vans, goods-carrying vehicles, and even pedestrians use the same route. With high population density, noise and smoke pollution, also vehicle movement that does not adhere to the proper system, the traffic situation appears to be critical.

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0:00 / 10:22•Watch full video

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Could You Handle This Traffic? | Delhi's Craziest Junction 🇮🇳

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4) Mixture of vehicles in traffic.

It illustrates where numerous types of vehicles, such as personal automobiles, buses, lorries, trucks, contractor vehicles, trailers, animal transport, and others share the same traffic and generate traffic congestion.

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(I) Improving Public Transportation

The government can boost the number of public vehicles such as buses and railway around the country to make it simpler for people to go around. People don't have to fight for a seat in public transportation since there are so many of them. A vehicle's capacity can comfortably carry a large number of people, making them feel comfortable and safe while travelling in it. As a result, they will have a greater effect on people to use public transportation everywhere they go. As per Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), which has given over 3500 air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned low-level buses for public usage.

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India is a country with high traffic congestion, with automobiles constantly moving. In reality, it makes India the most polluted country due to air pollution and noise from automobiles, which are common in most metropolitan areas. Studies must be conducted from the past to the present to determine how it came to be in such a horrible state as the automotive industry increases fast. After all, in this risky Covid-19 virus situation, many choose to ride in their own vehicles for their own safety.

Not only that, but the residents there are very concerned in having their own vehicle so that it is easy to go through the daily routine. Although the manufacture of electric type vehicles has been enforced to reduce the rate of pollution, yet it does not guarantee to help the problem of congestion. So, They have to find a creative way to solve it before it becomes uncontrollable in the future.

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5) Lack of public transport.

The number of public vehicles, such as buses, cannot keep up with and handle the rapid population development. As a result, individuals prefer to utilise their own automobiles.

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6) Ongoing construction activity

Construction activities that take place in various locations where it includes road paving, construction of new roads, or closure of damaged roads can be said as one of the cause to congestion traffic as they block traffic to move smoothly.

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(II) Establish a new corporation at the Terminal.

The government can create new organizations with new concepts and rules to better administer terminals such as bus or train terminals. As a result, any issues regarding public transportation may be evaluated and remedied swiftly and effectively.

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A person's productivity has decreased.

Everyone has duties and daily routines that they must confront every day, such as going to work, bringing children to school, seeing clients, and so on, so being stuck in traffic for an extended amount of time would disrupt their daily plans. They would be late to complete a work owing to the time wasted during traffic jams. As a result, their job will be disturbed, making life a little more difficult.

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(III) Infrastructure additions and upgrades

The government and those in charge should undertake efforts to expand and enhance traffic infrastructure, such as the building of new roads, bridges, lanes, and routes, as well as the widening of existing highways. This can assist vehicles in coping with congestion by allowing vehicles of all types and weights to go on their respective vehicle routes. Heavy vehicles such as lorries and light vehicles such as automobiles do not need to be on the same route because several lanes have been created for them which help ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

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Creating a dangerous driving environment in a traffic jam

Congestion causes a person to remain trapped in the flow of traffic for an extended length of time. With so many responsibilities and routines to fulfill on a daily basis, being stuck in traffic causes a person to get frustrated and irritated. As a result, it may persuade a person to disregard traffic laws in order to save time. For example, disregarding traffic signals and using emergency routes at will. Therefore, the environment of driving in traffic becomes risky since it might threaten the safety of not only ourselves but also other road users.

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(IV) Intensify the public in the use of public transport

When there is a high density of cars traveling on a road, traffic congestion develops. To minimize the number of automobiles on the road, people should make more use of public transportation. This can assist to reduce the number of cars on the road at the same time, which can help to alleviate congestion. Not only that, but it is inexpensive and convenient for a person to relocate from one location to another.

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| The Indian city of Delhi has taken steps to ensure the success of a new railway project, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The development of this RRTS would help the country by reducing pollution problems and traffic congestion. Not only that but this RRTS is reported to be capable of carrying 100,000 automobiles from the road, implying that its huge capacity can accommodate many passengers and transport them to their destination in less time. Although not a great amount in comparison to their large population, to some extent, they can cut 250 000 tones of CO2 gas emissions each year. The overall cost of this project is in the $4 billion, and it is scheduled to be finished in 2025. |

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Accidents and traffic deaths occurred

Congestion worsens the traffic environment and makes people more vulnerable. This is thought to be linked to infractions of traffic laws such as red-light violations and exceeding the speed limit. This is of major concern to the government since it is one of the primary causes of car-related road accidents, posing a hazard to life and harm to the public, which is exacerbated by India's growing population and automobile penetration. According to statistics, India has reduced road accidents and deaths by 18% and 12.8%, respectively, by 2020. Nonetheless, accidents involving red light breaches increased by 79% in 2020 as compared to 2019. The drop in 2020 is thought to be the result of the closing of COVID-19, improved traffic management, and the adoption of the new Motor Vehicles Act.

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India saw a sharp 79 per cent rise in road accident deaths due to red-light jumping in the year 2020 compared to 2019, a latest report said.

However, the number of total road accidents and the fatalities declined by 18 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively, in 2020.

Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' report 'Road Accidents in India - 2020' revealed that a total of 3,66,138 road accidents were reported across the country in the calendar year 2020, which claimed 1,31,714 lives and caused 3, 48,279 injuries.

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Out of the total road accidents in 2020, 919 were caused by jumping of traffic signal which killed 476 people, which is a significant increase from 2019, when 266 people died due to red light jumping.

Apart from red-light jumping, another category which saw a rise in fatalities was driving on the wrong side of the road.

As many as 3,099 people died in accidents due to driving on wrong side of the road in 2020 compared to 2,726 deaths in 2019.

However, the top cause of road accidents remained over speeding which led to over one lakh road accidents in 2020.

According to the report, the highest decline, of 21 percent, was recorded in fatalities due to drunken driving in 2020 with 1862 deaths compared to 2376 deaths in 2019.

The report cited COVID-19 lockdown as one of the reasons for the decline in the number of accidents and fatalities during 2020 compared to 2019.

Other factors attributed by the Indian government to the reduced number were better traffic management and implementation of the new Motor Vehicle Act.

At least one out of 10 people killed on roads across the world is from India, according to the World Health Organization and though the Indian government's report says the number has declined, it is still huge and accounts for world's 11 percent road accident fatalities.

The report said that young adults in the age group of 18 - 45 years accounted for 69 per cent of fatal road accident victims during 2020 while people in the working age group of 18 - 60 years share 87.4 per cent of total road accident fatalities.

It said that the number of road accidents has been on a decline since 2016 except for a marginal increase of 0.46 per cent in 2018.

"For the second consecutive year, the total number of road accidents fatalities has declined in 2020.

Similarly, the number of persons injured has been on the decline since 2015," it said.

The number of persons injured decreased by 22.84 per cent over previous year's average, said the report, which provides information on various facets of road accidents in the country during the calendar year 2020.

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As per the report, Indian states which achieved significant reduction in road accidents in 2020 were Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

And the states that saw a significant decline in road accident fatalities in 2020 were Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

Fatalities and injuries caused by road accidents are becoming the matters of great concern particularly with the recent surge in motorization, due to increasing population and increased vehicular penetration across the length and breadth of India.

In a bid to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities, the Indian government is now planning to use artificial intelligence powered solutions to alert drivers and avoid collisions on roads.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

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India experiences 79 per cent rise in road accident deaths due to red-light jumping in 2020

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Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways report Road Accidents in India - 2020 revealed that a total of 3,66,138 road accidents were reported across the country in the calendar year 2020, which claimed 1,31,714 lives and caused 3, 48,279 injuries.

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(V) Embrace the culture of walking or cycling when going somewhere

This type of practise should be adopted by everyone since it not only reduces congestion but also decreases the production of carbon fumes that are damaging to the environment and adds to a better lifestyle.

After all, India has invested Rs 60 crore in the building of a public cycling system, which includes 315 bicycle stations and 4500 bicycles. As a result, it was able to further create a transportation system free of the constraints and congestion that afflicted the country.

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Pollution of the environment

India's traffic congestion has had an impact on the environment. This is attributed to the car emitting smoke during acceleration and deceleration. As we all know, traffic leads us to spend 51 percent more time on the road than usual. So, according to the study, it has resulted in around 53% greater car smoke emissions that occur when dealing with traffic congestion since vehicles use a lot of energy. Carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other pollutants released by cars are examples of contaminated smoke. As a result, if no action is done, the country will experience a pretty significant greenhouse effect.

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Increasing traffic congestion in the city has not only turned into a nightmare for motorists but has also proved to be detrimental for the environment. The higher the traffic congestion, the higher is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air, finds a study 'Impact of congestion on greenhouse gas emissions for road transport in Mumbai Metropolitan Region'.

The research paper, jointly published by the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, University of Illinois at Chicago and DAV Institute of Engineering & Technology, Jalandhar, highlights the role of traffic congestion in increased fuel use and emission levels.

The researchers found carbon dioxide emissions recorded in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) could be directly linked to the traffic congestions. The survey took into consideration four major roads of Mumbai - Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Saki-Vihar Road, Western Expressway and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg.
"During congestion, vehicles spend more time on the road, idling or crawling, and undergoing numerous acceleration and deceleration events and may possibly lead to an increase in emissions.

The spectacular growth in traffic and the resulting congestion not only causes reduced mobility, but can also increase the emissions of pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds or hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other pollutants associated with vehicles," the researchers explained.
The study has also quantified the delay caused by vehicular congestion on roads.

Based on the survey of the four roads, the researchers found that vehicles inMMR take approximately 51 per cent more time to complete a trip under congested conditions as compared to free-flow conditions. "It indicated that the around 51 per cent more travel time under congested conditions could be significantly responsible towards the 53 per cent more carbon dioxide emissions from the fuel consumption method, as vehicles consumed more fuel under the congested conditions without any significant addition in Vehicle Kilometre Travelled," said the researchers.

"The relationship obtained in this study between congestion and increase in greenhouse gas emissions may be of significance to the policymakers and urban planners to roughly arrive at an estimate of the contribution of congestion to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions," the research says.

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More the traffic congestion, more the amount of carbon emitted

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Increasing traffic congestion in the city has not only turned into a nightmare for motorists but has also proved to be detrimental for the environment. The higher the traffic congestion, the higher is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air, finds a study 'Impact of congestion on greenhouse gas emissions for road transport in Mumbai Metropolitan Region'.

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| Residents of Ahmedabad are attempting to boost their usage of e-trishaws and public bicycle sharing systems in order to move around the city, as there are more public buses that cannot cover all locations. So, in order to entice people to take public transportation, they may use this way to get anywhere. Surprisingly, the system garnered a massive response from the general public.

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Eco India: Why Ahmedabad is turning to bicycles to ease traffic congestion

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(VI) Developing an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)

The government can improve the transportation system by incorporating Intelligent Transport System (ITS), which is a road transportation application that uses sensors, analysis, control, and communication technology to achieve traffic efficiency, reduce congestion, control environmental degradation, energy savings, reduce travel time, passenger safety, and improve travel comfort.

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People prefer to utilize this system since the bikes provided are highly user-friendly, with baskets to carry things, and are easy to discover and operate. They just open the app, scan the QR code, and paddle to their desired location. They will either carry on to their location or will stop at the nearby bus station and take the bus all the way there. As a result, it can limit the number of cars driving at the same time as well as the rate of smoke emissions, which can produce pollution. |

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Fuel wastage

<- Vehicles used in India are usually fuel-consuming vehicles. So, if there is a traffic jam and a person is delayed in a car for an extended period of time, it will waste vehicle fuel since it would burn nearly one and a half times more gasoline per kilometer than regular road flow. As a result, the car will run out of gasoline sooner than under typical conditions. As a result, more money is required to ensure that the vehicle's fuel supply is always enough.

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If you drive a car in Delhi and its suburbs then bad and crowded roads are burning a big hole in your pocket.

An ongoing study on how much fuel is wasted because of potholed roads and bad traffic has found that vehicles travelling on "average", crowded roads consumed nearly one-and-a-half time more fuel per kilometre compared to "good", fuel-efficient roads.

The figure is expected to rise to three times during the next phase of the study to be conducted on inferior road stretches.The study, commissioned in May, released its preliminary findings last week involving a Sports Utility Vehicle with a mileage of 10 -12 km/litre.

Subsequent tests will be conducted with small cars and loaded and empty trucks. The findings use a three-tier grading system to assess road conditions. Traffic congestion is also a parameter.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) conducted the study.

It was found that an SUV consumed about 40.25 millilitres of fuel per kilometre when it travelled on the Noida Expressway, considered a good, fuel-efficient road.

The same vehicle consumed about 95.5 millilitres of fuel for every kilometre when travelling from Noida Expressway to Kalindi Kunj and onto Jasola.

The consumption was even higher at 137.2 millilitres per km when the vehicle travelled from Botanical Garden to Kailash Hospital in Noida.

"The initial findings of the study conducted on two road stretches in Delhi have revealed that Delhiites could be consuming at least two-to-three times more fuel because of bad quality roads and traffic conditions," said Ravindra Kumar, principal scientist of CRRI's transport and planning division.

"The result is they end up paying more."

A preliminary estimate puts the wastage across India at Rs 960 crore a day. Although the extra expense incurred by an individual driver might not ring alarm bells, the cumulative wastage would be an added burden on India's oil imports bill.

The initial study was carried out on more than 600 km of the best roads in Delhi and its suburbs such as the Yamuna Expressway, Delhi Gurgaon Expressway and NH24 to collect the baseline data - the best fuel-efficient roads.

"Now we are driving the same vehicles on various roads of Delhi to find out how much extra fuel they consume," Kumar said.

"Some of the roads that we have selected are Peeragarhi to Najafgarh, Kalindi Kunj to Jaitpur Extension and Mayur Vihar Ext to Trilok Puri among others."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

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How bad roads, traffic jams make you spend one-and-half times extra on fuel

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A CSIR-CRRI study finds driving a car on bad and crowded roads is burning a big hole in your pocket in Delhi and its suburbs even as a preliminary estimate puts the wastage on fuel expenses at Rs 960 crore a day across India