Bengaluru no more the most congested city in India; This city tops the list

Kolkata has overtaken Bengaluru to become India's most congested city according to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index. It is the world's second slowest moving city trailing only behind Barranquilla. Bengaluru and Pune follow at third and fourth spots, respectively. Dutch technology firm TomTom annually evaluates traffic conditions in major cities worldwide.

Kolkata's average speed was 17.4 kmph, taking 34 minutes and 33 seconds to complete 10 kms. Bengaluru drivers took 34 minutes and 10 seconds to complete a similar journey. Commuters in Pune took 33 minutes and 22 seconds to travel 10 kms on an average.

What the Tom Tom traffic index said?

The Tom Tom traffic index revealed that 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. London, the first European city on the list, ranked fifth.

Other top congested cities in India are Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai, with average travel times of 32 minutes, 30 minutes, and 29 minutes for a 10 km journey, respectively.


Cities including 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 23 minutes for 10 km.

Tom Tom Traffic Index criteria

The TomTom Traffic Index used a comprehensive methodology, incorporating data from over 458 billion miles of driving across 500 cities in 62 countries.

The report analysed both static and dynamic factors to observe 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Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom, said outdated infrastructure, inefficient road planning, and the growing demands of urbanisation have increased traffic congestion.