Indian Cities with the Slowest Traffic in 2024-25
Traffic congestion in major cities across India has worsened significantly in recent years. Along with rapid urbanization, the problem of traffic jams has escalated, forcing people in big cities to spend hours traveling just a few kilometers. This issue causes immense distress for daily commuters.
Globally, traffic congestion is not limited to India. Many large cities worldwide face similar challenges. Increased travel times reduce productivity and contribute to mental stress among citizens. According to TomTom’s Traffic Index 2024, 76% of cities worldwide experienced a decrease in average traffic speeds over the past year.
The road infrastructure, including highways, main roads, narrow roads, one-way streets, and junctions, plays a significant role in traffic flow. Unexpected incidents on these roads often disrupt traffic, leading to slower speeds.
Global Traffic Congestion
Barranquilla, Colombia, had the slowest average traffic speed worldwide in 2024, with an average speed of just 10.3 miles per hour. Traveling six miles took nearly 35 minutes.
London, once ranked the slowest city, slipped to fifth place in the global and European rankings, with an average speed of 11.2 mph. Cities like Dublin, Milan, and Toronto also reported similar statistics.
The Situation in India
Indian cities are among the most congested in the world, with citizens spending hours daily in traffic jams. Notably, three Indian cities ranked among the top five slowest globally, as per the TomTom Traffic Index 2024.
Bengaluru, the IT capital of India, is notorious for its traffic woes. The average time to travel 10 kilometers in Bengaluru increased by 50 seconds compared to 2023. Currently, it takes 34 minutes and 10 seconds to cover this distance. Kolkata, however, surpassed Bengaluru, with an average of 34 minutes and 33 seconds for the same distance. Pune ranks fourth globally, taking 33 minutes and 27 seconds to travel 10 kilometers.
Which City in India Has the Slowest Traffic?
Here is the ranking of Indian cities with the slowest traffic, according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2024:
| Rank | World Rank | City | State | Average Travel Time per 10 km | Time Lost per Year During Rush Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Kolkata | West Bengal | 34 minutes 33 seconds | 110 hours |
| 2 | 3 | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 34 minutes 10 seconds | 117 hours |
| 3 | 4 | Pune | Maharashtra | 33 minutes 27 seconds | 108 hours |
| 4 | 18 | Hyderabad | Telangana | 31 minutes 30 seconds | 85 hours |
| 5 | 31 | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 30 minutes 20 seconds | 94 hours |
| 6 | 39 | Mumbai | Maharashtra | 29 minutes 26 seconds | 103 hours |
| 7 | 43 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 29 minutes 3 seconds | 73 hours |
| 8 | 50 | Ernakulam | Kerala | 28 minutes 30 seconds | 88 hours |
| 9 | 52 | Jaipur | Rajasthan | 28 minutes 28 seconds | 83 hours |
| 10 | 122 | New Delhi | Delhi | 23 minutes 24 seconds | 76 hours |
Source: TomTom Traffic Index
Note: The TomTom Traffic Index rankings are based on the average travel time for each 10-kilometer distance, providing an estimate of traffic congestion in these cities.
