India’s bustling cities are no strangers to traffic snarls, and a recent study by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) sheds light on just how sluggish traffic can be in some of the country’s urban centres. According to the report titled ‘The Fast, the Slow and the Congested: Urban Transportation in Rich And Poor Countries,’ which examined over 1,200 cities across 152 countries, three Indian cities have found their place among the world’s 10 slowest in terms of traffic speeds.
Bhiwandi, Kolkata, and Arrah
India’s Slowest Cities Leading the pack is Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, ranked as the fifth slowest city globally with a traffic speed index of -0.48. Despite being known as the “City of Joy,” Kolkata appears to have a rather joyless experience in store for its drivers, as the city takes the sixth spot with a -0.47 index. Bihar’s Arrah follows closely as the seventh slowest city with an index of -0.44. Mumbai and Bengaluru also make appearances on the list, ranked 13th and 19th, respectively.
Global Congestion Woes
India isn’t alone in grappling with traffic congestion. Other Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, also find themselves on the list of the world’s most congested, ranking 20th, 13th, and 8th, respectively. Surprisingly, major global metropolises like London and New York also face significant congestion challenges, ranking at 18th and 12th, respectively.
Rich vs. Poor Countries
A Speed Divide The study reveals an interesting correlation between a country’s economic status and its urban traffic speed. It notes that national income per capita largely explains the variation in traffic speed across countries. In wealthier nations, urban travel tends to be approximately 50% faster than in less affluent counterparts.
One key factor contributing to this disparity is the availability of major roads and wider land areas in wealthier nations. These factors boost uncongested traffic speed rather than reducing congestion itself. Richer countries tend to invest more in efficient road infrastructure and have lower population density due to increased tax revenues, which fund road development and housing consumption alike.
US Dominates the Fast Lane
Remarkably, the top 18 fastest cities in terms of traffic speed are all located in the United States, with one lone Canadian city making the cut. Flint, Greensboro, and Wichita, all in the US, occupy the top three positions for the fastest cities globally.