Delhi Faces Growing Traffic Woes Amid Urban Growth
Delhi’s notorious traffic congestion is a longstanding problem, worsened by the rapid expansion of the city’s population and vehicle numbers. As the city’s population skyrocketed over the past two decades, so did the number of registered vehicles. The Delhi Transport Department now reports more than 1.3 crore vehicles on its roads. This number, staggering as it may seem, only exacerbates the city’s already strained infrastructure, with road networks struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for space.
One of the core reasons for the persistent traffic gridlocks is the unplanned urban expansion that Delhi has seen over the years. Along with the boom in population, the city has also experienced a significant rise in the number of office hubs in areas like Gurgaon, Noida, and Connaught Place. These corridors, including the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, Noida Link Road, and Ring Road, were initially designed to handle high vehicular loads. Yet, they now often buckle under the pressure, unable to effectively manage the rising tide of commuters. Despite boasting one of the largest public transportation systems in India, including the Delhi Metro, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, and cluster buses, Delhi’s public transport remains an inefficient and unreliable option for many residents. The Metro, which was heralded as a game-changer when it launched in 2002, now finds itself at full capacity during peak hours. The network, which spans over 390 kilometers, covers much of the city, but overcrowding on metro trains, particularly those running from Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad, has made commuting an uncomfortable experience for many. For those relying on DTC buses, the situation is just as grim. Poor maintenance, delays, and limited coverage mean these buses have lost their appeal as a dependable mode of transport.
In response to these growing issues, the Delhi government has taken steps to address the shortcomings in the public transport system. The government’s ambitious plan to introduce 1,500 new electric buses as part of the 100-day action plan, which will be equipped with real-time tracking, aims to ease congestion and improve waiting times. However, long-term solutions, like the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, which could speed up bus services, have not been pursued with the same vigour after previous failures.
Another persistent problem is last-mile connectivity, which remains a significant hurdle for many public transport users. While auto-rickshaws and bike taxis should ideally bridge this gap, they are often either too expensive or unwilling to take short-distance fares. This leaves many commuters to either walk long distances or rely on shared e-rickshaws, which remain unregulated and inconsistent. The previous AAP government had initiated the “Mohalla Bus” project to deploy mini feeder buses to tackle this issue, but the project has been shelved since the change in administration. Additionally, road conditions in Delhi continue to deteriorate. Encroachments, illegal parking, and haphazard driving practices are just some of the issues that add to the already dire traffic situation. The lack of lane discipline means that even minor disruptions in traffic flow can result in major bottlenecks, further delaying commuters. According to Delhi Traffic Police, road rage and accidents surge during peak hours, primarily driven by impatience and stress.
The government has acknowledged the need for urgent action and is working towards alleviating these issues with a range of measures, including widening and upgrading key road arteries. A massive Rs 51,000 crore has been allocated to improve road infrastructure, which will hopefully ease some of the traffic woes in the future. However, even with these interventions, the sheer volume of vehicles on the road continues to pose a significant challenge to Delhi’s efforts to combat congestion and pollution. In 2024, a study revealed that an average of over 6,44,000 vehicles were removed from Delhi’s roads daily as part of traffic management strategies. Moreover, the Delhi Traffic Police has identified several critical spots experiencing severe congestion and road damage, pushing for urgent repairs and construction work. But with the population continuing to grow and vehicles increasing at an unsustainable rate, the road to solving Delhi’s traffic woes appears long and fraught with challenges.
