Indian Roads 149 Percent More Congested Than Other Asian Cities

Indian roads are expected to get even more congested with 89 percent of people planning to buy a car in the next five years.

(Photo: AP)

Indian cities are a whopping 149 percent more congested that other Asian cities. According to a survey by the Boston Consulting Group, it is likely to get more congested, as up to 89 percent of people plan to buy a car in the next five years.

Not so easy to navigate on Indian roads? Here’s why!

The 40-page report commissioned by Uber highlights the potential of ride sharing across the country. Titled 'Unlocking Cities: The impact of ride sharing across India', the report was commissioned to understand the benefits for ride sharing in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore.

For over nine years now, Uber has been a pioneer in ride sharing, globally. Closer home, we continue to be at the forefront when it comes to unlocking the true potential of ride sharing for India. Through this study, we are hoping to draw the attention of administrators and urban planners on how shared cars and mobility can be part of the solution vs individual car ownership.

Amit Jain, President, Uber India and South Asia 

Over 79 percent of the people interviewed for the report said that they would refrain from buying a car if ride sharing is found to be as convenient and affordable as car ownership.

Cost of congestion is alarmingly high across Indian cities. We need to creatively think about increasing public transport usage and network, while managing private transport growth. On-demand ride sharing is a practical way to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road and reduce congestion. It is important to encourage this proactively.

Suresh Subudhi, Partner, BCG

The study found that on an average, ride-share vehicles deliver 1.4-3.3 times more passenger-kilometres compared to private vehicles.

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