Hyderabad: The city, already grappling with the highest vehicle density in India — over 9,000 vehicles per kilometre on major roads — is fast approaching the 90 lakh vehicle mark as registrations continue to surge. Hyderabad’s 900-km main road network now bears the weight of more than 86 lakh vehicles, turning daily commuting into an increasingly difficult ordeal.Over the past six years, vehicle density has risen by nearly 40%. In 2019, there were approximately 6,500 vehicles per km; today, that figure has climbed to nearly 9,500 per km, placing immense pressure on the city’s already limited road infrastructure.According to the regional transport authority (RTA), personal vehicles dominate Hyderabad’s roads. Of the total, around 63 lakh are two-wheelers and 16 lakh are cars, together accounting for more than 90% of all traffic. Cars alone contribute approximately 2,000 vehicles per km, while two-wheelers add nearly 8,000 per km, both playing a major role in the city’s worsening congestion.Every day, between 1,500 and 2,000 new vehicles are registered, exacerbating the crisis. Experts warn that if current trends continue, Hyderabad could surpass the 1 crore vehicle mark by 2027–28. This would not only lead to even more severe traffic jams but also worsen air pollution, already one of the city’s most pressing environmental concerns.In contrast, the entire state road network of 26,000 km supports over 1.7 crore registered vehicles, equating to a density of just 653 vehicles per km. This stark difference highlights Hyderabad’s disproportionately high traffic burden compared to the rest of Telangana.Experts stress that without immediate intervention, the city’s traffic problems will intensify, resulting in longer commute times, increased fuel consumption, and deteriorating air quality. They recommend that the govt adopt travel demand management strategies, such as promoting carpooling and ride-sharing, to reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads. Strengthening public transport infrastructure, particularly the metro and bus services, is also critical to offering reliable alternatives.TS Reddy, a retired official from the Central Road Research Institute and a transport planning expert, said that the city’s road and public transport infrastructure are struggling to keep up with the rapidly growing vehicle population. The Metro, once seen as a reliable alternative, is now plagued by overcrowding during peak hours. Trains operating between 8.30 am and 10.30 am are consistently overloaded, reflecting poor capacity planning and inadequate management, he noted.“For any major city, effective peak-hour management is crucial, but Hyderabad currently lacks systems to regulate demand or ensure commuter comfort. Beyond public transport, private vehicle usage continues to rise unchecked. The absence of strong policies on second-vehicle ownership has worsened congestion and pollution. The govt must consider restrictions on multiple-vehicle ownership. Parking is another neglected aspect of urban mobility. Commercial complexes are often approved without adequate parking provisions, leading to the spillover of vehicles onto already congested roads,” Reddy added.
