The infamous traffic in metro cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi has now reached Parliament, thanks to AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who demanded better public transport to curb the problem.
A Rajya Sabha member from Punjab from the Aam Aadmi Party noted on Friday that commuters in these cities remain stuck in traffic for at least 100 hours a year – “Not commuting. Just sitting.”
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“Giant Parking Lot”
Sharing an excerpt from his speech in Parliament on X, the AAP MP said, “Traffic has turned our metro cities into giant parking lots with people trapped inside.
“In Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai, commuters spend an average of 100 to 168 hours a year stuck in traffic. Not commuting. Just sitting,” he pointed out, referring to the TomTom Traffic Index 2025.
According to the index, Bengaluru is second globally with 168 hours and Pune is fifth with 158 hours, underscoring a 74% increase in travel time over free flow conditions. Delhi commuters spend 104 hours a year in traffic.
Chadha stressed that every hour lost “is an hour India cannot get back. Lost productivity, wasted fuel, polluted air, damaged quality of life.”
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What did Raghav Chadha demand?
To tackle the traffic woes in these metropolitan cities, Raghav Chadha called for a “National Urban Decongestion Mission” – better public transport, smarter traffic management and scientific parking policies to curb the $20-30 billion annual economic losses from idling vehicles and reduced productivity, according to the World Bank’s Urban Mobility Study.
“We’re not stuck in traffic. We’re stuck because of it. And if India wants its economy in the fast lane, our cities have to get moving,” he said.
Watch Raghav Chadha’s speech in Parliament here:
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A major traffic jam disrupted traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Lonavala on Thursday morning, leaving vehicles at a crawl for several kilometres.
In cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai, congestion during morning and evening peak hours is very common. Even short distances during peak hours take hours.
Traffic conditions in these cities worsen in the monsoons when roads are flooded with rainwater.
Health effects of being stuck in traffic jams
Gridlock is more than just a test of your patience; it is a physiological stress test. When you idle in traffic, your health is affected in three main ways:
Respiratory and cardiovascular damage: You are breathing concentrated exhaust emissions, including nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. This exposure triggers systemic inflammation, which is linked to an increased risk of asthma, stroke and heart disease.
Stress spike: The “micro-stressors” of irregular braking and the feeling of being “trapped” cause cortisol and adrenaline to rise. Over time, this chronic “commuting strain” contributes to high blood pressure and mental burnout.
Physical tolls: Prolonged sitting in a confined, vibrating environment leads to musculoskeletal problems, specifically chronic lower back and neck pain.
