Reduced traffic, EVs and bicycles preferred: TomTom Report

NEW DELHI: India’s traffic congestion levels in places like Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Pune were 23 per cent lower than before the COVID- 19, found a survey by TomTom Traffic Index. The average congestion levels in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Pune decreased by 18 per cent, 14 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively, in comparison to 2019. According to a survey by TomTom (TOM2), a geolocation technology company, India’s most crowded cities reduced from 13 to 6 in 2021. Throughout 2021, the research examined traffic trends in 404 cities across 58 nations. Istanbul, Turkey will be the world’s most congested city in 2021, with a congestion level of 62 per cent.

New modes of transportation have gained popularity as a result of the pandemic; e-scooters and bicycles are becoming more popular, aided by cycle lanes in several cities. While micro-mobility can help with inter-city movement, inter-urban traffic is the source of the majority of traffic congestion. During the pandemic, public transportation lost a lot of its appeal as people preferred to drive their own automobiles, which they saw as a safer way to preserve social distance.

According to Sachin Tyagi, Strategic Automotive Business Development Manager, TomTom, the real-time traffic information collected to identify congestion patterns reveals that mobility alternatives are rapidly shifting as a part of the adaptive lifestyles arising from the pandemic. “We feel that authorities must be aware of the good development and promote holistic guidelines targeted at improving the road infrastructure,” he added.

He opined that this will help to reduce traffic congestion and promote alternative sustainable transportation modes, which may help to reduce emissions as well. The key to change is the adoption of better technology that uses real-time data, bold investments, and bold policy decisions. Making traffic information more accessible to both drivers and traffic authorities can aid in the real-time detection and management of traffic congestion bottlenecks. For truckers, logistics providers, and on-demand services, TomTom’s navigation software anticipates traffic and provides enhanced route calculations and precise anticipated times of arrival, saving time and fuel (ride-hailing, food delivery).