Post-Cov traffic speed up a little, thanks to influx of 2-wheelers, autos
Times of India | 4 June 2025
123 Kolkata: A comprehensive speed-mapping study revealed a modest rise in Kolkata's vehicular speed from 2020 to 2025, primarily due to the rise in two-wheelers. While peripheral corridors such as VIP Road and Diamond Harbour Road saw significant improvements, they were less pronounced in the inner-city areas like Esplanade, Vivekananda Road and Dum Dum Road that continued to suffer chronic congestion. The study calls for urgent interventions to prioritise public transport and promote non-motorised mobility.The five-year study, covering peak hours (9-11 am and 5-7 pm), attributes much of the speed increase to a surge in use of two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws. These modes continue to outperform others in congested zones, although their growing dominance raises critical concerns around safety, regulation, and sustainability."Kolkata's car addiction is suffocating our city and our children. Our study shows that cycles now outperform cars and taxis on 40% of major routes, reaching speeds of 21 km/h, while private vehicles average 7 km/h. This isn't just congestion, it's a public health emergency," said Vinay Jaju of SwitchON Foundation.Despite a modest recovery in select corridors, public buses remain the slowest mode, averaging between 10-15 km/h in most central zones. Stretches like Dum Dum Road and Deshpran Sasmal Road show declining bus speeds due to signal delays, lack of dedicated lanes, and heavy mixed traffic. Bus speeds on Prince Anwar Shah Road improved marginally from 13 km/h (2020) to 14 km/h (2025). Rashbehari Avenue saw better gains, from 10 km/h to 15 km/h over the same period. In contrast, Dum Dum Road regressed from 16 km/h to 10 km/h, pointing to worsening bottlenecks.Autos and motorcycles dominate in performance. On VIP Road, auto speeds surged from 20 km/h (2020) to 34.2 km/h (2025). Motorcycles averaged 27.4 km/h, maintaining the top spot across most years. In inner-city zones, speeds for these modes drop due to signal density and encroachments. Yet, this performance edge comes at a cost: a lack of regulatory oversight, rising accident risks, and marginalisation of safer and more equitable transport modes like buses and cycles.Corridors such as VIP Road and Diamond Harbour Road show remarkable improvements, thanks to wider carriageways and signal coordination. In contrast, mixed-use and high-footfall zones like Esplanade, Vivekananda Road, and Bhowanipore remain sluggish. VIP Road average speed (2025) is 25 km/h overall, with motorcycles at 27.4 km/h, taxis at 22 km/h, and autos peaking at 34.2 km/h. On Vivekananda Road, public transport speed remains stagnant at 11 km/h, barely up from 9 km/h in 2020.The report urges Kolkata civic administration and transport authorities to implement dedicated bus lanes and adaptive signal systems, create a cycle-only street network and protected pedestrian pathways. The study also calls for behavioural shifts among citizens and authorities alike, emphasising a need for a people-centric mobility strategy that prioritises access, equity, and sustainability. "Kolkata is at an inflection point. Without bold, targeted interventions, the city risks locking itself into a future of gridlock and environmental decline," warns the report.