On average, Bengaluru added more than 60,000 vehicles a month or nearly 2,000 vehicles a day in 2024-25.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Bengaluru added 7.22 lakh new vehicles in 2024-25 — 4.68 lakh two-wheelers and 1.45 lakh cars — further burdening the city's already congested road network. More than half of all cars in Karnataka were registered in Bengaluru alone.
Total vehicle registrations in Bengaluru have reached 1.23 crore, up 6.5% from 1.16 crore in 2023-24. This number was 1.09 crore in 2022-23, 1.04 crore in 2021-22 and one crore in 2020-21.
On average, Bengaluru added more than 60,000 vehicles a month or nearly 2,000 vehicles a day in 2024-25. In absolute numbers, most vehicles were registered in October (76,509), mainly due to festive-season sales. December saw the fewest vehicle registrations at 42,520.
The latest data from the Transport Department underscores the high traffic congestion in a city bursting at its seams without a comprehensive public transport system.
While vehicle numbers continue to rise, the city's road infrastructure hasn't kept pace. With just 15,000 km of roads, vehicle density has jumped from 761 vehicles per km in 2023-24 to 823 vehicles per km in 2024-25. In other words, more vehicles are now jostling for the same road space than ever before.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy acknowledged the issue but stated that it was for the state Cabinet to decide on the necessary interventions.
"There is no denying that traffic congestion is increasing in Bengaluru. We need to evaluate what measures can be taken... whether it's widening roads, imposing parking charges or introducing an odd-even rule," he told DH.
The data also reflects the stark economic divide between Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka.
Total vehicle registrations across the state stood at 3.34 crore in 2024-25, 3.16 crore in 2023-24, 2.98 crore in 2022-23, 2.84 crore in 2021-22 and 2.72 crore in 2020-21. Bengaluru alone accounted for over a third.
Cars make up more than 20% of vehicles in the city, compared to just 15% statewide. While the state had 49.16 lakh cars, Bengaluru alone had 25.37 lakh cars. In short, every fifth vehicle registered in Bengaluru is a car.
This is despite car registrations actually slowing in Bengaluru (5% in 2024-25 vs 7% in 2023-24).
Independent mobility expert Satya Arikutharam, who has worked with the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), urged the government to spread economic development beyond Bengaluru.
"More than 50% of Karnataka's cars are in Bengaluru. Everything shouldn't be in Bengaluru. It's not sustainable. The government is accelerating car growth by promoting tunnel roads and flyovers while delaying metro and suburban rail projects," he stated.
Arikutharam added that congestion and parking charges could be considered but only after ensuring a reliable and efficient public transport system.