Hyderabad traffic congestion eases in 2025
HYDERABAD: Despite rising vehicle numbers, encroachments and weak road discipline, traffic congestion in the city has eased in 2025 compared with 2024, according to a global survey by international mobility analytics firm TomTom.
Congestion drops; average speed improves
The congestion index for the city fell by 16 percentage points year-on-year. The average vehicle speed during normal hours stood at 18.4 kmph, dropping to 16.1 kmph during peak hours.
Global ranking improves in 2025
The survey covered 500 cities across 62 countries, analysing population, vehicle density, road infrastructure and traffic management. Hyderabad was ranked 47th globally in 2025. A lower rank indicates worse congestion levels.
Bengaluru tops congestion list
Because of severe traffic snarls, Bengaluru ranked first globally for congestion. In Hyderabad, a 10-km road journey continues to take a significant amount of time despite the improvement.
Traffic expert R Prabhakar Kala said average speed alone should not be used to judge traffic management. Road width, junction design and enforcement levels also play a critical role in determining congestion.
The survey estimated that commuters in Hyderabad lose about 123 working hours every year due to traffic delays.
August 30 was identified as the city’s worst traffic day in 2025. On that day, a vehicle that usually covers 4.6 km in 15 minutes could manage only 3.3 km. Severe congestion was recorded in areas including Begumpet, Somajiguda, Panjagutta, Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar and surrounding localities.
