Hyderabad News: Hyderabad is fast closing in on an alarming milestone, its vehicle population is almost matching its human population. With nearly 86 lakh vehicles on its roads against an estimated 98 lakh residents in 2025, the city is battling severe traffic congestion, pollution, and pressure on infrastructure.
Already holding the record for the highest vehicle density in India, Hyderabad has over 9,000 vehicles per kilometre on major roads. Six years ago, this figure stood at 6,500 per km, as per a TOI report. Today, it has surged to nearly 9,500 per km, representing a sharp 40% increase. The city’s 900-km main road network is buckling under the weight of a vehicle population that continues to grow relentlessly, with 1,500-2,000 new registrations added every single day.
According to the regional transport authority (RTA), personal vehicles overwhelmingly dominate the city’s roads. Of the total 86 lakh vehicles, about 63 lakh are two-wheelers and 16 lakh are cars. Together, they account for more than 90% of traffic. On average, cars contribute nearly 2,000 vehicles per km while two-wheelers add close to 8,000, leaving little room for smooth movement.
Metro Overcrowding and Poor Alternatives
Experts warn that if the present trend continues, Hyderabad will cross the 1 crore vehicle mark by 2027-28. This would not only choke its roads further but also push pollution levels higher. Public transport, once considered a solution, is also struggling.
TS Reddy, a retired official from the Central Road Research Institute and a transport planning expert, said, “The city’s road and public transport infrastructure are struggling to keep up with the rapidly growing vehicle population. The Metro, once seen as a reliable alternative, is now plagued by overcrowding during peak hours. Trains operating between 8.30 am and 10.30 am are consistently overloaded, reflecting poor capacity planning and inadequate management.” in the report.
Why the Problem Persists
Reddy further added, “For any major city, effective peak-hour management is crucial, but Hyderabad currently lacks systems to regulate demand or ensure commuter comfort. Beyond public transport, private vehicle usage continues to rise unchecked. The absence of strong policies on second-vehicle ownership has worsened congestion and pollution. The govt must consider restrictions on multiple-vehicle ownership. Parking is another neglected aspect of urban mobility. Commercial complexes are often approved without adequate parking provisions, leading to the spillover of vehicles onto already congested roads.”
The scale of the problem becomes clearer when compared to the rest of Telangana. The state’s entire 26,000 km road network supports about 1.7 crore registered vehicles, translating to just 653 vehicles per km, a figure dwarfed by Hyderabad’s crushing 9,500 per km.
Experts Call for Urgent Measures
Urban planners stress that without urgent intervention, Hyderabad will face even longer commute times, higher fuel consumption, and declining air quality. Suggestions include stronger policies on vehicle ownership, investment in metro expansion, improved bus services, and travel demand management strategies such as carpooling and ride-sharing.
For a city with an estimated population of 98.4 lakh in 2025, and a metro population crossing 1.12 crore, Hyderabad’s traffic woes are now as large as its numbers.