Traffic Congestion Emerging As Economic, Public Health Concerns, Says Raghav Chadha

Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha on Friday flagged traffic congestion in India’s metro cities not merely as an economic burden but as an emerging public health concern, linking prolonged hours on the road to rising stress, mental fatigue, and increased exposure to air pollution.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha called for the creation of a National Urban Decongestion Mission (NUDM), underlining that the impact of traffic jams extends well beyond time loss and productivity, affecting both the physical and mental well-being of commuters.

Describing the daily commute in major cities as increasingly exhausting, Chadha said traffic congestion has turned urban centres into “giant parking lots,” where people spend hours sitting in vehicles, often under stressful and unhealthy conditions.

Highlighting congestion hotspots across cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, and Chennai, he pointed to stretches such as Ring Road and Ashram Chowk in Delhi, Silk Board Junction in Bengaluru, and Andheri and Bandra in Mumbai as chronic bottlenecks.

He noted that commuters are often forced to remain stationary for long periods, sometimes attending office meetings from their cars. “You do not feel like you are on a road; it feels like a parking lot,” he said.

Citing data, Chadha said an average commuter spends between 100 and 168 hours annually stuck in traffic, with Bengaluru recording the highest delays, followed by Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai. “These are not commuting hours, but hours lost sitting still,” he remarked.

From a health perspective, experts point out that prolonged exposure to traffic congestion can have multiple adverse effects. Long hours of sitting in vehicles contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders. At the same time, constant exposure to vehicular emissions raises the risk of respiratory illnesses, particularly in cities already grappling with high pollution levels.

Equally significant is the mental health impact. Daily exposure to traffic congestion has been linked to heightened stress, irritability, anxiety, and fatigue. The uncertainty of travel time, combined with noise pollution and overcrowding, can contribute to chronic psychological strain.

Chadha emphasised that these factors collectively lead to a deterioration in quality of life. “The consequences go beyond time loss—they include stress, frustration, and declining well-being,” he said.

He also warned that the situation could worsen, noting that nearly 2.5 crore new vehicles were registered in the country last year, most of them private vehicles. This rapid increase, he said, is likely to intensify congestion and its associated health impacts.

Calling for urgent intervention, Chadha urged the government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue. He proposed the creation of a National Urban Decongestion Mission focused on strengthening public transport, improving traffic management through technology, and implementing a scientific parking policy.

Public health experts have long argued that urban planning and transport policies must incorporate health considerations. Reduced congestion, they note, can lower air pollution levels, encourage active mobility such as walking and cycling, and improve overall well-being.

“If our cities remain stuck in traffic, the health of our people will suffer alongside economic growth,” Chadha said, stressing that addressing congestion is essential not just for mobility, but for building healthier cities.