Mumbai’s Roads Clogged by Private Vehicles, BEST Buses Lag

Mumbai’s roads are increasingly choked by private vehicles, with two-wheelers and cars comprising nearly 88% of the city’s 50.54 lakh vehicles, while public transport buses account for less than 1%, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Environment Status Report 2024-25. The city’s vehicle population surged from 45.37 lakh in 2023 to 50.54 lakh by March 2025, driven by a 6.2% rise in new registrations, totaling 2.94 lakh vehicles between April 2024 and March 2025.

The report details that two-wheelers dominate at 59.34% (30 lakh vehicles), followed by cars, jeeps, and station wagons at 28.72% (14.52 lakh). Autorickshaws (5.02%), taxis (3.27%), goods vehicles (0.42%), tractors/trailers (0.02%), and other vehicles (2.72%) make up the rest. Among new registrations, 60.87% were two-wheelers, 23.94% cars, 6.26% taxis, 3.06% autorickshaws, 4.43% goods vehicles, and a mere 0.73% buses. A Municipal Corporation report notes private cars contribute 41% to traffic congestion, two-wheelers 29.1%, and buses just 2%.

Fuel-wise, 78.79% (39.83 lakh) of vehicles run on petrol, 11.15% (5.63 lakh) on diesel, 8.62% (4.36 lakh) on CNG, with only 48,854 electric vehicles (EVs) and 11,418 LPG vehicles. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) operates 2,731 buses, including 612 owned and 2,119 wet-leased, with 91% being eco-friendly CNG or electric. The report projects a fully electric BEST fleet by 2027, reducing CO2 emissions by 3,18,296 tonnes annually.

Also Read: Maharashtra Approves Thane-NMIA Elevated Road, Metro Line 11

Urban transport experts attribute the private vehicle surge to stagnant public transport infrastructure, with Mumbai’s 21.6 buses per lakh residents falling far below the Union Ministry’s benchmark of 60. Social media posts on X, like from @joshinishith8, highlight the strain, noting, “Mumbai has 21 buses per 1 lakh people, ideal is 60.” Calls for dedicated bus lanes and a fleet expansion to 6,000 buses are growing to ease congestion and pollution.

Also Read: Kolkata Police File Charges in Law College Gang-Rape Case