Over 3,000 new vehicles hit Telangana roads daily as public transport takes backseat
Hyderabad: In the wake of inadequate public transport systems, poor last-mile connectivity, and commuters' preference for personal vehicles, Telangana is witnessing rapid growth in vehicle registrations, with the state recording more than 3,000 new private vehicles daily on its road network.
According to data from the regional transport authority (RTA), Telangana added nearly one million vehicles to its roads over the past year. The total number of vehicles increased from 1.63 crore at the end of the 2023–24 financial year to 1.73 crore by March 31 this year. If that were not enough, the state has added as many as 30 lakh vehicles over the past four years.
Of the total 1.73 crore vehicles, Greater Hyderabad accounts for half, with approximately 85 lakh vehicles.
The city's vehicular population has seen massive growth, rising from 25 lakh vehicles twelve years ago. By 2018, private vehicles (two-wheelers and four-wheelers) had reached 50 lakh in the city, with the number of cars exceeding 10 lakh in the same year.
"Telangana has been recording sustained growth in vehicle numbers over the years. The development of quality infrastructure, along with the state's emergence as a major IT hub, has facilitated this increase.
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With the city's expansion, there has also been significant migration. A few years ago, daily vehicle registrations stood at around 1,000, but these figures have steadily risen and now exceed 1,500 registrations per day in Hyderabad," said a senior RTA official.
Traffic experts state that inadequate public transport and poor connectivity are fuelling the rise in private vehicle ownership. With the city's population reaching an estimated 1.2 crore, public transport serves less than one-third of the total population.
Daily passenger data shows that RTC accommodates over 25 lakh commuters, the metro rail transports 5 lakh passengers, and SCR's MMTS operations cater to around 50,000 people each day.
The remainder rely on private vehicles.
"The increasing number of vehicles on the existing road infrastructure raises concerns about worsening traffic congestion. Furthermore, the surge in high-speed vehicles suggests a probable rise in accidents. Statistics indicate a consistent increase in road accidents across the state. Authorities should prioritise RTC buses on high-traffic routes to improve their efficiency and encourage the public to opt for public transport over private vehicles," said TS Reddy, a retired official from the central road research institute and transport planning expert.
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