Bengaluru sees sharp rise in vehicle purchases, deepening traffic concerns

Despite repeated appeals to use public transport, the city’s residents continue to buy vehicles in record numbers, adding fresh pressure to Bengaluru’s already strained roads.

Bengaluru, long known for its innovation and equally infamous for its gridlocked roads, is witnessing a new wave of traffic pressure. Even as government agencies and traffic police push for wider use of public transport, the city’s appetite for personal vehicles continues to grow at an unprecedented pace.

October proved to be a defining month for the city’s motor market. Bengaluru recorded 86,014 new vehicle purchases in just 30 days. Among these, 59,863 were two-wheelers, while 15,935 were cars, showing a clear surge across segments during the festive season. The momentum sharply exceeded September’s figures, when the city logged around 56,000 new registrations. The month-to-month jump of nearly 20,000 additional vehicles underscores a strong, and worrying trend.

With this steady spike, Bengaluru now has 1.22 crore registered vehicles, a number that continues to rise without pause. For a city already grappling with narrow roads, ongoing infrastructure works, and heavy peak-hour congestion, this growth is expected to intensify traffic delays in the coming months.

Officials acknowledge that the responsibility on the state and civic bodies is expanding. With public transport usage not improving despite multiple awareness campaigns, policymakers may need new strategies to shift commuters away from personal vehicles.