Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

MODERATO smart signals could cut Bengaluru traffic congestion by 30%! What are they?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Traffic patterns have shifted since the pandemic.</li><li>US drivers are taking 23% more car trips in the middle of the day than they did in 2019.</li></ul>After roads went eerily quiet during the early months of the pandemic, traffic is back with a vengeance. Traffic congestion is as bad as it was pre-pandemic in about half of the world's top urban areas, but traffic patterns have shifted, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://inrix.com/press-releases/2023-global-traffic-scorecard-us/">a new report by INRIX</a>, a transportation data and analytics company.Congestion no longer reflects the traditional nine-to-five work schedule. These days, as many Americans start a car trip at noon as do at five pm. Average hourly traffic during the middle of the day is up 23% since 2019, INRIX found.New remote and hybrid work schedules and a rise in car ownership in recent years have transformed traffic and congestion patterns.The INRIX report found that the traditional morning peak rush hour has given way to a steadier pace of trips starting later in the morning. The number of weekday car trips starting in the 6 AM hour fell from around 80 million a day in 2019 to about 50 million in 2023, while about 60 million trips began in the 9 AM hour in 2023, up from a little over 40 million in 2019. Over 75 million trips now start between noon and 1 PM.On the reverse side of the day, midafternoon trips are up and evening trips are down. Putting that all together, it looks like many Americans have shifted from a traditional 9-to-5 commute to a noon-to-4 or even more truncated workday.Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, said that midday travel started to rise when COVID hit, and that pattern hasn't dissipated. Despite many employers pressuring their employees to spend more time in the office, remote work has endured. With more flexible work schedules, people are making more midday trips to the grocery store and the gym, or getting to work late or leaving early."They're either going into work late so that they can continue to drop kids off at school," he said. And "people are still doing midday or two o'clock trips" or leaving early for vacation.Congestion in cities varies based on where jobs are located. "The importance of downtown as a destination for commuting is much different in Dallas than it is in New York," Pishue said, noting that downtown Manhattan is home to far more of its region's jobs than downtown Dallas.INRIX calculates congestion by gathering data from millions of anonymized sensors and vehicles and commercial vehicle data. The report calculated commute times using the time taken to drive "to and from major employment centers within an urban area from surrounding commuting neighborhoods."This travel shift has many implications for policymakers and transportation planners. Mass transit schedules, road tolls, and even traffic lights have long been designed around the 9-to-5 workday and the rush hours that it creates. But traffic data shows cities might need to adjust their schedules and redesign their physical infrastructure to fit the new post-pandemic, remote work paradigm."This is something that now needs attention," Pishue said.<div type="image" title="PJ Clarks in New York City" height="1333" width="2000" msid="112063713" hostid="261" sizebytes="293612"></div><h2 id="1c481284-b034-4152-810b-b67a65681ae4">Congestion is here to stay</h2>Since the pandemic hit, mass transit ridership has plummeted while driving has become more popular.New York City had the worst congestion of any city in the world in 2023, the INRIX report found. Last year, New Yorkers lost an average of 101 hours to congestion delays. The city saw a 13% year-over-year increase in vehicle trips into its downtown — the sharpest increase in the country.Car ownership has also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/car-ownership-statistics/">risen in recent years</a>, including in New York.Car ownership in the five boroughs has soared over the last decade. While the population of New York City residents rose 1.4% between 2012 and 2021, the number of registered passenger vehicles <a target="_blank" href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2023/04/19/komanoff-dissects-new-york-citys-car-baby-boom">rose by 12%</a>. Still, about 54% of city households reported not owning a car in 2021.A year into the pandemic, Americans drove more despite many closed offices. People drove 2% more, measured by mileage, across US cities in March 2021 than in February 2020 and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/the-pandemic-changed-car-ownership-how-can-cities-adapt/604497/">20% more than in March 2020</a>, when pandemic lockdowns first took effect.The shift from denser urban living to suburban and even rural living is part of this uptick in driving. Many city dwellers moved into far-flung, car-dependent exurbs and rural towns during the pandemic — and that trend <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-young-kids-families-fleeing-big-cities-urban-doom-loop-2024-7">appears to be continuing</a>. For many, this means more time in their cars.Have you changed your commute in the last couple years? Tell your story to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:erelman@businessinsider.com">erelman@businessinsider.com</a>

The noon-to-4 is the new 9-to-5 for driving commuters, but it's not helping traffic congestion

If you've ever found yourself sheepishly glancing around after cutting a red light or using your phone while driving, only to relax because "no cops in sight," think again! In <keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword>, the traffic police have gone tech-savvy, and they're now leveraging AI to keep an eye on you – whether or not there’s an officer standing by. <h2>Bengaluru’s AI revolution in <keyword id="22205047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-enforcement" source="keywords">traffic enforcement</keyword></h2>Bengaluru, the tech hub of India, has pioneered the use of AI-based enforcement in its bustling streets. "At present, we use AI-based cameras to enforce seven violations," said MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru City Traffic) in an interview with Moneycontrol. These violations include overspeeding, using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seat belts, riding without helmets, triple riding on two-wheelers, red-light jumping, and stop-line violations. But it doesn't stop there! The city is expanding this AI-driven system to detect 13 different <keyword id="19948114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-violations" source="keywords">traffic violations</keyword> — up from the existing seven. Among the new additions are wrong-side driving, illegal number plates, overloaded goods vehicles, broken or folded door mirrors, and illegal parking. Bengaluru’s streets are about to get even more monitored, and the number of fines is expected to rise. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113150608" title="Nothing to wear? Bengaluru-based startup promises to deliver clothes in just 60 minutes. Here’s my experience!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Already, 97% of traffic violations in Bengaluru in 2023 were caught through this contactless mode. With 330 AI-powered cameras watching over 50 junctions, the city's roads are becoming some of the most tech-supervised in India. "We will soon expand to cover 13 types of violations," Anucheth added, hinting at an even more stringent road regime. <h2>Eyes in the sky</h2>With a road network stretching over 14,000 km, more than 12 million registered vehicles, and around 40,000 traffic intersections, Bengaluru’s streets can get chaotic. To tackle this, Bengaluru’s AI system is leaving nothing to chance. The AI can do more than just catch rule-breakers; it can even detect waterlogged areas, cattle on the road, potholes, and unattended objects, ensuring smoother traffic flow. What’s more, these AI-based systems are equipped with <keyword id="22598445" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Automatic-Number-Plate-Recognition" source="keywords">Automatic Number Plate Recognition</keyword> (ANPR) and can process video feeds from multiple sources, including surveillance cameras, body-worn cameras, and even social media feeds. So, even if you're accidentally caught on a neighbour’s camera violating a traffic rule, you could still be fined. “Instead of procuring additional cameras, we decided to obtain AI-based automatic violation detection licences to utilise our existing infrastructure for traffic enforcement and management," Anucheth explained. That means the city is becoming smarter without splurging on extra gadgets. <h2>Expect more fines</h2>In 2023 alone, <keyword id="21352185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru-traffic" source="keywords">Bengaluru Traffic</keyword> Police booked nearly 90 lakh cases and collected a record Rs 185.1 crore in fines. With the expanded AI system, these numbers are expected to soar even higher. Commuters along major arterial roads such as the Electronics City Elevated Expressway, Mysuru Road to Goraguntepalya, and Bellary Road should be particularly mindful. Cameras on these routes have been instrumental in spotting violations like speeding and improper lane usage. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113459399" title="Should you rent or buy a home? Here’s how much rental pricing has gone up compared to ownership cost in major Indian cities" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The introduction of AI is already having a significant impact on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, where 60 cameras caught more than 12,000 violations within just two weeks of installation. And the fines? They’re sent directly to your phone. "No violation can escape the hawk eyes of our powerful cameras," said Karnataka’s Additional Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, after catching a bus driver talking on his phone while driving. <h2>Management, not just enforcement</h2>But Bengaluru’s AI isn’t just catching violators — it’s also helping ease the flow of traffic in a majorly congested city. AI is playing a crucial role in optimising <keyword id="21296378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-signals" source="keywords">traffic signals</keyword> to reduce congestion and manage traffic patterns. With its Automatic Traffic Counting and Classification (ATCC) feature, these <keyword id="21635811" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-cameras" source="keywords">AI cameras</keyword> will help monitor the types of vehicles clogging up different junctions, offering better insights for road management. To that end, Bengaluru has also introduced AI-powered traffic signals, which automatically adjust the timing of traffic lights based on real-time traffic conditions. This system, deployed across many important junctions in the city, monitors vehicle flow and helps reduce bottlenecks by adjusting traffic lights dynamically. In an ideal world, this will mean that there would be no more sitting at a red light when the road ahead is empty. With over 9,000 cameras being installed across the city under the Safe City project and access to 4,600 body-worn cameras, Bengaluru’s traffic police are bringing in a new era of high-tech enforcement. Hopefully, this will help with better <keyword id="20413755" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="traffic-management" source="keywords">traffic management</keyword> in the city — a problem that needs to be solved at the earliest.

Hopping signals or using phones when cops aren’t there? You’re still going to get instant-fined, thanks to Bengaluru’s new AI cameras

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chick-fil-A is rebuilding a drive-thru in Santa Barbara, CA, after its long lines disrupted traffic.</li><li>Changes include adding an extra lane, new ordering stations, and widening the entrance driveway.</li></ul>Chick-fil-A is rebuilding a drive-thru in Santa Barbara, California, after residents complained about traffic congestion.The restaurant, which is located on upper State Street, said <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsT8YyXrzP0/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on social media</a> that it would temporarily close from May 22 through late July to make changes. These include converting the drive-thru from one lane to two, adding new ordering stations, widening the entrance driveway, and reconfiguring the existing parking lot to remove 15 parking spaces and add more bike racks, <a href="https://santabarbaraca.gov/sites/default/files/filesync/Advisory_Groups/Architectural_Board_of_Review/Archive/2022_Archives/05_Minutes/2022-09-19-_September_19_2022_Minutes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filings with the city council</a> show. The plans also include <a href="https://www.independent.com/2023/05/30/chick-fil-a-closes-to-reconfigure-drive-thru-lanes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changing the exit</a> so that vehicles can't turn left into oncoming traffic.The bustling restaurant had caused numerous traffic problems for the city, leading to <a href="https://www.independent.com/2023/05/30/chick-fil-a-closes-to-reconfigure-drive-thru-lanes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaints from residents</a>, and <a href="https://www.independent.com/2022/06/08/chick-fil-a-drive-thru-avoids-the-ax/">multiple collisions</a> had taken place in front of the site.But this Santa Barbara restaurant isn't the only one to have irritated local residents.A selection of Chick-fil-A restaurants across the US have annoyed residents, other businesses, and city representatives because of their massive drive-thru lines that snake down the road and cause traffic buildups.In some cases, this has led to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-massive-drive-thrus-problems-local-businesses-2021-2">lawsuits</a>. Earlier this year, officials in Charlotte, North Carolina, told a problematic Chick-fil-A restaurant to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-forced-to-tear-down-and-rebuild-busy-drive-thru-restaurant-2023-1">demolish its building</a> and start over with a drive-thru-only model.Studies show that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-slowest-drive-thrus-long-lines-kfc-mcdonalds-2022-10">it takes eight-and-a-half minutes to go through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A</a>, which is considerably slower than at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and a number of other fast-food chains. This is because the restaurant is so popular that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-long-drive-thru-wait-times-arent-stopping-customers-2021-9" rel="">there is almost always a line of cars</a>.The Santa Barbara restaurant's franchise owner told local news site <a href="https://www.noozhawk.com/chick-fil-a-to-close-santa-barbara-location-for-8-10-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noozhawk</a> that it serves between 1,700 and 2,200 customers daily.In late 2021, Santa Barbara City Council <a href="https://santabarbaraca.gov/press-releases/efforts-reduce-chick-fil-queuing-upper-state-street" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Chick-fil-A had been "actively pursuing" ways of combating its long lines, including taking orders outside and car service.But this didn't solve all the problems. "In recent years, the queuing from Chick-fil-A's drive-through onto State Street has created serious traffic congestion, as well as hazardous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and those with disabilities," Santa Barbara City Council <a href="https://santabarbaraca.gov/press-releases/expressing-concern-public-safety-city-council-directs-action-abate-problems-caused">said</a> in March 2022.That June, the City Council <a href="https://santabarbaraca.gov/press-releases/city-council-approves-chick-fil-traffic-circulation-agreement-and-site-improvements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the restaurant's proposed traffic circulation agreement after previously threatening to declare it a public nuisance and even shut down its drive-thru.The agreement included hiring a designated traffic attendant, adding more staff during peak hours, looking for off-site parking for staff, preventing truck deliveries during peak hours, and not allowing armored cars servicing the site to park on State Street, local news publication <a href="https://www.independent.com/2022/06/08/chick-fil-a-drive-thru-avoids-the-ax/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Santa Barbara Independent</a> reported.

Chick-fil-A is rebuilding a drive-thru in California after residents complained about traffic congestion

Some of the widest highways in the US have more than 20 lanes &mdash; but widening them won't solve traffic congestion

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Residents in Tennessee are battling a plan for a "mega" Chick-fil-A in their neighborhood.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/law-could-change-chick-fil-as-sunday-policy-in-new-york-2023-12">Chick-fil-A</a> has previously faced complaints from communities over its out-of-control drive-thrus lines.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-drive-thru-lines-infuriate-nearby-business-owners-2021-2">Chick-fil-A's busy drive-thrus</a> are under attack again.A plan for a "mega" Chick-fil-A store in Tennessee is the latest project to encounter backlash from locals concerned about the fast-food chain's frequently crowded drive-thrus lines. The chain has faced opposition for its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-drive-thru-only-restaurantphotos-2022-10">snaking drive-thru lines which can cause traffic.</a>In Collierville, Tennessee, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-rebuilds-santa-barbara-drive-thru-traffic-complaints-2023-5">Chick-fil-A </a>has proposed replacing a 23-year-old 3,950-square-foot restaurant with a larger one to accommodate the growing consumer demand. Chain reps are billing the proposed 6,110-square-foot restaurant as the "latest greatest prototype Chick-fil-A has" in its system.Chick-fil-A's development director, Brent Edmiston, who spoke on behalf of the chain at a <a target="_blank" href="https://collierville.granicus.com/player/clip/1775?view_id=3&amp;redirect=true&amp;h=d218ca5e4810d22ed369a93cc4956a6d">December 7 Planning Commission</a> meeting in Collierville, said the new design would include a 300-square-foot playground, an employee meeting room, a bigger dining room, double drive-thru lanes with the capacity to handle 43 cars, and expanded outdoor dining.Like many Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country, cars at the current location spill into the main thoroughfare, causing traffic congestion.Chick-fil-A said the bigger restaurant, proposed for an empty lot about a half-mile down the road, is expected to contain cars within two double drive-thru lanes that wrap the restaurant. The only access to the restaurant will be from a private drive to the north.City planners and Chick-fil-A representatives said the restaurant's new location and upgraded design will prevent cars from backing up onto one of the city's busiest thoroughfares, Poplar Avenue.But residents who live near the proposed location are balking. They said the new "mega" Chick-fil-A will result in more cars clogging local roads."They're building a significantly larger store for one reason and one reason only. It's to sell more chicken," resident Woody Reid said at the meeting, where locals submitted a petition signed by 500 people against the Chick-fil-A relocation project.Chick-fil-A did not return a request for additional comment.At the meeting, Edmiston said he thought "building the largest restaurant in the company" would evoke a "positive" reaction from the community because the new restaurant would have "all the tools" to serve the city."We've not been able to do that at our existing restaurant," Edmiston said, referring to accommodating demand for catering, delivery, and mobile orders. "We cannot serve customers with all these different service channels because we have not had the capacity to do that because the size of our site and the size of our restaurant."Resident Raymond Descheneaux said Chick-fil-A is not solving traffic congestion in the neighborhood by relocating the restaurant. They are simply "shifting" the current problem from one neighborhood to another."And then building a mega CFA multiples the problem," he wrote in a letter to the city.<div type="image" title="Plans for a new mega Chick-fil-A in Tennessee" height="502" width="670" msid="106583554" hostid="261" sizebytes="35282"></div>Despite the protests, the Planning Commission voted in favor of the project. The city's Board of Mayor and Aldermen will vote on the project on Monday, January 8."If the Board approves the preliminary site plan, Chick-fil-A will still need to apply for a final site plan and building permit before they construct the new restaurant," city spokesperson Jennifer Casey told Business Insider.In a similar case last year, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-forced-to-tear-down-and-rebuild-busy-drive-thru-restaurant-2023-1">busy Chick-fil-A in North Carolina</a> solved its traffic issues by demolishing the restaurant and replacing it with a store with no dining room and more drive-thru lanes.Chick-fil-A is testing different prototypes to accommodate consumer demand for takeout and delivery. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-drive-thru-only-restaurantphotos-2022-10">chain has more than 30 drive-thru-only locations</a> in the US. It also has plans to build an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-new-store-designs-photos-drive-thru-walk-up2023-7">elevated restaurant that has four drive-thru lanes that flow below the store</a>.Are you a Chick-fil-A insider with insight to share? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:nluna@insider.com">nluna@insider.com</a> or text 714-269-8873

A proposed Chick-fil-A 'mega' restaurant in Tennessee is sparking backlash and fears of drive-thru traffic 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Panama Canal has been hit by a serious drought this year, causing long transit times for ships.</li><li>A shipper recently paid $2.4 million for a winning bid to jump the queue, according to one <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4632066-avance-gas-holding-ltd-avacf-q2-2023-earnings-call-transcript">energy shipping firm.</a></li></ul>The <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-31/panama-canal-queue-jumper-pays-2-4-million-to-get-through-fast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">congestion at the Panama Canal</a> has gotten so bad that a shipper paid millions just to beat the queue, according to a company that uses the waterway.A $2.4 million price tag was the winning bid for an auction held by the canal authorities for vessels to secure slots to sail through the waterway during the week of August 20, according to an anecdote shared by Oystein Kalleklev, the CEO of gas shipping company Avance Gas."You can skip the queue, but it's immensely costly," Kalleklev said at the company's <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4632066-avance-gas-holding-ltd-avacf-q2-2023-earnings-call-transcript" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second-quarter earnings call on Thursday</a>. Kalleklev did not name the auction's winner, and Insider could not independently verify the auction's details. "And when you add the regular fee, you're getting close to $3 million to get your ship through the canal," he added, per the call's transcript.This isn't an isolated incident. Shipping giant Maersk told the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/panama-canal-drought-causes-traffic-problems-ecd9d335" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wall Street Journal on August 18</a> that the normal toll fee to cross the canal outside an auction was $400,000. The shipper had to pay $900,000 on top of the normal toll fee for each of its two ships that couldn't get a slot to cross the canal at the time.<a href="https://www.waypointports.com/panama-canal/panama-canal-estimated-transit-expenses-container-vessel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canal-crossing fees</a> can range anywhere between $150,000 to over $1 million, depending on the size and capacity of the vessel.Shippers are paying top dollar to transit the waterway because it's been hit by a serious drought this year, which has reduced the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/panama-canal-drought-travel-ships-income-falling-el-nino-2023-8#:~:text=The%20Panama%20Canal's%20water%20level,ships%20that%20can%20get%20through&amp;text=The%20canal%20has%20capped%20the,rain%2C%20the%20administrator%20said%20Thursday." target="_blank" rel="noopener">water levels</a> and limited the number of ships that can pass through. The Panama Canal Authority told Bloomberg that the highest bids in the auctions are generally won by liquefied petroleum gas or liquefied natural gas carriers.The congestion in the Panama Canal is closely watched because 40% of US container traffic passes through the waterway, according to an August report from <a href="https://www.globaltrademag.com/potential-shortages-loom-as-panama-canal-restrictions-impact-holiday-stocks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Container xChange,</a> a logistics platform.The Panama Canal Authority said in a <a href="https://pancanal.com/en/maritime-industry-continues-to-prefer-route-through-panama/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuesday statement</a> that there's been an improvement in the queue of vessels waiting to transit the canal. There are 108 vessels at both entrances to the waterway now — 20% fewer than the 135 ships last week.However, the situation is concerning ahead of the upcoming holiday season, project44, a supply chain platform, told Insider on Tuesday. "There has been a recent uptick in both average and maximum wait times to cross the canal, with several days in the past week exceeding an average of four days, representing a 100% increase compared to the typical two days," project44 said.The Panama Canal Authority and Avance Gas did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. September 6, 12.59 p.m.: The story has been updated with additional details of costs for crossing the canal.

The congestion at the Panama Canal is so bad that one shipper paid $2.4 million to jump a line and get through the waterway: report

Amid the Samyukt <keyword id="329771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-morcha" source="Orion">Kisan Morcha</keyword> (SKM)-called <keyword id="6379373" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bharat-bandh" source="Orion">Bharat Bandh</keyword> on Monday, commuters on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway had to face a huge traffic congestion as the <keyword id="6358992" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="delhi-police" source="Orion">Delhi Police</keyword> had put barriers at the border to keep a vigil on the farmers entering the national capital. A heavy presence of security personnel was seen at the <keyword id="3912043" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="delhi-gurugram" source="Orion">Delhi-Gurugram</keyword> border. Apart from the central forces, the <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> Police and the <keyword id="11900977" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gurugram" source="Orion">Gurugram</keyword> Police personnel have barricaded the border. Due to this only two lanes from Jaipur towards Delhi were opened for commuters entering Delhi. The traffic movement on the National Highway-48 was slow and the vehicles were moving bumper to bumper. The officials of the Gurugram traffic control room said that the traffic movement on the expressway was slow due to the barricades erected by the Delhi Police on the Delhi-Gurugram border and near the Rajokri flyover. "We have made all arrangements to tackle the protest call given by farmer organisations. "Police will keep updating people about the traffic situation in Gurugram through the official social media handles," said Subhash Boken, spokesperson of the Gurugram Police, adding that while regular traffic can pass, checks are likely to slow it down or lead to jams. More than 1,000 police forces including senior officers have been deployed at all border points," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bharat-bandh-in-india-checkout-what-will-be-open-and-what-will-remain-closed-today/articleshow/86546426.cms">Bharat Bandh — Checkout what will be open and what will remain closed today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/scientists-say-this-new-smartphone-sensor-can-detect-when-someone-consumes-marijuana/articleshow/86547421.cms">Scientists say this new smartphone sensor can detect when someone consumes marijuana</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/paras-defence-and-space-technologies-ipo-allotment-is-tomorrow/articleshow/86546339.cms">Paras Defence and Space Technologies IPO allotment is tomorrow, IPO was subscribed 304 times</a>

Bharat Bandh: Security beefed up at Delhi-Gurugram border, huge traffic congestion at Delhi-Jaipur Expressway

<ul><li>The roads of India's most congested cities lie vacant midst the lockdown saving travellers more than 8 hours of traffic time.</li><li>Pictures show how the roads of Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, and New Delhi are no longer filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic amidst the Coronavirus pandemic in India.</li><li>According to Tom Tom's traffic index, Bengaluru isn't just the most congested city in India, but the world.</li></ul>India's roads are known for being some of the most congested in the world. However, with the nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus, these roads are finally seeing some relief. Instead of traffic jams that last hours on end, the roads now lie empty as everyone stays home. This is reflected in the drastic fall of requests for directions on Apple's navigation apps as per data released for up to April 16. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/1981135" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/1981135/embed"></div>]]></cdata></div> The massive traffic on the roads doesn't just take a toll on the environment by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/weather-maps-show-how-indias-coronavirus-lockdown-is-helping-people-breathe-a-little-better/articleshow/74896617.cms">boosting air pollution</a> but has staggering costs for the economy. The cities that bear the worst of it are Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi. Bengaluru is the most congested city in the world — but not during the lockdown According to <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/">Tom Tom</a>'s traffic index, <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/bengaluru-traffic/">Bengaluru</a> isn't just the most congested city in India — but all over the world. It beat out 415 other cities across 57 countries that are covered to earn that title in 2019. <div type="image" title="11" msid="75243336" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fall in average traffic during the Coronavirus pandemic in Bengaluru over the last seven days&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Drivers in India's 'Silicon Valley' spent an extra 58 minutes per an hour's trip during the morning rush and extra 70 minutes in the evening rush. Due to the lockdown, average congestion is down by as much as 90%. <div type="image" title="2" msid="75243453" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on Bengaluru&amp;#39;s Airport road near Hebbal flyover before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Tom Tom estimates that people wasted at least 243 hours — that's 10 days and 3 hours — in rush hours over the year. In that time they could have watched 215 Game of Thrones episodes. <div type="image" title="3" msid="75243474" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on Bengaluru&amp;#39;s Hosur Main Road before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>India's film city used to lead the index Prior to Bengaluru in 2019, the top spot was held by India's financial capital and film city — <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/mumbai-traffic/">Mumbai</a>. In 2019, it slipped to the second most congested city in India and the fourth rank on the global index. <div type="image" title="10" msid="75243352" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fall in average traffic during the Coronavirus pandemic in Mumbai over the last seven days&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Drivers there spent an average of 48 minutes extra per hour, during the morning rush and an extra 62 minutes in the evening. <div type="image" title="6" msid="75243488" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on Mumbai&amp;#39;s airport road before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>All that extra time adds up to 8 days and 17 hours wasted over the entire year. In that time, travellers could have knitted 52 hats and 10 sweaters — not that they would need them in coastal city's sweltering weather. <div type="image" title="7" msid="75243498" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on Mumbai&amp;#39;s Bandra area before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> And, Mumbai's sister city — Pune — is almost just as bad Right after Mumbai, its sister city <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/pune-traffic/">Pune</a> is ranked fifth the most congested city globally — and third in India. The worst hour to be on the roads was Friday's from 7 pm to 8 pm, more than doubling the time that it would take to get from point A to point B. <div type="image" title="12" msid="75243366" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fall in average traffic during the Coronavirus pandemic in Pune over the last seven days&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>The time lost in rush hours in Pune is 8 days and an hour per year. That's the duration required to plant 193 trees — or solve 39 jigsaw puzzles — according to Tom Tom. <div type="image" title="9" msid="75243505" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on Bengaluru&amp;#39;s raods before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The national capital New Delhi is no exception India's capital city, <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/new-delhi-traffic/">New Delhi</a>, has worked on many a solution to try and combat the burgeoning traffic problems in the city — including wider roads, elevated roads, alternative routes, underpasses and other things. <div type="image" title="pjote roads (2)" msid="75243402" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fall in average traffic during the Coronavirus pandemic in New Delhi over the last seven days&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, people in the city still spend an extra 7 days and 22 hours in traffic every year. Like in the other cities, it takes nearly double the time to travel during the evening rush hours and an extra 44 minutes per hour in the morning. <div type="image" title="4" msid="75243572" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic on the Delhi-Gurgaon NH8 highway before and after the lockdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (<a href="https://cdn.cseindia.org/attachments/0.91019300_1522405882_Google-analysis-by-CSE-graphs-and-charts.pdf">CSE</a>), the crisis costs the national capital an extra ₹54,000 crore in 2013. Using data from Google they were able to estimate that it wasn't just the peak hours that were bad for the city. During the 12 hours between 8 am to 8 pm, cars were only able to exceed speeds of 30 kilometres per hour 8% of the time. <div type="image" title="1" msid="75243515" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pictures of Ghazipur (L) during normal traffic and (R) during nationwide lockdown in Delhi &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> With the nationwide lockdown in place, traffic in these cities has virtually disappeared. However, this doesn't mean that the problems have been solved. Once this temporary reprieve is over, these cities will still have a high number of cars, bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion and the usual grid gridlock during peak travel times will make its return. How can we keep the congestion from making a return? To keep things from returning to how they were during pre-Coronavirus times, making more roads can't be the only answer. Some studies show that building more roads actually induces even more traffic. Instead, <a href="https://www.cseindia.org/congestion-on-delhi-roads-has-worsened--6994">CSE</a> suggests that the respective governments should focus more on public transport strategies, walking infrastructure and appropriate pricing of car usage to actually curb motorisation. In Brazil's <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2015/03/3-ways-sao-paulos-companies-helped-curb-traffic-congestion">Sao Paulo</a> carpools and use of public transport has already proven how these solutions can be beneficial for both, the government and private companies. Beijing and Shanghai were one of the first adopters of transport demand management (<a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2015/04/4-lessons-beijing-and-shanghai-show-how-china-s-cities-can-curb-car-congestion">TDM</a>) in China. They used measures like license auctioning, parking certificates, and building up their public transport infrastructure. In London, congestion pricing reduced vehicle travel by 17% and, in San Francisco, real-time parking pricing dues the miles travelled by cars by 30%. In most places, TDM measures are driven by the public sector but their tangible results once the private sector <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2015/03/strategies-sustainable-cities-demystifying-transport-demand-management">catches up</a>. In India, the government in Bengaluru has started talking to the private sector to discuss things like shifting how employees commute to work. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/before-and-after-pictures-show-the-coronavirus-travel-ban-brought-airlines-to-a-grinding-halt-since-march/articleshow/75074376.cms" style="">Before and after pictures show how the Coronavirus travel ban brought airlines to a grinding halt since March</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/weather-maps-show-how-indias-coronavirus-lockdown-is-helping-people-breathe-a-little-better/articleshow/74896617.cms">Weather maps show how India’s Coronavirus lockdown is helping people breathe a little better</a>

The most congested cities in India low lie vacant midst the nationwide lockdown

<ul><li>Metro Manilla was named as the most congested city among 278 cities in Asia. </li><li>Benguluru is the fifth most congested city in Asia. </li><li>Surprisingly, <keyword id="6358070" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword> — which witnesses the worst traffic flow in the world — did not make it to the top 10. </li></ul>Traffic jams across the world are rising in number and intensity. It is costing countries time as well as money. In India, Delhi, Mumbai, <keyword id="6354925" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> and Bengaluru together ends up <a href="https://qz.com/india/1255427/traffic-jams-in-delhi-mumbai-bengaluru-and-kolkata-alone-cost-india-22-billion-a-year/">losing $22 billion</a> a year because of traffic jams. According to a report by Asian Development Bank Metro Manilla was named as the most congested city among 278 cities in Asia. And, four of the top ten most congested cities in the list were Indian. Surprisingly, Mumbai — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mumbai-is-dealing-with-the-worst-traffic-congestion-in-the-world-and-delhi-is-on-fourth-rank/articleshow/69672314.cms">which witnesses the worst traffic flow in the world</a> — did not make it to the top 10. “Cities experiencing more severe congestion may have invested more in road networks, but the networks remain far from sufficient to alleviate congestion,'' said a report by Asian Development Bank (ADB). ADB compiled the data for 278 cities using night-time lights images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, grid population data from LandScan Datasets of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and trip routes from Google Maps. Here are the 10 most congested cities in Asia — <div type="Slideshow" msid="71590388" hostid="261" title="These are the 10 most congested cities in Asia" firstImageMsid="71590466" slideCount="10"></div>

These are the 10 most congested cities in Asia

<ul><li>Mumbai is now the most car-congested city in India with 510 cars for every kilometre. </li><li>Car density in Mumbai is five times more than that of New Delhi. </li><li>Pune, Kolkata, Chennai are among the top five most ‘car congested’ cities after Mumbai. </li></ul>Narrow roads and lack of parking regulation have all contributed to turning India’s financial capital Mumbai into the most car-congested city in the country. Mumbai’s car density rose by 18% in the last two years with 510 cars for kilometers of road, Times of India reported. The density is five times higher than that of New Delhi, which is also struggling with longer traffic jams and lower Air Quality Index, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mumbais-car-density-5-times-that-of-delhi/articleshow/68553387.cms?from=mdr">reported</a> the Times of India. Other cities struggling with the problem of high car congestion include Pune with 359 cars per kilometre, followed by Kolkata with 319 cars per km and Chennai with 297 cars per km. The primary reason behind car-congestion is insufficient road space. The private car population of Mumbai is less than a third of Delhi but it has only 2,000km of road in comparison to 28,000 km road space in Delhi. The under-construction Mumbai metro network adds to the problem. There were only 430 cars per km in mid-2016, according to Maharashtra transport ministry data, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mumbais-car-density-5-times-that-of-delhi/articleshow/68553387.cms?from=mdr">reported the Times</a> of India. However, the government <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-metro-work-causes-traffic-bottlenecks/story-yARZ73LiWSpMYFgfiKLTeM.html">expects</a> traffic to ease once the Metro project finishes by 2021. In mid-2016, car density in Mumbai was 430 cars per km, which has now gone up to 510, This has taken the total number of registered private cars to 1 million on city roads, roughly 28% of the total vehicular population in the city, which stands at 3.6 million, said the report citing an official. Nearly half the road space is occupied by private cars of all types including SUVs which is why the average speed on the Western Express highway is limited to 10kmph during peak hours. There is an urgent need to set up a parking authority which will overlook parking problems in the city and free up 50% roadspace in the city, said the reporting citing an official. The transport commissioners in the past have suggested people to using public transportation system but there’s little progress on it. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/gurgaon-is-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/articleshow/68267574.cms">India accounts for 7 of the world’s 10 most polluted cities — with Gurugram ranked as the worst: Study</a>

Mumbai is now the most car-congested city in India: Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="88011" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="american-airlines">American Airlines</keyword> said it'd invest in <keyword id="6865774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vertical-aerospace">Vertical Aerospace</keyword> and agree to preorder its eVTOL <keyword id="6385716" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aircraft">aircraft</keyword>.</li><li>Vertical Aerospace's VA-X4 is designed to fly up to four passengers distances of over 100 miles.</li><li>Experts expect more <keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines">airlines</keyword> to invest in eVTOL aircraft as firms develop them.</li></ul>American Airlines is making an investment in the future of aviation, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-invests-future-urban-203000725.html">announcing</a> an agreement to preorder $1 billion worth of a new type of aircraft designed to fly over congested cities.The airline, based in Fort Worth, Texas, said on Thursday that it also expected to invest $25 million in Vertical Aerospace, a UK firm developing electric vertical takeoff and land aircraft, or <keyword id="6861875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="evtols">eVTOLs</keyword>, helicopter-like electric aircraft that aim to offer intracity <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> and an alternative to driving.Vertical Aerospace's flagship VA-X4 aims to fly up to four passengers to distances exceeding 100 miles while achieving speeds of up to 200 mph. American could likely offer airport transportation to and from its largest hubs.American said it agreed to preorder up to 250 of Vertical Aerospace's aircraft, worth $1 billion, with the option to order 100 more."It's a relatively low-risk, high-reward investment and strategy by American," Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst and cofounder of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider."The airline is not betting its financial future in these aircraft with this investment right now," Harteveldt said, adding that American likely has strict requirements that Vertical Aerospace must meet before it hands over more cash for its aircraft.<div type="image" title="American Airlines Vertical Aerospace eVTOL" height="1308" width="1748" msid="83436868" hostid="261"></div>American said sustainability was also a focus of its order - the VA-X4 is designed to be a carbon-zero aircraft powered by batteries instead of jet fuel."Emerging technologies are critical in the race to reduce carbon emissions and we are excited to partner with Vertical to develop the next generation of electric aircraft," Derek Kerr, American's chief financial officer, said in a statement.United Airlines this year <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-airlines-orders-1-billion-in-evtol-aircraft-from-archer-2021-2">announced a partnership with Archer Aviation</a>, another eVTOL startup that <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/archers-flying-taxi-makes-splashy-debut-heated-market-2021-06-11/">just unveiled its flagship Maker aircraft</a>. United and its regional airline partner Mesa Airlines are set to debut the aircraft in Los Angeles, offering flights to Los Angeles International Airport from so-called vertiports around the notoriously congested city."United and American genuinely recognize that the airline of the future will be tangibly different than the airline of today," Harteveldt said.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/archer-aviation-spac-public-valuation-founders-fly-passengers-for-united-2021-2">How 2 startup founders with no aviation experience landed a $1 billion deal to make electric aircraft for United</a>Harteveldt expects more airlines to invest in the eVTOL space, as Delta is the only holdout among the US's big three international airlines. And there's no shortage of eVTOL startups to invest in, with firms like Joby Aviation, Lilium, and Volocopter inching closer to the finish line on viable aircraft.Vertical Aerospace has said the VA-X4 is on track for certification in 2024, and it could be flying American's passengers soon after.

You Searched For "traffic congestion" and got 12 results

MODERATO smart signals could cut Bengaluru traffic congestion by 30%! What are they?

Ankush Banerjee

The noon-to-4 is the new 9-to-5 for driving commuters, but it's not helping traffic congestion

Eliza Relman

Hopping signals or using phones when cops aren’t there? You’re still going to get instant-fined, thanks to Bengaluru’s new AI cameras

Ankush Banerjee

Chick-fil-A is rebuilding a drive-thru in California after residents complained about traffic congestion

Grace Dean

Some of the widest highways in the US have more than 20 lanes but widening them won't solve traffic congestion

James Pasley

A proposed Chick-fil-A 'mega' restaurant in Tennessee is sparking backlash and fears of drive-thru traffic

Nancy Luna

The congestion at the Panama Canal is so bad that one shipper paid $2.4 million to jump a line and get through the waterway: report

Huileng Tan

Bharat Bandh: Security beefed up at Delhi-Gurugram border, huge traffic congestion at Delhi-Jaipur Expressway

IANS

The most congested cities in India low lie vacant midst the nationwide lockdown

Prabhjote Gill

These are the 10 most congested cities in Asia

Preeti Soni

Mumbai is now the most car-congested city in India: Report

BI India Bureau

American Airlines could pay $1 billion for up to 250 eVTOLs to fly travelers over congested cities and highway traffic

Thomas Pallini

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides