Chandigarh Traffic Surge: Vehicle Density Outstrips Population

Dogra also noted that pedestrian footpaths and cycle tracks in several areas are being encroached upon for car parking.

Brij Bhushan, a senior scientist at the department of environment, Chandigarh administration, has been cycling to work from his home for the past three years. The 68-year-old said his six-kilometre commute involves dodging encroachments, uncovered manholes and speeding traffic at intersections.

“The city has fairly extensive cycling infrastructure and around 90 per cent of it is functional. But traffic signals are often not synchronised with the cyclist-specific signals, which creates confusion and puts cyclists at risk,” he explained.

Bhushan added that designated slip roads or pedestrian islands at roundabouts and intersections would help improve safety for both cyclists and pedestrians.

The increase in vehicles has gone hand in hand with a steady rise in air pollution levels. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, fine particulate matter PM2.5 levels have more than doubled to 70 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in 2024 from 33 µg/m³ in 2020, far above the national safe standard of 40 µg/m³. A reduction of 43 per cent would be required to meet this target.

A 2020 study by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index indicated that residents of the region could be losing up to 5.9 years of life expectancy due to long-term exposure to air pollution.

Navneet Kumar Srivastava, additional director at the department of environment, Chandigarh administration, attributed the poor air quality primarily to vehicular emissions, noting that the city has no major industrial areas.

JS Thakur, professor at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, said worsening air quality has led to a marked increase in cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

“Among the cancer cases we see, lung cancer — primarily caused by smoking and compounded by air pollution — ranks first. In 2017-18, lung cancer accounted for 11.5 per cent of total cancer cases, which is significant,” he added. He also noted a rise in tuberculosis and respiratory illnesses among children.

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