Mysuru Grapples with Escalating Traffic Crisis as Vehicle Numbers Skyrocket
Residents of Mysuru have voiced growing concerns over the past few months regarding the city's deteriorating traffic conditions. The installation of numerous traffic signals across urban junctions has led to significantly slower vehicle movement, exacerbating congestion during peak hours.
Alarming Vehicle Growth Statistics Revealed
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy recently presented data in response to a question from Rajajinagara MLA S Suresh Kumar, revealing startling figures about Mysuru's vehicle population. Between the end of March 2023 and March 2025, the city added approximately 1.7 lakh new vehicles to its roads.
This substantial increase positions Mysuru with a higher vehicle count compared to other major Karnataka cities like Mangaluru and Dharwad. The detailed breakdown shows that as of March 31, 2024, Mysuru had 14,54,115 registered vehicles. By March 31, 2025, this number had surged to 16,24,214 vehicles.
Two-Wheelers Dominate Vehicle Composition
The data highlights that two-wheelers constitute the overwhelming majority of Mysuru's vehicle fleet. Out of the total 16,24,214 vehicles, a staggering 13,29,184 are two-wheelers. Four-wheelers occupy second place with approximately 2.2 lakh units.
A transport department officer noted, "The total number of vehicles have increased by a few thousand since March 2025 as huge vehicle purchases were reported since the slash of GST on vehicles in Sept/Oct 2025." This policy change appears to have further accelerated vehicle acquisition rates.
Residents Experience Significant Traffic Delays
Local commuters report frustrating delays due to the proliferation of traffic signals. Snehal Rao, a resident of Prashanth Nagar, explained, "Between Bogadi Ring Road signal junction and the city, at least 10 to 15 minutes are wasted at the traffic signals only." This sentiment echoes across Mysuru's neighborhoods where signal-induced congestion has become a daily inconvenience.
Activists Advocate for Public Transport Overhaul
Civic activists emphasize that improving Mysuru's public transportation system is crucial for alleviating traffic congestion. Rajeshwar SR, a prominent activist, pointed out systemic issues: "Earlier, the KSRTC bus arrival and departure details were displayed in bus stands. But now, that system is not working. Most of the newly formed residential layouts have no bus connectivity. As a result, people were forced to ply their own vehicles. The strengthening of public transport is critical."
Detailed Vehicle Category Breakdown
The transport department's data reveals significant shifts across vehicle categories between 2023 and 2025:
- Two-wheelers: Increased from 11,92,675 to 13,29,184
- Three-wheelers: Grew from 38,655 to 44,866
- Cars and taxis: Expanded from 2,08,135 to 2,34,931
- Buses: Rose from 14,650 to 15,233
This comprehensive data underscores the urgent need for infrastructure planning and public transport enhancements to manage Mysuru's rapidly growing vehicular population and associated traffic challenges.
