Pune Traffic Nightmare: 152 Hours Lost in 2025, City Ranks 5th Globally
If you spent most of last year fuming about Pune's unbearable traffic, new data confirms your frustration is justified. The TomTom Traffic Index 2025 reveals that Pune commuters lost a staggering 152 hours—equivalent to 6 days and 8 hours—stuck in rush-hour traffic throughout the year. This alarming statistic places Pune as the fifth most congested city in the world, a position that highlights a deepening urban mobility crisis.
What Could You Achieve in 152 Lost Hours?
The time wasted in traffic represents more than just inconvenience—it's lost productivity and personal time. Consider what you could have accomplished instead:
- Complete a comprehensive online course with time for revision
- Binge-watch multiple seasons of your favorite television series
- Read the entire Game of Thrones book series from start to finish
- Dedicate yourself to a new fitness regimen or creative hobby
- Develop the first draft of that business idea you've been contemplating
Traffic Conditions Worsen: 2025 vs. 2024
The situation has deteriorated significantly compared to the previous year. In 2025, Pune's rush-hour traffic congestion increased by 8 hours and 56 minutes over 2024 levels, indicating that mitigation efforts have failed to keep pace with growing vehicular density and urban sprawl.
Global Rankings: Pune Among World's Worst
Pune's fifth-place ranking puts it just behind Bengaluru, which holds the dubious distinction of being the second most congested city globally. The top ten list is dominated by urban centers from various continents:
- Mexico City
- Bengaluru
- Dublin
- Lodz
- Pune
- Lima
- Manila
- Bogota
- Sapporo
- Medellín
Indian Cities Dominate Global Congestion Rankings
India's urban traffic crisis is particularly severe, with six cities appearing in the global top 30 most congested locations:
- Bengaluru (2nd)
- Pune (5th)
- Mumbai (18th)
- New Delhi (23rd)
- Kolkata (29th)
- Jaipur (30th)
This concentration underscores nationwide infrastructure challenges that require urgent policy intervention and sustainable transportation solutions.
Commuters Voice Their Frustrations
Atharva Naik, a business operations executive, shared his daily ordeal: "I spend approximately three hours traveling from home to my workplace and back—a round-trip that should ideally take only ninety minutes. In the time I waste in traffic each day, I could have watched Shrek twice over."
Sanchit Kelkar, an animator, highlighted chaotic road behavior: "Two-wheeler riders frequently resort to dangerous maneuvers, riding on footpaths and going the wrong way. Once, it took me exactly one hour to cover a mere 1-kilometer stretch from Pune University to Bremen Chowk in Aundh. I could have reached Lonavala in that same amount of time."
The TomTom Traffic Index 2025 data paints a clear picture of Pune's escalating traffic crisis, with commuters paying a heavy price in lost time and productivity. As the city continues to grow, addressing this congestion through improved public transport, better urban planning, and traffic management will be crucial for maintaining quality of life and economic vitality.
