Mumbai Traffic: Density Soars to 753 Per Km, Car Count Crosses 15 Lakh, and Numbers Double in 13 Years

Mumbai Traffic: According to recent data from the transport department, cars in Mumbai have reached a historic milestone with over 15 lakh registrations, raising the vehicle density to a concerning 753 vehicles per kilometer of road. Last week, 1,506,690 cars were registered in the city, demonstrating the consistent increase in private automobiles on routes that have hardly grown.

Mumbai’s four regional transport departments added 49,313 additional vehicles during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Car ownership has increased significantly during the last 13 years, from 6.2 lakh in 2012 to approximately 15 lakh in 2025, a 142% rise.

With Tardeo topping registrations at 13,408, followed by Andheri at 12,344, Borivli at 11,822, and Wadala at 11,739 during the current fiscal term, the rising trend is seen throughout all regional transit offices. The total number of vehicles has increased much more quickly.

In 2005, there were around 7 lakh registered cars in Mumbai; by 2025, that number had increased to about 53 lakh. With over 31 lakh cars, two-wheelers make up the majority of this number, which puts further strain on the city’s meager road infrastructure and adds to daily traffic.

This spike is indicative of a larger increase in car ownership in Maharashtra. Approximately 4.5 crore vehicles are now registered in the state, including almost 3 crore two-wheelers and 78 lakh autos. Transportation experts warn that an unregulated reliance on private automobiles might worsen traffic jams and put an excessive amount of strain on infrastructure.

Experts advise encouraging public transportation over everyday driving among workplace commuters. It is seen to be crucial to improve public transport networks and implement measures like congestion pricing. Planners caution that if strong policy changes are not made, Mumbai’s traffic problems might become worse since there is still a shortage of road space.