Urban vehicular pollution has become a critical issue in the contemporary world, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanisation and the concentration of human activities in metropolitan areas. When discussing urban pollution, we tend to concentrate more on the air, sound and water pollution in urban areas. But it is equally important to delve into other attributes that influence and worsen the already prevalent pollution.

We leave out one important aspect of pollution: urban congestion and its subsequent effects. The increase in vehicular ownership in India leads to congestion on urban roads, resulting in commuters spending more time on roads being stuck in traffic, leading to increased carbon emissions.

The word congestion is often used in relation to vehicle traffic by specialists and the general public alike. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 2002) defines it as “abnormal accumulation, crowding, or obstruction, especially of traffic, etc.” It is commonly understood as a situation in which many vehicles are in motion and each of them progresses slowly and fitfully.

Even though these definitions are subjective and fit into everyday usage, they are not completely accurate. Many attempts have been made to define what congestion is and to determine the origin point of traffic congestion. Multiple reports and research materials are available to get a better understanding of the same.

This podcast discusses how traffic congestion contributes to urban pollution, what the possible reasons are and explores solutions for the same. The rationale for discussing urban congestion lies in its multifaceted impacts on economic efficiency, environmental sustainability and social well-being. Traffic congestion leads to significant economic costs due to lost productivity, increased fuel consumption, and delays in goods and services delivery. Additionally, it exacerbates aspects of conventional air and sound pollution.