Revving Trouble? What India’s two-wheeler boom means for urban mobility

Experts attribute this sudden rise in two-wheeler ownership to poor public transport in Indian cities.

India is currently grappling with a dramatic increase in the number of two-wheelers — an oft overlooked element of the road. Over the past two decades, the number of four-wheelers on the country’s roads has seen a marked rise, which is often blamed for the massive snarls that almost all Indian cities now grapple with. However, two-wheelers have flooded the streets at an unprecedented rate, and while this boom has ensured the security of mobility to millions, it has exacerbated

In 2024, Delhi alone added 448,767 two-wheelers, pushing the total number of motorcycles and scooters on the streets of the Capital past 5.7 million, from 5.2 million in 2023, according to official figures. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)