According to transport department data, private two-wheelers and cars dominate new registrations in Kolkata. This, say experts, underlines the diminishing role of public transport in the city. While 2,185 buses were decommissioned last year, only 154 new ones were registered across the city's four RTOs. Tram services are now limited to only two routes but operations are irregular.

"The statistics demonstrate economic vitality and increased mobility, but necessitate immediate attention to sustainable urban development, enhanced public transport systems and improved infrastructure coordination to ensure growth and liveability," said Bhargav Maitra, a traffic and transport expert from IIT Kharagpur.

The trend extended beyond Kolkata with 11,84,939 vehicles registered in Bengal in 2024, leading to an 18.2% rise over 2023. The number of new vehicles has increased since 2021, when it was 9.5 lakh, indicating a sharp post-Covid recovery.