Comptroller and Auditor-General K. Sanjay Murthy said on May 7, 2026, that global congestion indices had increased from 20% to 25% by 2025, resulting in urban commuters losing between 100 and 180 hours of productive time each year. He made the remarks at the 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’ Summit in Bengaluru, highlighting systemic failures in urban transport planning.

Murthy stated that urban mobility challenges stem not from insufficient infrastructure but from disjointed systems, citing metro lines that fail to connect with bus networks and flyovers that only displace congestion. He criticized the focus on construction outputs over outcomes like reduced commute times, improved air quality, and equitable access. He noted Indian cities occupy 3% of the country’s land but generate 60% of its GDP.

The CAG is conducting a special audit of 101 Indian cities to evaluate Ease of Living based on quality of life, access, sustainability, and public perception. The audit includes multi-modal transport and first-mile, last-mile logistics, carried out in collaboration with IIT, IIM, and the World Bank.

The BRICS SAI Summit, held during India’s 2026 Chairmanship, brings together 42 delegates from member countries to strengthen public financial oversight and exchange audit practices. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.