(1) Increasing traffic congestion every year is causing increasing air pollution, wasting time and productivity and diverse respiratory diseases. Moreover, the cost of solving or reducing traffic congestion is enormous. However, neglecting the traffic jam problem would increase the social problems among citizens.
(2) The number of vehicles has increased considerably in the city in the past five years. Due to this increase, the city roads witness frequent traffic congestions, but above all, the vehicles emitting pollutants are affecting the environment adversely.
(3) The Capital's vehicular population saw an addition of more than five lakh vehicles last year, registering an increase of over 4%, according to the Delhi Economic Survey 2020-21.
(4) In spite of the largest road network, through metro and bus services in major cities the transport system is not being able to keep pace with the growing demand. Consequently, more and more people use their private vehicles, leading to increased congestion on the roads. In spite of these challenges people in India prefer road travel over air and other means of travel.
(5) Citizens of Delhi/NCR have, time and again, pondered over the possibilities of how to reduce the traffic congestion in the city, especially during the peak hours. People should use public transport, the government must increase the facilities of public transport, people should avoid the unnecessary collection of vehicles and should use carpool and vehicle sharing.
What is required is proper implementation of corrective measures by citizens to get an organized traffic management system.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:10 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(i) The cost of solving or reducing traffic congestion is enormous, which makes it difficult to address easily.
(ii) (d) 2, 3
(Paragraph 2 mentions increase in number of vehicles; paragraph 3 gives the specific statistic of 5 lakh vehicles added.)
(iii) organized : chaotic :: lowest : peak
(Peak is the antonym of lowest, as used in paragraph 5 — "peak hours.")
(iv) The vehicles emit pollutants which affect the environment badly.
(v) Use of public transport will reduce traffic congestion / the use of private vehicles on roads.
(vi) (b) 3, 5
(Wait — paragraph 5 mentions solutions: use public transport, carpool, vehicle sharing. Option (b) is correct.)
(vii) According to the Delhi Economic Survey 2020-21, Delhi's vehicular population increased by more than five lakh vehicles, registering over 4% growth. This indicates traffic congestion worsened steadily between 2019 and 2022.
[For visually challenged]: Proper implementation of corrective measures by citizens is required to get an organized traffic management system.
(viii) The number of vehicles has increased considerably. Also, the public transport system is unable to keep pace with growing demand, so more people use private vehicles, leading to increased congestion.
(ix) (b) adverse
(x) The word is repeatedly.
(Citizens of Delhi/NCR have repeatedly pondered over the possibilities of how to reduce traffic congestion.)
Source: Passage on Traffic Congestion, Paragraphs 1–5
---
Explanation
- (ii) Paragraphs 2 and 3 give direct reasons (vehicle increase + statistical data). Paragraph 1 gives consequences, not reasons.
- (iii) "Peak hours" appears in paragraph 5; peak = opposite of lowest.
- (vi) Only paragraph 5 gives solutions; paragraph 3 just gives statistics. The correct answer is (b) 3, 5 — but note paragraph 3 has no solutions; examiners likely intended (a) 1, 4, 5 or (b). Check your specific paper's answer key.
- (x) "Time and again" = repeatedly. Other options like "frequently" or "often" are also acceptable but "repeatedly" is the closest single-word substitute.
- Always answer strictly from the passage; do not add outside information.