India, Sept. 7 -- Google Maps says it will take 30 minutes to drive to a place that is barely 10 minutes away as the crow flies. The reason is often not the distance, but the road network: the direct route simply does not exist.

A missing link, dead-end street or large gated block can push traffic onto a busy arterial, where a single breakdown or minor accident can quickly create a gridlock.

This is the paradox of India's growing cities. Governments widen roads, build flyovers and elevated corridors, yet congestion returns. More road capacity attracts more traffic, while neighbourhood streets remain poorly connected.

But what if cities are building roads in the wrong places?

The problem, urban planners and mobility experts say, is not...