PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 21 -- The rising number of vehicles on Sangam city roads with each passing year is posing a major challenge for the staff-starved traffic department, which struggles daily to manage the worsening vehicular congestion.

Between 2016 and 2024, a significant 8,61,422 new vehicles hit city roads, bringing the annual average to 95,713 vehicles. Currently, around 17.58 lakh vehicles are registered with the regional transport office (RTO) under 32 categories of vehicles.

Of the total number of new vehicles added between 2016 and 2024, over 97% (8,37,180) are two-wheelers and cars.

According to records from the RTO, Prayagraj, a total of 1,00,313 new vehicles were registered in 2016, followed by 1,17,349 in 2017, 1,20,520 in 201...