New Delhi: According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2023, Kolkata has once again been ranked the safest major city in India, maintaining its top position for the fourth consecutive year. The report, which analyzes crime rates across 19 major metropolitan cities, revealed that Kolkata recorded the lowest crime rate of just 83.9 incidents per lakh population. This figure is a further improvement from previous years, showing a consistent decline from 103.5 in 2021 and 86.5 in 2022.

The NCRB report places Kochi, Kerala, at the opposite end of the spectrum, registering the highest crime rate among the cities surveyed at a staggering 3,192.4 per lakh people. The national average crime rate for these 19 cities stands at 828. Following Kolkata, the list of safest cities is led by Hyderabad (332.3), Pune (337.1), and Mumbai (355.4).

Southern Cities Show Strong Safety Record, Bangalore Lags Behind

Two major cities from Tamil Nadu have secured commendable positions in the safety rankings. Coimbatore and Chennai have been ranked as the 5th and 6th safest cities in India, respectively. Coimbatore reported a crime rate of 409.7, while Chennai’s rate was slightly higher at 419.8, both significantly better than the national average for major metros.

In contrast, Bangalore, another major southern metropolis, found itself much lower on the list. With a crime rate of 806.2, it was ranked as the 9th safest city, placing it just above the national average. The list of cities with the highest crime rates, after Kochi, includes the national capital, Delhi (2,105.3), followed by Surat (1,377.1), Jaipur (1,276.8), and Patna (1,149.5). The NCRB compiles this data based on crimes officially reported and registered in police records from states and union territories.