Urbanisation in India
Geography: KS3, topic 18.2.2
Urbanisation
Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi are the three most populated cities in India.
Urbanisation
- The rate of urbanisation in India is increasing.
- 34% of people now live in urban areas of the country.
- The three most populated cities in India are:
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Delhi
Mumbai
- Mumbai is located in the state of Maharashtra and is one of the key cities on the west coast of the country.
- The population of Mumbai from the 2001 census was 12 million, but the wider metropolitan area is estimated to be over 22 million.
Population growth
- The cause of rapid population growth in Mumbai in recent decades has been the result of natural increase and rural-urban migration.
- This has resulted in a rapid expansion of squatter settlements on the edge of the city leading to several challenges for the government including:
- Sanitation issues, diseases, water shortages and waste disposal.
Kolkata
- Kolkata, located in the state of West Bengal, has an estimated population of 4.6 million and is the 7th most populated city in India.
- If you include the wider metropolitan area the city’s population exceeds 14 million, making it the 3rd largest city in relation to its metropolitan area.
Urban growth
- Similar to Mumbai, Kolkata has experienced rapid urban growth because of natural increase and rural-urban migration which has also created challenges for the government.
Congestion and waste
- Traffic congestion in both cities is a huge issue, with gridlocked roads and dangerously packed trains a daily challenge due to millions of people trying to navigate around the city.
- In terms of waste disposal, Mumbai is struggling to deal with the 7000 metric tonnes of rubbish produced each day, leading to overflowing waste on the streets, causing diseases to spread.
The future
- The Indian government recognises that measures must be taken to make these cities habitable.
- Mumbai officials have considered several options to try and deal with the challenges caused by the rapid population growth, such as:
- Driverless cars, improved traffic lighting, new waste disposal recycling schemes and awareness of the issues through educating its citizens on how to live more sustainably.
Test yourself on Urbanisation in India
What percentage of people now live in urban areas in India?