Module Details
Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Professor, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New
Delhi
Paper Coordinator Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Writer Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Reviewer Prof. Kavas Kapadia
Former Dean, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi
Subject Name City & Metropolitan Planning
Module Title Implications of Urbanization
Objectives • Introduction to urbanization
• Causes of urbanization
• Global trends
• Global implications of urbanization
• Variations in developed vs developing countries
• Urbanization trends in India
• Causes of Urbanization in India
• Implications of Urbanization in India
• Issues in Mega cities in India
,Unit structure
1 Introduction 4
1.1 Objectives................................................................................................................................ 4
2 Learning outcome 4
3 Urbanisation – concept and definitions 4
3.1 Urbanisation - concept............................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Defining urbanisation.............................................................................................................. 4
3.3 Spatial dimensions of urbanisation......................................................................................... 5
3.3.1 Urban hierarchy .............................................................................................................. 5
3.3.2 Urban primacy................................................................................................................. 5
3.3.3 Urban Sprawl................................................................................................................... 5
3.3.4 Over urbanisation and under urbanisation..................................................................... 6
4 Determinants of Urbanisation 6
4.1 What prompted urbanisation? ............................................................................................... 6
4.1.1 Industrialization and resultant economic growth........................................................... 6
4.1.2 Economic growth due to resource – exports .................................................................. 6
4.2 Causes of increasing urbanisation rates ................................................................................. 6
4.2.1 Natural increase .............................................................................................................. 6
4.2.2 Rural – urban migration .................................................................................................. 7
4.2.3 Reclassification of urban boundaries .............................................................................. 7
4.2.4 Circular migration ........................................................................................................... 7
5 Global level trends 7
5.1 Increasing urban population ................................................................................................... 7
5.2 Uneven urbanisation............................................................................................................... 8
5.3 Unplanned urban growth, energy consumption and carbon emissions................................. 9
6 Global level implications of urbanisation 10
6.1 Generalized implications....................................................................................................... 10
7 Urbanisation Trends in India 11
7.1 Urbanization trend in different states .................................................................................. 12
7.2 Urban settlements by class-sizes .......................................................................................... 14
8 Distinction of urbanisation 17
9 Urbanization pattern in Indian cities 17
9.1 Urban Sprawl......................................................................................................................... 17
, 9.2 Conurbations......................................................................................................................... 18
9.3 Multicity agglomerations ...................................................................................................... 19
10 Implications of urbanization 19
10.1 Housing shortage .................................................................................................................. 19
10.2 Increasing urban poverty ...................................................................................................... 21
10.3 Increasing pollution............................................................................................................... 21
10.4 Overcrowding and Congestion.............................................................................................. 22
10.5 Lack of Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 22
10.6 Increase in crime ................................................................................................................... 23
10.7 Haphazard Growth of Real Estate Sector.............................................................................. 24
10.8 Unsuccessful urban governance ........................................................................................... 24
11 Aspect wise implications of Urbanisation in India 25
11.1 Physical implications of urbanisation ................................................................................... 25
11.1.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 25
11.1.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 26
11.2 Social implications of urbanisation ....................................................................................... 28
11.2.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 28
11.2.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 31
11.3 Economic implications of urbanisation ................................................................................. 31
11.3.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 31
11.3.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 32
11.4 Environmental Implications of Urbanization ........................................................................ 33
11.4.1 Positive Implications ..................................................................................................... 33
11.4.2 Negative Implications.................................................................................................... 33
11.5 Governance implications of urbanisation ............................................................................. 33
11.5.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 33
11.5.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 34
12 Issues in Mega Cities 34
13 Summary 35
13.1 References ............................................................................................................................ 35
13.2 Related links .......................................................................................................................... 36
, 1 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
Urbanisation is a global phenomenon involving an increase in the proportion of the population that is
urban against the non-urban population, the trends of which has positive as well as negative implications
on the entire world. The objective of this module includes explaining the concept of urbanisation, its
determinants, dimensions and the global level trends and implications.
2 Learning outcome
After studying this module, you should be able to –
• Understand the concept of urbanisation, its determinants and dimensions
• Understand the global level trends and the broad implications
• Understand in detail the varied implications of urbanisation in developed and developing
countries
• Issues in Mega Cities
3 Urbanisation – concept and definitions
3.1 Urbanisation - concept
Any definition of ‘urban’ needs to differentiate between it and the rural part. This is made possible by one
or more of the three elements used to distinguish between the urban and rural areas (Frey.W.H, et.al, 1998)
–
a) Ecological element (Eg. Population size and density)
b) Economic element (Eg. Non agricultural labour force)
c) Social element (Eg. Better access to infrastructure/ services, or negative aspects like
crowding/congestion, pollution, crime, etc)
3.2 Defining urbani sation
Urbanisation is a process of concentration of non-agricultural occupations and land uses around a single
nucleus or multiple nuclei, which is primarily the result of rural to urban shift of population (Prakasa
Rao.V.L.S & Tewari.V.K., 1978). It is also defined as the process by which rural areas become urbanized
as a result of industrialization and/or economic development (Peng,et.al.,2010). Urbanisation level is best
measured by the urban population share, and urbanisation rate is the annual growth rate of this share (UN
Population Division, 2014). The global phenomenon of urbanisation can be explained by two types of
interrelated transitions, overlapping yet distinct – the urban transition and the demographic transition. Urban
transition involves a shift from a predominantly agricultural population living in relatively small, dispersed,
rural settlements towards a predominantly urban-based population engaged mostly in industrial and service
activities (Montgomery.M.R.et.al, 2003). Demographic transition suggests that when socio-economic
development leads to falling mortality rates in a low income settlement, the population will grow until
eventually fertility decreases to the point where population stabilizes and income levels are higher
(Rowland .D.T., 2003).
Before 1850, no society could be described as being fundamentally urban in nature (Davis, 1969). However,
by 2008, half of the world’s population resided in urban areas. With the steadily increasing rate of
Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Professor, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New
Delhi
Paper Coordinator Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Writer Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Reviewer Prof. Kavas Kapadia
Former Dean, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi
Subject Name City & Metropolitan Planning
Module Title Implications of Urbanization
Objectives • Introduction to urbanization
• Causes of urbanization
• Global trends
• Global implications of urbanization
• Variations in developed vs developing countries
• Urbanization trends in India
• Causes of Urbanization in India
• Implications of Urbanization in India
• Issues in Mega cities in India
,Unit structure
1 Introduction 4
1.1 Objectives................................................................................................................................ 4
2 Learning outcome 4
3 Urbanisation – concept and definitions 4
3.1 Urbanisation - concept............................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Defining urbanisation.............................................................................................................. 4
3.3 Spatial dimensions of urbanisation......................................................................................... 5
3.3.1 Urban hierarchy .............................................................................................................. 5
3.3.2 Urban primacy................................................................................................................. 5
3.3.3 Urban Sprawl................................................................................................................... 5
3.3.4 Over urbanisation and under urbanisation..................................................................... 6
4 Determinants of Urbanisation 6
4.1 What prompted urbanisation? ............................................................................................... 6
4.1.1 Industrialization and resultant economic growth........................................................... 6
4.1.2 Economic growth due to resource – exports .................................................................. 6
4.2 Causes of increasing urbanisation rates ................................................................................. 6
4.2.1 Natural increase .............................................................................................................. 6
4.2.2 Rural – urban migration .................................................................................................. 7
4.2.3 Reclassification of urban boundaries .............................................................................. 7
4.2.4 Circular migration ........................................................................................................... 7
5 Global level trends 7
5.1 Increasing urban population ................................................................................................... 7
5.2 Uneven urbanisation............................................................................................................... 8
5.3 Unplanned urban growth, energy consumption and carbon emissions................................. 9
6 Global level implications of urbanisation 10
6.1 Generalized implications....................................................................................................... 10
7 Urbanisation Trends in India 11
7.1 Urbanization trend in different states .................................................................................. 12
7.2 Urban settlements by class-sizes .......................................................................................... 14
8 Distinction of urbanisation 17
9 Urbanization pattern in Indian cities 17
9.1 Urban Sprawl......................................................................................................................... 17
, 9.2 Conurbations......................................................................................................................... 18
9.3 Multicity agglomerations ...................................................................................................... 19
10 Implications of urbanization 19
10.1 Housing shortage .................................................................................................................. 19
10.2 Increasing urban poverty ...................................................................................................... 21
10.3 Increasing pollution............................................................................................................... 21
10.4 Overcrowding and Congestion.............................................................................................. 22
10.5 Lack of Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 22
10.6 Increase in crime ................................................................................................................... 23
10.7 Haphazard Growth of Real Estate Sector.............................................................................. 24
10.8 Unsuccessful urban governance ........................................................................................... 24
11 Aspect wise implications of Urbanisation in India 25
11.1 Physical implications of urbanisation ................................................................................... 25
11.1.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 25
11.1.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 26
11.2 Social implications of urbanisation ....................................................................................... 28
11.2.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 28
11.2.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 31
11.3 Economic implications of urbanisation ................................................................................. 31
11.3.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 31
11.3.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 32
11.4 Environmental Implications of Urbanization ........................................................................ 33
11.4.1 Positive Implications ..................................................................................................... 33
11.4.2 Negative Implications.................................................................................................... 33
11.5 Governance implications of urbanisation ............................................................................. 33
11.5.1 Positive implications ..................................................................................................... 33
11.5.2 Negative implications.................................................................................................... 34
12 Issues in Mega Cities 34
13 Summary 35
13.1 References ............................................................................................................................ 35
13.2 Related links .......................................................................................................................... 36
, 1 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
Urbanisation is a global phenomenon involving an increase in the proportion of the population that is
urban against the non-urban population, the trends of which has positive as well as negative implications
on the entire world. The objective of this module includes explaining the concept of urbanisation, its
determinants, dimensions and the global level trends and implications.
2 Learning outcome
After studying this module, you should be able to –
• Understand the concept of urbanisation, its determinants and dimensions
• Understand the global level trends and the broad implications
• Understand in detail the varied implications of urbanisation in developed and developing
countries
• Issues in Mega Cities
3 Urbanisation – concept and definitions
3.1 Urbanisation - concept
Any definition of ‘urban’ needs to differentiate between it and the rural part. This is made possible by one
or more of the three elements used to distinguish between the urban and rural areas (Frey.W.H, et.al, 1998)
–
a) Ecological element (Eg. Population size and density)
b) Economic element (Eg. Non agricultural labour force)
c) Social element (Eg. Better access to infrastructure/ services, or negative aspects like
crowding/congestion, pollution, crime, etc)
3.2 Defining urbani sation
Urbanisation is a process of concentration of non-agricultural occupations and land uses around a single
nucleus or multiple nuclei, which is primarily the result of rural to urban shift of population (Prakasa
Rao.V.L.S & Tewari.V.K., 1978). It is also defined as the process by which rural areas become urbanized
as a result of industrialization and/or economic development (Peng,et.al.,2010). Urbanisation level is best
measured by the urban population share, and urbanisation rate is the annual growth rate of this share (UN
Population Division, 2014). The global phenomenon of urbanisation can be explained by two types of
interrelated transitions, overlapping yet distinct – the urban transition and the demographic transition. Urban
transition involves a shift from a predominantly agricultural population living in relatively small, dispersed,
rural settlements towards a predominantly urban-based population engaged mostly in industrial and service
activities (Montgomery.M.R.et.al, 2003). Demographic transition suggests that when socio-economic
development leads to falling mortality rates in a low income settlement, the population will grow until
eventually fertility decreases to the point where population stabilizes and income levels are higher
(Rowland .D.T., 2003).
Before 1850, no society could be described as being fundamentally urban in nature (Davis, 1969). However,
by 2008, half of the world’s population resided in urban areas. With the steadily increasing rate of
