Population and Urbanization in the Twenty-First Century: India’s Megacities
Author(s)
Krishna-Hensel, Sai Felicia
Abstract
Megacity growth is a central feature of Indian development. Cities that were already large at the time of independence, such as Calcutta, Bombay, and Madra, have continued to increase in size until they have reached the category of megacities – urban areas with populations exceeding eight million. The same locational and economic forces that drove the original growth of cities at favorable geographic sites have continued to attract migrants in search of opportunities. While urban agglomeration is often seen as evidence of successful modernization, there are increasing problems associated with growth. The difficulties facing megacities are potentially overwhelming. They appear to be too large to be efficiently administered through one central agency, requiring the development of effective local institutions to provide education, health, hygiene, and other services. But in addition to being a huge challenge for administrators, megacities are also laboratories for ingenious local experimentation.
