India will have 7 megacities by 2030, says UN

[ashok321]

The noise and bustle on the streets of India’s biggest cities is a defining characteristic of a country that’s home to over a billion people.

Every year, millions more leave their traditional homes in rural towns and villages and head into urban areas. The United Nations World Cities Report 2016 says 9.6 million people will move to New Delhi by 2030.


To qualify as a megacity under the UN definition, an urban area must have a population of 10 million people. The UN takes into account urban sprawl and measures populations beyond official city limits. On these criteria, India currently has five megacities.

1. New Delhi The capital city has a population of 26.5 million people
2. Mumbai India’s financial hub has a population of 21.4 million people
3. Kolkata An important trading hub, with 15 million people living in urban area
4. Bengaluru The ‘Silicon Valley’ of India; 10.5 million people call it home
5. Chennai Home of the Indian motor industry, as well as 10.2 million people

Other urban areas in India are growing rapidly as people look to cities for jobs and financial security, as well as the chance of a better education for their children. This rural-to-urban migration will result in two more urban areas becoming megacities by 2030, says the UN.

1. Hyderabad A strong IT hub and tourism centre. It may be home to 12.8 million by 2030
2. Ahmedabad The heart of the textile industry is expected to house 10.5 million by 2030

The UN’s World Cities report finds that big cities "create wealth, generate employment and drive human progress". On the downside, megacities are also responsible for driving climate change, inequality and exclusion, as well as the breakdown of traditional family structures, which leaves elderly people isolated and vulnerable.

Image: UN World Cities Report
Megacities and mega-slums

Many millions of people who move to India’s growing cities will miss out on the economic benefits of urban living. The UN report says the number of people living in slums across the developing world rose from 689 million to 880 million between 1990 and 2014. The Dharavi slum in Mumbai is home to an estimated one million people. New arrivals are not totally deprived of opportunities, however. According to the Economic Times of India, the slum has an economic output estimated at $1 billion a year.

Image: UN World Cities Report
The global rise of megacities

The drift from rural to urban living is not exclusive to India; it's happening across the developing world. The UN report says 500 million people currently live in 31 megacities around the world.

What's more, the number of cities with populations of more than 10 million people will rise to 41 by 2030. Most of that growth will happen in Asia and Africa. The two continents will be home to 33 of those 41 megacities by 2030.

 

[endyashainin]

Megacities or mega slums? There is a huge difference. I think all of them will be mega slums.

 

[AndrewJin]

My city has 10 million people, but we have 8000km2 land. It is not so crowded in downtown. We have lots of big parks in the city centre.

 

[gayMo]

My city has 10 million people, but we have 8000km2 land. It is not so crowded in downtown. We have lots of big parks in the city centre.

Yea I have seen those cookie cutter western style cities. Good for you. But like Singapore none of the Chinese cities have a character

Except HK. That's because they are all mass built post 1990 and it will take a few decades to build one.

Megacities or mega slums? There is a huge difference. I think all of them will be mega slums.

Mumbai is a great city. Very lively with a can do attitude in its people. It's easily the most diverse cities in Asia.

 

[endyashainin]

Yea I have seen those cookie cutter western style cities. Good for you. But like Singapore none of the Chinese cities have a character

Except HK. That's because they are all mass built post 1990 and it will take a few decades to build one.


Mumbai is a great city. Very lively with a can do attitude in its people. It's easily the most diverse cities in Asia.

LOL, yep, mega slum Mumbai has a lot of character, only if you think garbage dumps are tourist attractions.

 

[gayMo]

LOL, yep, mega slum Mumbai has a lot of character, only if you think garbage dumps are tourist attractions.

You would be surprised if the number of people visiting Mumbai. Not just legally but illegally also.

 

[AndrewJin]

Megacities or mega slums? There is a huge difference. I think all of them will be mega slums.

PDF RSSers are really always in delusional mode. Their showpiece is worse than the provincial capital of our poorest province.

 

[gayMo]

PDF RSSers are really always in delusional mode. Their showpiece is worse than the provincial capital of our poorest province.

Who ever compared. Maybe you have a new showpiece that most do not care because it's so seen these types. If I say Frankfurt or Taipei or Abu Dhabi or Dallas do you care ? Chinese cities are in same category. But talk about Bangkok or Mumbai or HCMC people immediately want to know more. It's not always about buildings although I do admit that you have a more clean and liveable city.

 

[AndrewJin]

LOL, yep, mega slum Mumbai has a lot of character, only if you think garbage dumps are tourist attractions.

I think they should be practical.
Over confidence is not really confidence but living in delusion and denial.

Guiyang City, capital of china'a poorest province

 

[endyashainin]

Who ever compared. Maybe you have a new showpiece that most do not care because it's so seen these types. If I say Frankfurt or Taipei or Abu Dhabi or Dallas do you care ? Chinese cities are in same category. But talk about Bangkok or Mumbai or HCMC people immediately want to know more. It's not always about buildings although I do admit that you have a more clean and liveable city.

I agree, the Chinese prefer cleanliness. Indians prefer living in or near garbage dumps. Different people and different cultures. Let's not judge.

Who ever compared.

Well, who's this Manmohan Singh?

"When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the chief minister and senior Congress leaders to transform Mumbai in the next five years in such a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point..."

 

[gayMo]

I agree, the Chinese prefer cleanliness. Indians prefer living in or near garbage dumps. Different people and different cultures. Let's not judge.

yep, Indians live near garbage dumps but seeing what Chinese eat I think garbage dumps live inside Chinese. But I am not one to judge

I agree, the Chinese prefer cleanliness. Indians prefer living in or near garbage dumps. Different people and different cultures. Let's not judge.




Well, who's this Manmohan Singh?

"When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the chief minister and senior Congress leaders to transform Mumbai in the next five years in such a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point..."

Lol mms. China also talks of peaceful rise.
Don't worry in a few years Mumbai will want to be like Jakarta and after that like Colombo and then heavens forbid like Karachi.

 

[AndrewJin]

I agree, the Chinese prefer cleanliness. Indians prefer living in or near garbage dumps. Different people and different cultures. Let's not judge.




Well, who's this Manmohan Singh?

"When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the chief minister and senior Congress leaders to transform Mumbai in the next five years in such a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point..."

I am just wondering can Mumbai match Shanghai in cleanness one century ago.

Maybe first try to match a little township in China's poorest province.

PDF RSSers alway make a scene here.

 

[gayMo]

I am just wondering can Mumbai match Shanghai in cleanness one century ago.

Maybe first try to match a little township in China's poorest province.

PDF RSSers alway make a sense here.

You guys don't understand. It's not about poor or rich. It's about political priorities.
For eg you guys control the poor to migrate to cities but we don't. That has a big impact on the city.

 

[coffee_cup]

Mega cities with mega slums is a cause of concern and not something to be proud of.

I would rather want to see big cities without slums in the Sub-continent. This unplanned urbanization is going to become a serious problem in the future.

 

[gayMo]

Mega cities with mega slums is a cause of concern and not something to be proud of.

I would rather want to see big cities without slums in the Sub-continent. This unplanned urbanization is going to become a serious problem in the future.

That's a quotable quote