Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Megacities in India - statistics & facts
The increasing compaction of people in cities resulting in megacities, which, per the United Nations, is typically an urban agglomeration of 10 million or more is a global phenomenon. By that definition, India is currently home to six megacities: Delhi, the capital city; Mumbai, the financial hub; Bengaluru, the IT epicenter; Chennai, home to the Indian motor industry; Kolkata, a significant trading hub, and the latest addition to the list, Hyderabad. Cities are usually seen as drivers of the national economic growth and GDP globally, and India’s mega and metropolitan cities are no exception.
However, these megacities are also home to large slums, which, per World Bank estimates, account for around over 41 percent of the total urban population in India. Living with marginal amenities in the heart of megacities, the slum-dwellers form part of its informal economy, which accounts for the major share of India’s workforce. Some common occupations include rickshaw-pulling, hawking, household work, vending, and selling handicrafts. Asia’s largest slum in Dharavi, Mumbai, has turned into a mass producer over the years. It consists of several manufacturing units and micro businesses, including leather, food products, textiles, and pottery, and is the hub of Mumbai’s waste recycling. Despite grandiose urban renewal programs, the situation of slum dwellings remains pressing.
The dichotomy of Indian megacities
Post-independence, the First and the Second Five Year Plans (1951-61) focused on providing affordable housing to low-income groups, workers, and government employees. However, the shift after the economic liberalization of the 1900s converted the idea of a city as an embodiment of the development and progress of a country. In the last two decades, policies such as PMAY-U, AMRUT 2.0, and Smart Cities Mission have been initiated to rejuvenate cities to accommodate various strata of society, especially the burgeoning middle class. High-rise buildings adorn the cityscapes of these megacities, which are home not only to the richest people in India but the world.However, these megacities are also home to large slums, which, per World Bank estimates, account for around over 41 percent of the total urban population in India. Living with marginal amenities in the heart of megacities, the slum-dwellers form part of its informal economy, which accounts for the major share of India’s workforce. Some common occupations include rickshaw-pulling, hawking, household work, vending, and selling handicrafts. Asia’s largest slum in Dharavi, Mumbai, has turned into a mass producer over the years. It consists of several manufacturing units and micro businesses, including leather, food products, textiles, and pottery, and is the hub of Mumbai’s waste recycling. Despite grandiose urban renewal programs, the situation of slum dwellings remains pressing.
Building sustainable cities
India’s megacities are faced with mammoth challenges such as toxic air, a decrease in forest cover, depletion of water tables, and poor waste management. India has pledged to sustainable development goals and aims to make its cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. This requires climate-proofing the cities and investment in sustainable energy and infrastructure. As of 2024, India issued green bonds worth over 15 billion U.S. dollars. Moreover, seven Indian cities including five megacities are part of the C40 climate action plan, a global framework to have defined targets for carbon emission reduction. Climate change is expected to induce greater rural-to-urban migration because of droughts, rise in sea levels, and cyclones. The poor, especially migrants in the cities, are at the forefront of the risks of climate change. The United Nations estimate that by 2047, half of India’s population will be living in urban areas. This necessitates a paradigm shift in urban planning, spatial, social, and economic inclusion, and infrastructure and municipal services investments.
