Case study: Mumbai, India (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Causes of urban growth in Mumbai, India

Background

• Mumbai is the capital city of the Maharashtra state on the western coast of India

• Originally, Mumbai was a number of separate islands

• These were joined through large-scale land reclamation and causeway projects

• Mumbai has more millionaires and billionaires than any other Indian city, but also the highest rates of poverty

  • Mumbai contributes 31% of India's entire tax revenue

• Mumbai is the commercial and financial capital of India

  • Its growth is in hi-tech, call centres and online banking

    • The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) secured Mumbai's position as a financial hub, attracting banks and financial institutions

  • Approximately, 40% of Maharashtra state’s income come from Mumbai alone

• Mumbai has always been a significant trading port and remains the wealthiest city on the north-west coast of India

  • Over 60% of India’s trade is through Nhava Sheva container port

• Mumbai has air transport links to many world cities and is popular with international tourists

Mumbai's growth

• Mumbai's urban growth is a combination of

  • Natural increase through high birth rates

  • Rural-to-urban migration – an estimated 60% of people moving to Mumbai are from villages within the state of Maharashtra

  • Most migrants are male, and aged 20-21 years

• Mumbai is India's most populous city and its growth has been large and steady

• In 1950, Mumbai had a population of 1.6 million people and increased 10-fold to 16 million by 2000

• In 2024, there were an estimated 25 million people living in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which includes 12.6 million people within the city of Mumbai itself

• Due to limited physical expansion, Mumbai has the second highest population density in the world, with 26,357 persons per km²

• Approximately 3 million people commute daily into the city

Pull factors

• Mumbai offers better job prospects and higher wages

  • Large multi-national companies such as Coca-Cola and Tata Steel provide employment and generate income across the region

• Mumbai has better access to education, healthcare, and improved living conditions compared to rural areas

• Mumbai is home to Bollywood, which is the biggest film industry in the world

  • Mumbai is a significant global fashion centre, from affordable street markets to luxury designer boutiques and international fashion shows

Push factors

• Maharashtra state is more rural than Mumbai and half of the population works in agriculture

• Farming has undergone massive changes in India in recent decades

• The increased use of machinery has forced people out of work

• Small-scale farmers are vulnerable to bad weather and poor harvests and some are forced to sell up and migrate

• Many young people see farming as hard work with long hours and low pay

Housing in Mumbai, India

• Rapid urban growth has led to a significant increase in rural-to-urban migration, resulting in one of the largest unplanned settlements globally

• Dharavi is home to about 1 million residents and occupies an area equivalent to 500 football pitches

• Residents in Dharavi face severe challenges, including inadequate:

  • Water supplies

  • Sanitation

  • Waste services

• Poor infrastructure and transport contribute to increasing pollution, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid

• The government plans to redevelop Dharavi into high-end real estate due to rising land prices and limited space

• There are over 12,000 companies, 58,000 families, and more than 100,000 people who work in the informal economy, mostly in leather, ceramics, and textiles in Dharavi

• Authorities are considering two approaches to improve housing through the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme

  • a bottom-up approach with NGO assistance

  • a top-down approach involving demolition and new construction

Redevelopment of Dharavi

• The 2004 scheme for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project never happened, but in October 2022, new plans were made to deal with the problem of informal housing

• The government invited companies to submit proposals for redevelopment

• The Adani Group won the bid to replace informal housing with high-rise apartments

• The Adani Group plans to provide free housing with essential services for displaced residents, affecting around 68,000 people

• To qualify for new housing, residents must prove their informal homes were built before January 2000, raising concerns among long-term residents

• Many residents and business owners are worried that high-rise developments will erode the community spirit and and have a negative influence on the informal economy

• Residents and business owners say they weren't consulted on the development plans

• There is uncertainty about details like room sizes in the new apartments

• This poses a problem for extended families if they only receive one apartment

Transport in Mumbai, India

• The city faces challenges related to traffic congestion, air pollution, and the impact of suburbanisation on transport infrastructure

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks Mumbai as the fourth most polluted megacity in the world

• Car ownership is expensive which leads many people to rely on public transport

  • This reliance contributes to overcrowding and air pollution, particularly from older, inefficient vehicles

• Furthermore, Mumbai's suburban growth has increased transport demand and infrastructure upgrades

• Mumbai has a train and bus network but these are also often overcrowded and face capacity issues

• Due to narrow streets, public transport often struggles to reach informal settlements, forcing residents to walk and increasing the risk of accidents

Mumbai's train network

• Mumbai's rail network is the busiest in the world

• The rail network spans 465 km and carries over 7.5 million commuters daily

• Trains are overcrowded during peak hours, with commuters often squeezed into carriages

• More than 2000 people die annually from train-related accidents

  • Most deaths are caused by passengers crossing tracks, sitting on train roofs and being electrocuted by overhead cables, or hanging from doors and windows

• Many strategies and projects have concentrated on improving the supply of transport facilities without sorting the problems of demand

  • This has wasted money, caused traffic jams and delayed travel times

Mumbai's monorail system

• India's first monorail, aims to provide a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional road-based transportation

• The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) claimed it suited congested areas and could carry 20,000 passengers per hour along a 20 km corridor from Chembur to Wadala to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk

• Long-term goal included land development and economic growth along its path

• The monorail system has been in commercial operation since 2014, but the number of people using it has been lower than initially projected

• The system has faced challenges including

  • Being over budget

  • Having a route that is poorly connected to other forms of transport

  • Closest suburban station is 4 km away, increasing travel time and costs

  • Issues with maintenance, accidents, and a fire in 2017 shut down services for 10 months

  • Overlooking cheaper alternatives like bus rapid transit

  • Ridership dropped from 15,000 to 10,000 per day post-closure

• Despite the challenges, the Mumbai Monorail is India's only working monorail system

• System improvements, including upgrades and more regular services, are ongoing

Mumbai's metro plan

• Construction of the metro began in 2008 and aims to expand and improve the city's rail-based mass transit system

• The project links businesses and residential areas in South Mumbai

• Metro connects the Bandra Kurla apartment complex in Mumbai, the International Airport, and northern residential areas

• The system aims to transport 17 million passengers daily and hopes to reduce bus and taxi pressure

  • It aims to cut private car journeys by half a million daily and promote healthier living with bus and pedestrian pathways

• The system includes rainwater harvesting and solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint

• The Mumbai Metro is being built in three phases, over 15 years, with completion expected in October 2026

• The total cost of the project is approximately $6.84 billion (US)

Mumbai's bus rapid transit system (BRTS)

• The system provides efficient public transport

• It features dedicated bus lanes and priority at intersections

• BRTS stations enhance boarding and alighting, with features such as raised platforms and off-board fare collection

• The high-capacity buses carry more passengers which improves reliability and speed while reducing congestion and pollution

• It offers a better option for commuters

• BRTS is cost-effective and uses existing infrastructure

• It promotes sustainable travel by reducing private vehicle use

Green spaces in Mumbai, India

Mangrove forests

• Mumbai's population has grown to over 20 million and existing green spaces are under threat

• The growth has led to the clearing of mangrove forests for housing and industry

• Mangroves are vital for air quality

  • They moderate temperatures and reduce CO₂ levels

  • They filter water and keep rivers clean

  • They also provide relaxation spaces

• In 2017, authorities announced a $1 billion investment to update treatment plants

• This plan involves cutting down 87 hectares of mangroves

• Campaigns are underway to protect Mumbai's mangroves with a proposal for a mangrove park in Dharavi

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

• In 1869, the area was designated a reserved forest, named Bombay Forest, to protect the natural landscape from the growing city of Mumbai

• Today this large park provides a significant area of green space, supporting biodiversity and offering recreational opportunities

Urban Forests

• There are efforts to find and protect the last urban forest areas, which are important in keeping the city's microclimate and air quality

• An important urban forest, the Aarey Milk Colony stands between the city and the national park and is a major green area in Mumbai

• The area is a rich diversity of flora and fauna, and it has been a centre of conservation efforts, especially due to its role in protecting the city's green spaces

Community gardens

• These gardens provide a space for residents to grow their food and connect with nature 

• Mumbai's Ambedkar Nagar slum is a good example of a community turning a dump site and breeding ground for pests and disease into a recreational community garden

Promenades and cycling tracks:

• Integrating green spaces with urban areas through promenades and cycling tracks promotes active transportation and recreational activities

• Mumbai has several promenades and cycling tracks along its coastline and in various parks

• Popular areas include Marine Drive, which is a famous promenade with a wide track for cyclists and pedestrians

• Other scenic locations for cycling include Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Milk Colony

• The Mumbai Coastal Road project also includes a dedicated cycle track and promenade along the shoreline