Mumbai - Urban Environments Case Study

• Location of Mumbai 


  -Mumbai is located on the western coast of Maharashtra state in western India, bordering the Arabian sea.

  -The city is on a narrow peninsula
• Regional Importance of Mumbai

  -Mumbai has an estimated population of 20 million people and is India’s biggest city. Making it a Megacity

  -3 million people commute from surrounding areas to Mumbai for work.

  -The population of Mumbai is constantly growing, taking the young workforce from neighboring cities

  -The city contributes 40% of the total income of the whole state of Maharashtra

  -The Hi-tech industry is growing call centres, online banking and software development
• National Importance of Mumbai

  • It is India’s commercial and financial capital contributing around US $310 billion to its economy and it is responsible for 25% of industrial output. 
  • Nationally Mumbau contributes 33% of all income tax and 60% of all customs duty from trade
  • The Reserve Bank of India is located in Mumbai and are most of the leading banks. 
  • Bollywood is in Mumbai
  • Mumbai has the highest percentage of internet access of any Indian city which is 12 million people
  • It is a transport hub and links to all major industrial cities in India
• International Importance of Mumbai

  • It receives the largest amount of foreign investment of any other city in India
  • It has the largest number of international companies in India
  • Mumbai’s tourism industry is booming with thousands flocking to the area from all over the globe.
  • The Bank of America, Volkswagen, Walt Disney and many more international companies have their headquarters located in the city.
• Why has Mumbai Grown?

  Mumbai has seen a significant increase in population from 3 million in 1950 to an estimated 20 million in 2020. Its population is expected to carry on increasing in the future due to natural increase and migration.
• Natural Increase in Mumbai

  Mumbai has a birth rate of 2 children per woman this has led the population to grow by approximately 5% year on year (which can equal around 1 million extra people per year). This has led to natural increase and this will continue in the future.
• Rural to Urban migration reasons general

  -Fast population growth in rural areas results in depressed wages (underemployment) and scarcity of goods

  -Higher productivity in cities leads to higher wages and an improving quality of life in urban areas. The bigger the perceived contrast in life chances between rural and urban areas, the greater the speed of urban population growth. This is why cities in poor countries tend to grow fastest.

  -Most people that migrate also tend to be young adults who are looking for work and then to have a family.
• Rural to Urban Migration in Mumbai

  • As a result, Mumbai’s growth was fastest when the city was less well developed than it is today. Between 1971 and 1981 the population grew by 38.1%, whereas between 2001 and 2011 the population grew by 4.7%. 
  • Pull factors include clusters of similar businesses which act as a magnet for employees, such as leather goods in Dharavi, Mumbai.
  • Public services are easier to fund in densely populated areas. Cities therefore have better health and education outcomes which tend to increase productivity and incomes.
• Economic and social wellbeing in Mumbai

  Squatter settlements are common in Mumbai and a popular form of housing are Chawls which are overcrowded blocks of one small room which were built over 100 years ago. This type of accommodation is no longer built, but the remaining structures are still in demand because they are cheap to rent. These settlements are typically poorly constructed and overcrowded. 
• Dharavi Slum Background 


  -Around 30% of slum residents have access to public healthcare

  -The infant mortality rate is around 26 per 1000 in slums

  -Around 60% of Mumbai’s population live in slums but they only occupy 12% of Mumbai’s land

  -Dharavi is Mumbai’s and India’s biggest squatter settlement, with a population of approximately 1.2 million people crowded into one square mile. Many of the residents are second generation, living in small dwellings with many extended family members.
• Issues of the Dharavi Slum

  • It lies between two railway lines on low-lying land which was previously used as a rubbish tip. 
  • People live by open sewers, and children play amongst the sewage waste. Access to freshwater is mainly by standpipes only for two hours as water is rationed.
  •  There is an average of one toilet per 1,450 people. The average life expectancy is under 60 years old compared to the national average of 69.27 years in 2020. 
  • Many houses are made from wood, corrugated iron, plastic sheeting or metal from oil drums which can collapse in extreme weather conditions
• Why has the Dharavi Slum grown so much?

  • Many people who migrate to Mumbai don’t realise how expensive it is to live there and how it is not that easy to get a job so they end up living cheaply in slums such as Dharavi and because Dharavi has a big informal sector there are jobs available which attracts people.
  • Second generation people also struggle to earn enough to move out so stay there their whole lives living with extended family which means the population is not declining.
• Historical reasons for the growth of the Dharavi slum

  • Under British rule it started growing in numbers due to the migration of poor rural indians into Mumbai and the removal of residents from the peninsular city centre by the colonial government;
  •  Another reason for its expansion is that factories were removed, which meant many workers couldn't afford to rent a place and decided to move to the Dharavi Slum to maintain a cheaper life
• What jobs do people do in the Dharavi slum?

  • There are many small businesses for people to purchase everyday items
  • It has around 5,000 businesses and 15,000 single room factories
  • The recycling industry is one of the major industries in the slum but creates heavy pollution
  • There are textile industries and jewelry industries which export goods around the world. The total amount of money earnt from this is around £400 million. Due to this, the yearly income for residents is around £400 to £1,600.
  • 75% of people have a job and most work locally, with an annual turnover of £350 million
• How many people live below the poverty line in Mumbai?

  20%
• How many millionaires are in Mumbai?

  246 millionaires. (The highest number in any Indian city)
• Where are the wealthy areas in Mumbai?

  Wealthy areas can be found along the coastline and inner city, situated in areas with picturesque views and far away from other settlements. An example is Malabar which is one of the richest residential areas, home to many business people and it is a tourist attraction with the Walkeshwar Temple and Chowpatty beach. Also some of the richest districts include Bandra and Andheri which both of them offer amenities such as shopping centres, restaurants and private hospitals. 
• Mumbai Inequalities in Education

  • the literacy rate is around 60% in slums, compared to 90% in the city as a whole. Also there are gender inequalities because the literacy rate is lower for women. 
• Flooding in Mumbai 


  • The city receives regular flooding. Urban growth was mainly to blame for this as the rapid growth has removed many green areas in the city. 
  • 5 rivers flow through the city so it has limited room to expand because of this many new developments have been built on floodplains.
  • Slum areas are more vulnerable to floods, as they are poorly constructed houses and are often built on floodplains. For example 70% of Mithi River’s embankments are occupied by informal settlements. 
• Monsoons in MUmbai 


  • Mumbai has a tropical climate, the monsoon climate brings heavy rainfall to the city between June and September
  • For example in July 2005, monsoon rains caused the Mithi River to burst its banks, the flooding killed about 400 people and left thousands homeless. Flooding of drainage systems caused water contamination and an increase in waterborne diseases such as cholera, which killed more people. Also because 70% of the Mithi River’s embankments are occupied by slums this meant that the poor were impacted more. 
• Water Pollution in Mumbai

  • 77% of households suffer from poor water quality
  • This leads to waterborne diseases 
  • Toxic chemicals such as arsenic and lead and disease-causing bacteria are also contributing to the alarming increase in the water contamination. Deadly waterborne diseases like cholera, jaundice, typhoid, diarrhoea are affecting people as a result.
• Air Pollution in Mumbai

  • Mumbai has some very dirty air including dangerous levels of Nitrous Oxides and small dust particles called particulate matter.  These are both hazardous to human health and can cause things like asthma. The causes of this pollution are industry, ever increasing numbers of cars and construction dust.
• Waste in Mumbai 


  • Mumbai produces 7,500 metric tonnes of waste every day, a huge amount.  There is no comprehensive city based system of collection and this waste poses a hazard to human health
  • Positives - Dharavi has a recycling zone and it is claimed that  its recycling zone could be the way forward to a sustainable future. Everything is recycled from cosmetics and plastics to computer keyboards. 23% of plastic waste gets recycled in the UK, in Dharavi it is 80%.
• Road network in Mumbai

  • There are more than 22 million vehicles registered in Mumbai and these contribute to both noise and air pollution, as well as lots of lost hours as people sit in traffic jams.
• Mumbai - Location on a Peninsula

  Mumbai is surrounded by sea on 3 sides and this means that there is limited space to expand which can lead to overcrowding.

  Rising sea levels also pose a threat as Mumbai is on a peninsula and this can cause flooding and this will become more severe in the future.
• Mumbai - Multi Hazardous Area

  • Mumbai is located in a seismically active area, and so it is at risk from earthquakes. 
  • Earthquakes can cause tsunamis, and since Mumbai is low-lying, a tsunami could cause extensive damage.
  • Also many of the housing in Mumbai is informal so earthquakes and Tsunamis could cause extensive damage. 
• Greater Mumbai Disaster Management Action plan:

  • It was created to ensure the city has a plan in place to reduce the chances of flooding within the city after 5000 people were killed and there were severe economic and social impacts after a flash flood in 2005.
  • The plan also reduces the risks of communicable diseases spreading after extreme weather events
  • In addition, the plan also included the enhancement of advanced monitoring and warning systems that would alert Mumbai's population of impending disasters.
• Cultural Diversity in Mumbai

  -Hinduism is the majority religion in Mumbai city, with 65.99 % followers. Islam is the second most popular religion in Mumbai, with approximately 20.65 % following it. There are also some Christians, Jews and Buddhists in the city.

  -Mumbai’s cultural life reflects its ethnically diverse population.

  -There is also a mixture of British, Muslim and Hindu styles of architecture.
• Cultural Institutions in Mumbai

  -The city has a number of museums, libraries, art galleries, cricket grounds and other cultural institutions.

  -Cricket matches, which are popular throughout India, are played at Wankhede Stadium and Brabourne Stadium (which is the headquarters and main pitch of the Cricket Club of India.)
• Urban Governance in Mumbai

  Poor urban planning and inadequate coordination between different agencies have often resulted in a lack of zoning regulations, and unplanned growth in certain areas, making it difficult to provide services like transport, healthcare, and education efficiently.
• Mumbai Future problems: Overpopulation and Urban Sprawl

  The city’s population could exceed 30 million by 2030. This massive growth will put pressure on the city’s infrastructure, housing, and resources. The growth of informal settlements may outstrip the government's ability to provide basic services causing more overcrowding and more people to live in poorly constructed structures. Also sewage and water sanitising systems are also being put under strain from the increasing population.
• Mumbai Future problems: Flooding

  Mumbai is highly vulnerable to flooding, especially during the monsoon season. The city is built on reclaimed land and has a significant portion of its infrastructure at or near sea level; this makes it prone to tidal flooding and rising sea levels ,which will increase in the future, due to climate change.
• Mumbai Future problems: Cyclones and extreme weather

  Mumbai is susceptible to cyclones and extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and severe with climate change. Increased rainfall and storm surges could cause widespread disruption to daily life and damage infrastructure.
• Mumbai Future problems: Heat Waves

  Rising temperatures due to global warming could exacerbate the urban heat island effect, making Mumbai even hotter during the summer months, which may lead to higher energy demands, poor air quality, and heat-related health problems.
• Mumbai Future problems: Job Insecurity in Mumbai

  The shift towards AI in various industries, particularly in sectors like manufacturing and services, may lead to job displacement, exacerbating unemployment and social unrest.
• Mumbai Future problems: Affordable housing crisis

  The high cost of land in Mumbai means that many people cannot afford decent housing, forcing them to live in overcrowded conditions or informal settlements. This problem is expected to worsen as the population grows.
• Mumbai Future problems: Land use and conservation

  With limited space for new development as Mumbai is on a peninsula, there are growing concerns about land use and the environmental consequences of construction projects. Deforestation, destruction of wetlands, and encroachment on green spaces could harm the city's ecology and reduce the quality of life for its residents.
• Social Sustainability in the Future in Mumbai: Healthcare

  • Access to healthcare is improving in Mumbai. The city has more hospitals than any other urban area in India. Mumbai’s biggest public medical centre, Sion Hospital,  has grown from 50 beds in 1950 to more than 1400 beds today. The hospital admits more than 60000 patients each year.
• Social Sustainability in the Future in Mumbai: Education

  • There are over 1000 primary and secondary schools in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government provides compulsory, free education to every child from age 6 to 14. According to the 2011 Census, Mumbai literacy rates are high at 90% compared to the national average, which is 74%. Even in the slums, the literacy rate is estimated to be more than 69%.
• Social Sustainability in the Future in Mumbai: Water Supply and Sanitation

  • Mumbai has a chlorinated central water supply managed by the government. In December 2014, the Bombay High Court ordered the city government to extend access to Mumbai’s water supply to residents living in non-notified slums
  • The Mumbai Slum Sanitation project aims to improve sanitation facilities for up to a million dwellers across the city. Over 300 community toilet blocks have been built, housing more than 5100 individual toilets, with separate facilities for men and women.