causes of urban growth

• mumbai is a megacity which has seen rapid growth over the last 50 years: in terms of population numbers and size
• in the 1950s, Mumbais population was concentrated around the centre and port district south of the peninsula. today it has spread north and east - creating a sprawling metropolitan area with a population of over 23 million
• Urbanisation happens as the population increases by immigration in Mumbai, the majority of people come from the surrounding district of Maharashtra, but people also travel from neighbouring states
• suburbanisation also occurs as wealthier people move from the centre to the edge of Mumbai
• Natural increase is a significant contributor to the growth of Mumbai, despite a decreasing birth rate resulting from improved family planning measures
• improved family planning measures include teaching and providing women with how to use the pill and men to use condoms and how to remain clean and safe
• the growth of Mumbai has been driven by rural - urban migration
• over a quarter of Mumbai's population has migrated from Indias farmland in search of jobs
• people in rural areas are being 'pushed away' from rural areas due to under employment, low income, loss of degradation of farmland and scarcity of goods
• people are being 'pulled' to Mumbai in the hope of higher wages, work / employment and a better quality of life
• a recent study has shown that rate of migration in Mumbai was averaging at nearly 1 person per minute
• due to urban growth, today mumbai has a population of at least 20.7 million people
• on one hand, Mumbai is home to some of the richest people and house rents are among the highest in the world, but on the other hand, 50 -60 percent of the population are living in harsh poverty in the slums of mumbai