Morphology of Indian Metropolitan Fringes: Migration, Sprawl and Hybridization

Abstract

Indian metropolitan cities are dissolutely becoming more and more infamous as unlivable, congested and over polluted spaces, unfit for human habitation. These metropolitans are sprawling unplanned over their fringes and rural environs, radically transforming both the urban and rural landforms. The ever increasing natural population along with a major chunk of migrating population is the foremost reason behind the congestion and unlivable nature of the metropolitans. These urban centers act as breathing magnets attracting millions from its regional hinterlands with the dream of a better livelihood. Additional to this, due to various socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental reasons, urban to urban migration is also trending. This significant demographic and cultural shift is resulting in a new miscellaneous urban form lacking any explicit character. Each displaced migrant agglomerating in the metropolitan fringes hopes to share the economy of the region but lacks in belongingness. The fringes act as sponges soaking one and all with its limited land resource and choking infrastructure. With no effective byelaws or authority to look into its development, these fringes give rise to slums, unauthorized colonies, fragmentary commercial development, non-conforming uses of land coupled with inadequate public services. Efficient land use management and hybridization of rural and urban forms drawing the best of both rural and urban worlds are the rudimentary ways forward to solve this emerging issue. This research paper will study the reasons behind migration and resulting sprawls and will suggest effective modus operandi for resolution.