Describe and explain the growth of one major urban area in a Continental/Sub-Continental Region that you have studied.
Region named: 2 marks Urban area named: 2 marks Examination: 13 x SRPs
A region I studied is India located in South Asia. An urban area that is experiencing growth is the city of Kolkata (formally known as Calcutta) located in the north east of the country. Kolkata used to be the capital city of India until 1911 and has seen rapid growth in its size and challenges throughout its history.
This urban area is one of sharp, social, economic and cultural contrasts. Its central business district (CBD) has high rise commercial blocks built around Maidan Park. This park was modelled on Hyde Park in London and contains a golf course, cricket grounds and a racing track. It is a recreational area for the wealthy members of Kolkata society. Reminders of the times India was under the colonial control of Great Britain are visible in buildings such as the Victoria Memorial Museum, the Writers Building, St. Pauls Cathedral and the campus of the University of Calcutta. However, the growth of the city was not matched by the transport network until recent times as traffic congestion was a constant problem in the city centre. Rapid urban growth saw constant problems at the bridging point of the River Hooghly where there was only one road bridge.
However the wealth and the growth of the affluent areas is in sharp contrast with the poverty of the millions of immigrants who live in make shift shanty towns called bastis. Many refugees date from the partition of India in 1947 while others moved into the city after the violent separation from Bangladesh in 1971. Many other refugees fled to this city from religious or ethnic problems that occur in various parts of the country. In contrast to Maidan Park many of Kolkata’s residents live in either sub-standard slum housing or on the street. One third of the total population of this city live in bastis. The main area of bastis stretches for over 50km along the banks of the river Hooghley, along the railway lines, in parks and open land areas that have not been cleared by the local authorities. At over 4.5 million people this poses a constant problem for the planners and local government. A large proportion of residents lack access to waste disposal services or even basic sanitation facilities or fresh water. Many have turned to using the river as an open sewer. However urban growth has also impacted on another group in this area. Street dwellers are generally unemployed single men who do not even have the resources to erect a simple shelter in a basti. At present it is estimated that there are over 200,000 street dwellers in the city. Yet the numbers of basti dwellers and street dwellers is often estimated as keeping official records proves difficult with refugees moving in and out of the city in the desperate search for food and shelter.
Development aid is used to provide paved roads, street lighting, piped drinking water and an upgraded sewage system. However urban growth has seen difficulties encountered due to high rates of rural to urban migration increasing the demands for housing, safe drinking water, sanitation and other public services and amenities.
