In the last decade, there has been a growing realization that urbanization is one of the key issues that

will determine the future

course of India's economic growth and development. However, fast-paced urbanization in India has produced an urban crisis, which
is marked by the lack of adequate infrastructure and growth management as well as by sharp social divisions.
auses of !rbanisation"
i. Industrialization:
Industrialization is a ma#or cause of urbanization. It has e$panded the employment opportunities. %ural people have migrated to
cities on account of better employment opportunities.
ii. Social factors:
&any social factors such as attraction of cities, better standard of living, better educational facilities, need for status also induce
people to migrate to cities.
iii. Employment opportunities:
In rural sector people have to depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. 'ut Indian agriculture is depending on monsoon. In
drought situations or natural calamities, rural people have to migrate to cities.
v. Modernization:
!rban areas are characterized by sophisticated technology better infrastructure, communication, medical facilities, etc. (eople feel
that they can lead a comfortable life in cities and migrate to cities.
!rbanization can yield positive effects if it takes place up to a desirable limit. )$tensive urbanisation or indiscriminate growth of
cities may result in adverse effects. *hey may be as follows"
i. Problem of over population:
oncentration of population is a ma#or problem of cities. It has resulted in accommodation problem, growth of slums etc.
ii. Disintegration of Joint family:
Joint family cant be maintained in cities on account of high cost of
living: People prefer to live in the nuclear type of families.
iii. Cost of living:
High cost of living is a major problem of cities. In Metro cities like
Mumbai !angalore etc. it is very difficult for lo"er income groups to
maintain a decent standard of living.
iv. Increase in Crime rates:
!rban centres are known for high rate of crimes. *heft, +acoity, &urder, heating, (ick pocketing, rape etc. are common in urban
centres.
v. Problem of Pollution:
In industrialized cities pollution is a ma#or problems. It may be caused by industries or by e$cessive movement of vehicles.
,ther problems of urbanization-
-. !rban .prawl
/. Housing
0. 1ater
2. .ewerage problems
3. *rash disposal
4. !nemployment
*he economic prosperity of cities has far outstripped its urban
infrastructure. *he poverty led migration has nduced very poor quality of
urbanization and has resulted in urban sprawl.!rban .prawl has lead to
horizontal e$pansion of cities leading to wild land

urbaninterface.
5umber of urban
agglomeration 6town has grown from -7/8 in -9:- to 3-4- in /::-. 5umber of population
residing in urban areas has increased from /.37 crores in -9:- to /7.30 crores in /::-