Unacknowledged Urbanisation: The New Census Towns of India

Pradhan, Kanhu Charan (2013): Unacknowledged Urbanisation: The New Census Towns of India. Published in: Economic and Political Weekly , Vol. 36, No. Vol - XLVIII (7 September 2013): pp. 43-51.

Abstract

The unexpected increase in the number of census towns (CTs) in the last census has thrust them into the spotlight. Using a hitherto unexploited dataset, it is found that many of the new CTs satisfied the requisite criteria in 2001 itself; mitigating concerns of inflated urbanisation. The new CTs account for almost 30% of the urban growth in last decade, with large inter-state variations. They are responsible for almost the entire growth in urbanisation in Kerala and almost none in Chhattisgarh. Consequently, the estimated contribution of migration is similar to that in previous intercensal periods. Further, while some new CTs are concentrated around million-plus cities, more than four-fifths are situated outside the proximity of such cities, with a large majority not even near Class I towns, though they form part of local agglomerations. This indicates a dispersed pattern of in-situ urbanisation. A growing share of urban population in these CTs is thus being governed under the rural administrative framework, despite very different demographic and economic characteristics, which may affect their future growth.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Urbanisation; Urbanization; Census Town; Urban Growth; Urban India; in-situ urbanisation; Unacknowledged Urbanisation; New Towns; CTs; Urban Governance
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O18 - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis ; Housing ; Infrastructure; N - Economic History > N9 - Regional and Urban History; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R5 - Regional Government Analysis

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