Urbanisation is the Greatest Project of Humanity.Our century is the Urban Century. Soon the world will become a giant urban system. Urbanization and the fast growth of cities and towns have become one of the major characteristics of the present century. Urban life is now way of life of modern man.
The Third Urbanization, a term frequently used in urban studies in India, refers to the rapid growth of urban settlements and cities throughout India beginning in the colonial period and continuing through to today (post-independence). The Third Urbanization is distinct from the two previously-recognized phases of urbanization in India.
| Phase | Time Period | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| First Urbanisation | c. 2600–1900 BCE | Emergence of the Indus Valley Civilization with planned cities such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. |
| Second Urbanisation | c. 600 BCE–300 CE | Rise of cities in the Mahajanapada period and the Maurya Empire. Growth of trade, iron technology, states, and religious centres such as Pataliputra and Varanasi. |
| Third Urbanisation | Late 18th century to present (especially after 1947) | Industrialization, colonial influence, planned development, metropolitan expansion, migration, globalization, and the emergence of smart cities. |
The Third Urbanisation represents the current form of urbanisation and the continuous development of urban centres that began in the colonial period and dramatically increased after the independence of India in 1947. The unparalleled rate of urbanisation in India since the late 18th century will primarily be attributed to the introduction of industrialisation, improvements in transport infrastructure, and the progressive economic liberalisation and globalisation of India, along with continued large-scale rural-urban migration.
Major Features of the Third Urbanisation
Rapid growth of Metropolitan Centres
Environmental challenges such as Air Pollution, loss of Green Spaces, urban heat islands, and flooding.
Industrialization and growth of manufacturing.
Rural-to-urban migration.
Urban Sprawl and peri-urban development.
Growth of service-sector economies.
Development of transport and communication networks.
Expansion of informal settlements and slums.
Emergence of satellite towns and urban corridors.
Smart city initiatives and digital governance.
Driving Forces
Green Revolution (agricultural) transformation.
(1991) Economic liberalization.
Globalization and increased foreign investment.
Information and communication and technology-driven service industries.
Improvements in built environment infrastructure (highways, mass transit systems, airports).
Government of India Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT Program.
Positive consequences include:
The economy is expanding and creating jobs.
Higher standards of education and healthcare.
Significant localized improvements in infrastructure (e.g., transportation, utilities, and city amenities).
Innovation in technology will enable cities’ economies to grow, making them more productive and competitive.
Increased connections to each other, the region, and the world.
Negative consequences include:
Significantly congesting cities.
Housing shortages continue to increase.
Proliferation of informal settlements.
Air and water pollution.
Declining urban biodiversity.
Increased urban heat islands.
Severe traffic congestion.
Growing inequality and socio-spatial separation.
Vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Many scholars believe India is now at a new stage of the Third Urbanisation. The new stage includes:
Metropolitan regions growing larger than single cities.
Peri-urban areas expanding.
Development of regional urban corridors (e.g., Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor).
Digital and smart forms of urban governance.
Urban planning that is resilient to climate change and sustainable.
Increased usage of GIS, remote sensing, and geo-spatial technologies in the management of urban areas.
Although the Third Urbanisation is not yet universally defined, scholars have not yet reached consensus on how to define the concept. For example, some scholars may define the Third Urbanisation as the transitional stage from colonial cities to post-colonial cities. Conversely, other scholars may argue that the Third Urbanisation is limited only to the urban transformation occurring at an accelerated pace after the economic liberalization of 1991. In contrast, contemporary studies have begun to focus on:
Planetary Urbanisation.
Extended Urbanisation.
Peri-urbanisation.
Urban Informality.
Urban Political Ecology.
Together as frameworks for interpreting India’s urban landscape.
The Third Urbanisation provides a framework for studying research on urban geography, sustainability, and GIS for the following reasons:
Land use/land cover change.
Urban expansion.
Carbon sequestration.
Urban heat islands.
Green infrastructure.
Migration.
Environmental degradation.
Climate resilient urban planning.
Read More:
Urban Change in India
Defining Subaltern Urbanisation
Urban Shift: Small Towns are Evolving from Rural-Urban Bridges to Emerging Urban Hubs
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