Urban Expansion and Housing Quality in Mega Cities of India

A Case Study of NCT-Delhi

Abstract

Presently, more than half of the humanity lives in urban areas. Urban expansion has been seen as a growing problem, which involves range of social and environmental costs. Tremendous population growth and rapid urbanization has created a serious problems related to housing particularly in cities of developing countries. In mega cities, there is an immense need to improve housing quality, as it not only increases physical and social attractiveness of the area, but also improves property value, which is good for house owners. Good housing quality provides a better place to live safe and healthy. Well-planned and properly built house with availability of civic amenities also contributes to sustainable environment of the area. Rapid urban expansion with poor implementation of effective policies for better housing facilities has resulted in many problems in mega cities of India. NCT-Delhi, the capital has also experienced the rapid urban expansion. Delhi has experienced highest population growth rate among the mega cities of India. To understand the urban expansion, the census data has been collected and then spatio-temporal patterns are analyzed at the sub-district level for the period of 2001-2011. Further, using remote sensing geospatial data, the urban expansion is explained during the years 2001, 2011 and 2021. To understand the patterns of housing quality in Delhi, seven indicators has been identified and finalized. These reflect the housing livable condition, overcrowding, ownership, and availability of selected civic amenities. Finally, a poor quality housing index has been developed using average score method. In addition, a correlation matrix is also developed to understand the relationship between all the indicators. It is quite evident from the analysis that most part of Delhi are now urbanized with 97.5% population is now living in urban built-up areas. During 2001-11, 34.6 lakh of urban dwellers have been added to the total population. The level of poor housing quality has spatial variations depending upon factors like population density, household’s density, household size, overcrowding, livable conditions, civic amenities, historical, lower income level, poor financing to house repairing etc. The lack of strong government political is also required to look into all such issue to provide good housing quality in Delhi. Finally, it is expected that the findings of the study will be helpful for the policy-maker, housing developer and other concerned to make suitable plans for the urban dwellers of Delhi.