Human World Case

Study Revision Session

Bangalore
Where is Bangalore?
 BANGALORE:
What do you need to know?
Where is Bangalore?
Why has Bangalore grown?
Sketch map of Bangalore
Descriptions of characteristics of each
zone and it’s location:
- CBD, Inner city area, Suburbs, Commuter
Area
Where is Bangalore situated?
Central southern India
On a plateau (relatively flat highland)
Capital of Karnataka state
Founded in 1537 & remained a small
village for many yrs
In 1949 Bangalore Municipal Corporation
was formed
It has since seen very rapid growth
 Why has Bangalore grown?
Bangalore is a beautiful garden city - many tree lined
streets & a pleasant climate have aided it’s growth.

After Independence from the UK in 1947 the Indian

government developed certain industries &
educational & research facilities which also
encouraged growth as people came looking for jobs.

Most rapid growth occurred when Bangalore became

capital of Karnataka in 1956.

This growth placed great pressure on the cities

infrastructure, a problem still trying to be solved today.
In 1980’s Bangalore became the location for the first
major foreign investment in high technology in India
(Texas Instruments).

Many TNC’s have been drawn the city since due to the
pleasant climate & reputation for cheap labour (a
computer analyst earns four times less than in USA).

During 1990’s Bangalore became India’s most

important centre for a number of industries, including
biotechnology, aerospace & IT industries.

It’s population is growing by about 150,000 a year.

What are the land use patterns in
Bangalore?
It is very difficult to discuss in a logical
way due to the rapid growth.

This is the key difference between

Reading and Bangalore!

Sketch Map!
CBD (Zone A)
 CBD
Centre of Bangalore is split in two by Cubbon Park.
West – original City of Bangalore with temples,
fortifications, densely populated.
East – Old British military area with barracks
accommodation for senior officers, churches.
The centre is like this due to the segregation between
the British & Indians during Colonial rule.
Cubbon park – used to be a trading area and when the
British left it was decided to keep the area as a park.
Today: numerous lakes, race course, cricket ground.
Mahatma Ghandi Road (main road in the CBD), has
always been v busy. High rise buildings due to
demand for land.
The main shopping and commercial centre.
Fraser Town Middle to Upper Class
Suburb
 Fraser Town
Originally bungalows built for the British Military officers.
3km north-east of CBD.
Spacious & large gardens due to plenty of land & status of
occupants.
The gardens have now been sold & expensive apartment
blocks built.
There was great demand for housing close to the CBD & a
growing affluent work force who could pay for them.
But no new infrastructure was put in & the water and sewage
systems can not cope with the population increase.
Water is rationed & there is lots of pollution in streams.
On the edge of the area there are bustees to house the
construction workers adding to the problems.
Population density – 307 per hectare.
Maya Bazaar Shanty Town
(Bustee)
 Maya Bazaar Shanty Town
(Bustee)
3km south-east of CBD, land originally owned by the
army.
First settled by migrant workers in the 1950’s who
came from rural areas to earn money to then return to
their villages.
Very poor & unable to pay rents and lack of housing in
the city forced this sort of housing to develop.
They built houses out of anything they could find on
vacant land.
The houses are now made from breeze blocks and
there are taps and communal toilet blocks.
Population density 1000 per hectare
Indiranagar
 Indiranagar
4-5 km east of CBD & near to airport

One of best residential areas in Bangalore.

Developed in 1970’s: large, individually designed houses, tree lined

roads

Public open spaces are not filled with shanties

There are poorer people but these are the servants of the rich
homeowners.

Own school Indiranagar High School, the Singapore Technology Park

and a Hospital (one of the best medical institutions in the city).

Population density – 149 per hectare

Bagular Shanty Town (Bustee)
Bagular Shanty Town (Bustee)
5km north-east of the CBD. Started in the 1960’s on the edge of
the city

Land is bordered by a railway line, cemetery and two major

roads. Vacant before developed illegally by the bustee dwellers.

Houses built out of anything they could find due to lack of

housing in the city and unable to pay for proper housing.

Some homes have electricity, there are now some communal toilets
and taps but there are still open sewers where children play.

Population density 1200 per hectare

Industrial Areas
 Industrial Areas
Known as Silicon Plateau, 250 hi-tech companies, TNC’s such as
Compaq, Hewlett Packard and Apple.

Drawn to Bangalore because of the pool of English speaking, highly

educated workers who will work for lower salaries as the cost of
living is lower.

Other industries include aeronautics, brewing and silk production.

Toyota are building a car assembly plant there due to the increasing
market.

Found along main roads and railway lines.

Found on the outskirts of the city – International Tech Park.

Found close to the airport – Singapore Technology Park.

 What is the difference in land use
between Reading & Bangalore?
Reading has quite a structured land use pattern. CBD in the centre,
oldest housing nearest to that and the newer, larger housing on the
outskirts of the urban area. Industry follows main transport links and
is often found around ring road junctions.

Bangalore’s is quite unstructured. The CBD is split in two &

surrounds a large area of parkland. Generally areas of housing
follows a similar pattern to Reading, with the newer & larger on the
outskirts and industry following major communication routes but
there are some anomalies;

- The Maya Bazaar bustee is found the same distance from the CBD
as the affluent Frazer Town area but in a different direction.

- Also the Bangalore bustee lies the same distance from the CBD as
the very affluent and green Indiranagar area but in a different
direction.
 Possible exam questions:
With reference to your chosen LEDC urban
area, describe the land use patterns found there.
You may use a sketch to help you. [6]
With reference to your chosen LEDC urban
area;
a.) Give two physical and two human reasons for
its growth. [4]
b.) Describe the location of industrial areas within
the urban area. [2]