Cities of South Asia

(Settlement Planning)
Settlements of cities in
South Asia
South Asia & World Urbanism
 South Asia having a very low urbanism about 22% as
compare to rest of the world
 The most urbanised is Pakistan and the least is Bhutan.
 Rural to urban migration is the principal cause of rapid
growth of cities in south asia.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 3
Evolution of cities in South Asia
The very first of signs of civilizations are found in Asia or
Indian subcontinent.
The Indus valley civilization considered as the oldest
civilization of the world is around 3200-3500 B.C.
And it was spread over a large area from India and
Pakistan.
The various civilization periods also affected the urban
form and pattern of south Asia with the impact of Hindu,
Dravidian, Muslim and West European civilization.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 4

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The Indus Valley Era
 The period of the Indus valley is around 3200-3500 B.C.
 The Indus valley had the following 32 sites-
Harappa, Banawali, Mohenjo-daro
Hulas Mehrgarh Sarai Khola
Kalibangan Prabhas Patan Sanghol
Balakot Lothal Shortugai
Mundigak Ghazi Shah Rojdi
Nindowari Noh Pabumath
Allahdino Surkotada Daimabad
Bara Nausharo Chanhu-daro
Rangpur Jhukar Rehman Dheri
Desalpur Amri Kulli
Balu Mehi

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 5

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
 The Harappa and Mohenjo-daro was the capital city and
situated at the Ravi and Indus respectively.
 Mehar-garh, the oldest urban site of the world, is around
6500 B.C.
 A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban
culture is evident in the Indus Valley Civilization making
them the first urban centres in the
 Both the cities had rectangular roads at right angles and
large elevated areas. The ancient Indus systems of
sewerage and drainage that were developed and used in
cities throughout the Indus region were far more
advanced than any found.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 6

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The Aryan Hindu Impact
 The need of trade, commerce, administration
and fortification gave rise to the
establishments of large urban centers.
 The Pataliputra was the largest city and
main administrative centre of Maurya
dynasty.
 A massive timber wall was made around the
city to protect from the adjacent kingdoms.
The wall had 64 gates and 570 towers.
 A moat of size 18m. Deep and 180m. Wide
was made for additional defence, and it was
filled with water of Son river.
 There was four caste systems.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 7

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The temples and Brahmin’s residence were
at the centre and towards the east.
Farther towards the east were Kshatriyas
and towards the south were govt.
superintendents musicians and some
vaishya.
To the west were the sudras including
untouchable along with low grade vaishya.
And the north were artisans, Brahmans.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 8

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Dravidian Temple Cities
 In south India, the form of Hindu temple city was formed and it
developed uninterruptedly, minimising moslem influences.
 Here around the temples grew commercial bazaars and
settlements of Brahmins priest and scholars.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 9

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
 Protective walls eventually surrounded the cities.
 Madurai, the capital of Hindu kingdom of the Pandyas.
 Well planned roads formed a series of three concentric
squares (inner, middle and outer).
 The hall of a thousand pillars is a master piece of indian
sculpture, in which groups of pillar were carved out of
single huge stone.
 Madurai is called the Varanasi of south.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 10

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The Moslem imprint
 The moslem impressions have been found since the
Muslim invasions in India after 12th century.
 The main work was done in Mogul's period, the Delhi is
the witness of work of Muslim period.
 it should be noted that the most creative and
attractive "Islamic" architecture in India is actually
Sufi architecture. It is the Sufis who served as the
innovative and spiritual face of "Islam"
 Shahjahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi and
start construction of a new city, Shahajahanabaad.
 Its architecture was a fusion of Islamic and Hindu
influences.
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 11
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
•These Islamic pattern was the combination of arches, domes, vaults, pillars,
lintels and pyramidal towers.
•These features were most vivid in Shahajahanabaad.
•Planned as a parallelogram with massive red sandstone
•walls and ditches on all side, the red fort had an almost foolproof defence.

•The two main thoroughfares, which connected the city with the fortress
and the outside world had shops and merchants eg. Chandani Chowk.
•Shahajahanabaad ceased to be capital of India, now it is known as old
delhi.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 12

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The Colonial
Period
After discovery of oceanic route by Vasco
da Gama, westerns colonial powers
interested in developing a trade connection
with south asia.
The English established three significant
centre- Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were the
seaports , that always been helpful in
convenience of trading and receiving
military reinforcements from their country.
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 13
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
The Presidency
Town
 The presidency towns all developed western-style CBDs
with all facilities like bank, hotels, cinema halls etc.
 Bombay, Calcutta and Madras initially were established
their nuclei were ports. Outside these forts were cities.
 There were two different residents – Europeans and
natives.
 Later with the development of trade, these were turned
from water to rail and roads for inland transportation.
 The presidency town also develope huge hinterlands that
catered to the needs of colonial economy.
 Bombay was called the gateway of India.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 14

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Models of south Asian city structure
Two basic model depicting south asian city
are formed –
Colonial-based-city model
Bazaar-based-city model
Mixture of colonial and Bazaar models

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 15

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Colonial-based-city model
The need to perform colonial functions demanded
a particular form of city growth, relevant to the
subcontinent, that produced the following characteristics.
◦ A walled fort was constructed.
◦ An open space was reserved around the fort for fire.
◦ Beyond the fort and open area, a native town eventually
developed.
◦ A western style CBD grew adjacent to the fort and native
town.
◦ The European town grew in a different direction from the
native town.
◦ B/W the fort and European town, an open space was reserve
for military parades

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 16

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Bazaar-based-city Models
 The bazaar or the city centres consists of an amalgam of land
use, which caters to the central place functions.
 In the process of bazaar evolution, functional separation of
retail business occurs.
 Wholesale business establishments also form part of the bazaar
landscape
 Modest overnight accommodation in the bazaar is provided by
the public or dharmshalas or Sarai for a nominal fee.
 The inner core of the city develops an increased concentration
of trade, commerce and wealthy people.
 In the second zone, rich people live in conjunction with the
poorer servants
 As the city grows, ethnic, religious, linguistic and caste
neighborhoods are formed in specific areas.

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 17

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Urban Issues in
South Asian
Cities
Population and Settlement
 India has more than 1 billion people
 Concern about producing enough food
 India’s TFR at 3.2, but preference for males creates problems
 Pakistan has 145 million people
 Pakistan lacks an effective, coordinated family planning
program
 Overall TFR is 5.6
 Linked to Muslim culture
 Early childhood mortality, and low rate of female contraception
 Bangladesh has 133.5 million people
 Has one of the highest settlement densities in the world
 TFR is 3.3
 Strong government support for family planning
 Muslim culture, but more flexible
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 19
 Asian Colonial City Structures

South Asian Colonial City Southeast Asian Colonial City

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Urban Issues in Asian
Cities
The Asian cities have been facing the
various problems since a long period. There were
various work and actions have been taken to
resolve these issues. Some key issues are
discussing here-
 Urban sprawl
 Rapid Population growth
 Poor services
 Increasing urban poverty
 Increasing pollution over the whole
 Unsustainable development
 Increasing unemployment and underemployment

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 21

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
 Population Density
 POPULATION DENSITY (INDIA)
◦ ARITHMETIC- 904/sq mi

World Average = 117/mi2

Pacific
36
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia 315
East Asia
341
South Asia
South Asia 865
Subsaharan Africa
Subsaharan Africa 82
N.N.
Africa/S.W. Asia
Africa/S.W. Asia 52
South
SouthAmerica
America 53
Middle America
Middle America 176
Austral 7.6
Japan
Japan 874
North
NorthAmerica
America 42
Russia
Russia 22
Europe
Europe 265
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Realm People per square mile
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 22
 Environmental Issues in South Asia
1984 explosion at Bhopal fertilizer plant killed
2,500 people – inadequate supervision of foreign
investors
Natural Hazards in Bangladesh
Ganges and Brahmaputra river deltas flood in
wet summer monsoons;
dense settlement there causes many deaths
Forests and Deforestation
Ganges Valley and coastal plains of India
deforested for agriculture
Deforestation’s causes: agricultural, urban,
and industrial expansion
Problems: fuel wood shortage leads to use of
manure which then cannot be used as
fertilizer चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 23
Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree,
Lewis, Price, Wyckoff 24
Urban Challenges in Colonial Cities
The urban scenario in the colonial cities have been
completely changed. The rapid growth of urban population
raises various issues related to development . These issues
are-
 Rapid growth in population
 Rapid industrialization
 High rate of rural to urban migration
 Increasing pollution
 Urban sprawl and peripheral settlements
 Poorer urban infrastructure

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 25

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Urban South Asia
 About 25% of the South Asian population resides in urban
areas
 Many live in bustees (sprawling squatter settlements)

Delhi
◦ More than 11 million people
◦ India’s capital, has British colonial imprint
◦ sub-standard settlements house 70 per cent of the city's
population, leads the way in environmental activism.
◦ 75,000 families who live on the banks of the Yamuna
river. They are being held responsible for the river's
pollution.
◦ More than 11 million people
◦ India’s capital, has British colonial imprint
◦ Air pollution a problem
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 26
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 27
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
◦ Mumbai
 Largest city in South Asia
 Financial, commercial, and industrial center
 Less-fortunate immigrants live in “hutments” –
crude shelters built on formerly busy sidewalks
◦ Calcutta
 More than 12 million people
 Problems: poverty, pollution, congestion,
homelessness
◦ Karachi
 More than 7 million people
 Pakistan’s largest city
 Political and ethnic tensions between Sindis (native
inhabitants) and Muhajirs (Muslim refugees from India)
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 28
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
 Chennai
◦ City 40 per cent of the population lives in slums
◦ 69,000 families who have been identified to be
living on government land illegaly
◦ These are to be relocated to areas far removed from
the city
Hyderabad
◦ In 1997, was distributing land titles and housing loans
to the urban poor, but during the TDP tenure the state
had leased large areas of land at high subsidized rate to
business groups and corporate.
◦ Over 10,000 houses of the ‘weaker members of society’
have been demolished

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 29

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Modern Hotel Red Fort Mosque (disused)

Lotus Temple Parliament Delhi street scene

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 30
 Mumbai (Bombay)

Boy begging from

motorists

Three ages in architecture:

colonial, modern, and pre-
colonial.

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree,

Lewis, Price, Wyckoff 31
 Calcutta

Street scene Modern Business District Children on school bus

Jain temple Outdoor market

32
Geopolitical
Issues
in
South
Asia

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष) 33
Sewage & Water Supply
(According to the 54th National Sample Survey)
water supply, most important urban issue, is
available for only 2.9 hours in a day
58% of urban homes are getting their water
supply from tap
21% are getting the same via tube well or
hand pump
30-50% homes do not have connections to
the nearest sewerage system
20% of the total water waste is treated for
reuse or disposal into rivers and seas.
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 34
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
Poverty as an important Issue in
South Asia
South Asian Poverty
 More than 300 million Indian citizens are below
their country’s poverty line, and Bangladesh is
poorer
 Nepal and Bhutan are in worse condition
 India has a growing middle class, and an upper
class
 About 100 million Indians afford modern
consumer goods
 Low foreign trade and low foreign direct
investment

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 35

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
◦ Bangladesh
• Poorest country in the region
• Heavy reliance on production of commercial crops, it
rise the rural poverty
• Environmental degradation has contributed to
poverty
• Internationally competitive in textile and clothing
manufacturing

• Pakistan
• Inherited a reasonably well-developed urban
infrastructure
• Agriculture, cotton, textile industry are important but
are in demolishing state
• Less dynamic economy and less potential for growth
• Burdened by high levels of defense spending
चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध 36
विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
 Human Development Index Comparison of the
World Regions
Expected Gross national
HDI Human Life years income (GNI) Non income
Rank Development expectancy of per capita HDI
Regions Index (HDI) at birth schooling (constant 2005 Value
Value (years) (years) PPP $)

 Arab States 0.641 70.5 5.9 10.2 8,554 0.643

 East Asia
and Pacific 0.671 72.4 7.2 11.7 6,466 0.709
 Europe and
Central Asia 0.751 71.3 9.7 13.4 12,004 0.785
 Latin America
& Caribbean 0.731 74.4 7.8 13.6 10,119 0.767
 South Asia 0.548 65.9 4.6 9.8 3,435 0.569
 Sub-Saharan
África 0.463 54.4 4.5 9.2 1,966 0.467

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह, एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष, गौतम बुद्ध

विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
धन्यवाद

चौधरी भानु प्रताप सिंह

एम.यू.आर.पी.- प्रथम वर्ष,
गौतम बुद्ध विश्वविध्यालय (भारतवर्ष)
38