Mumbai – A Mega City

Introducing Mumbai – What makes Mumbai a mega city?

While New Delhi is the capital city of India, Mumbai is a significant city within emerging India, due to its robust and diverse economy. With a population of 16 million living within the city limits (as of 2015), Mumbai is a megacity. Mumbai specialises in creative industries and attracts thousands of migrants a year to the city in search of work and better opportunities. However, there is a big contrast in the quality of life in parts of the city. Mumbai’s unique geography has influenced the development of the city over time. Let’s explore further:

Mumbai’s site and situation: initially settled as a small fishing village protected by mangrove swamps, Mumbai has grown substantially over the years. With a deep-water estuary surrounding Mumbai, the city developed into a major port, accessible to large container ships. Its location on the west coast of India is also significant, providing easier access to international markets and increasing income from trade. Mumbai is now India’s second biggest port.

Mumbai is located 19° north of the equator and experiences tropical monsoon rains between June and September. These rains can lead to localised flooding, causing the transport network to come to a halt. While 16 million people live in the city limits, the wider metropolitan area contains around 25 million people.

A map to show the location of Mumbai

Site problems in Mumbai: With a rapidly growing population in Mumbai in the second half of the 20th century, space for development was limited. The only option was back along the narrow peninsula, which created problems such as overcrowding and unsanitary conditions for residents. The solution was the development of Navi Mumbai on the mainland in the 1970s, a suburb that rapidly expanded, relieving the pressure on the city slightly in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mumbai’s industrial history: once part of the British Empire, the development of Mumbai’s industry was dependent on British support. Britain imported large amounts of cotton from India to support its own industries, but eventually, Britain set up textile factories in Mumbai. This was crucial to the city’s development. Unfortunately, the textile industry declined in the 20th century, and the port followed suit. Fortunately, the textile industry was replaced by other industries and commercial activities such as banking, and the city recovered.

As globalisation started to connect economies, Mumbai became an essential financial centre with many TNCs moving their headquarters to the city. Some of Mumbai’s key industries include IT, healthcare, entertainment and film (Bollywood), engineering, and pharmaceuticals.  The growth of Bollywood makes Mumbai a culturally significant city in India.

Environmental factors in Mumbai: Referred to as the “Lungs of Mumbai”, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located in the north of Mumbai’s Peninsula. With 2 million visitors a year, the 100 km² park is one of the world’s largest in a city, and is home to a small population of tigers. The land is too steep to build on, but urban areas surround it. The park is said to help reduce air pollution and provide a space for people to escape the congested city.