Dynamics of suburbanization and influence of National Capital Territory of Delhi on towns

Abstract

A policy of urban decentralisation, limiting or discouraging the growth of population, has been commonly adopted for spatial planning in developing countries over the past decades. Delhi is in a transition stage and sprawling over the years to nearby periphery towns, but NCT Delhi’s urban influence decreases with the increasing distance from the core. Delhi’s urbanization process highly influences the towns within a radius of 50 km from the core. Some Towns located beyond 100 km of radius are also experiencing high growth of urban population because they are the nodal points surrounding the rural hinterland. The later decades of urban development in NCR Delhi led to a high rate of population growth because of the improved employment growth and other economic opportunities that came as a result of inflow of capital and investment to the region. On the other hand, decentralization of employment, urban growth, coupled with the services and housing supply promotes the growth of main and small urban centres in the periphery which is further boosted by a good transport network, connecting and integrating the National Capital Region. Delhi is experiencing declining growth of population and on the other hand, periphery towns are getting boosted by the urban growth.