Transformation of rural to urban areas: case study of Howrah district, West Bengal

Abstract

There is a sudden increase in the number of census towns in the last decade. The whole country underwent a huge urban transformation in terms of formation of Census Towns from 1362 settlements in 2001 to 3894 settlements in 2011. Among all the states, West Bengal holds the largest number of census towns with a total number of 780 Census towns out of which Howrah district has the maximum number (135 Census towns). Some of these Census towns continue to have this non statutory status since the last three decades. These towns undergo a level of transformation in their spatial, functional, and socio-economic characteristics which has a considerable impact on their governance, administrative structure and funding and the level of service provision undertaken by the government of these areas. Once these settlement reaches a certain level of population and density the need for a better level of urban service provision becomes necessary in these areas that can only be financed through funding and resources allocated to Statutory Towns. This ultimately gives rise to a number of conflict areas which leads to subsequent gaps in planning and implementation in these transforming areas. This study aims to document and analyse the process and the patterns of transformations of these towns and the challenges faced by them in consequent of these transformations so that appropriate measures and interventions could be suggested in the domain of planning and governance for overcoming these challenges.