Urbanisation in India is shaped by three important factors. First, colonialism played a catalytic role in creating urban spaces, which continued even after Independence until the 1960s. Second and third, the Green Revolution and neoliberalisation in the 1970s and 1990s have consolidated these urban spaces into concrete enclaves. Metropolitan cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata, which are products of colonial urbanism, metamorphosed radically in later years.
These cities have expanded quite substantially and witnessed rapid urbanisation to accommodate more people and their demands. The wealth generated due to the Green Revolution and neoliberal policies has further accelerated urban expansion, albeit in an unequal manner. Newer forms of consumer culture have seeped effortlessly into these urban spaces, thus bringing revolutionary changes in the housing, health, and education sectors.
