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Urban agglomerations are a vast spread of urban areas surrounding a major city or several adjacent cities marked by industries, infrastructure, residential areas, jurisdiction, etc. The major reason for its formation is growth, development, and migration. Urbanization draws people from the surrounding towns and villages as they seek employment and better opportunities.
In Madhya Pradesh, recent economic trends have displayed that urbanization and population growth in the urban agglomerations have been due to ‘pull’ factors (employment, better opportunities, better facilities in health and education) the destabilization of the agrarian and forest economy.
The Census of India 2011 describes an urban agglomeration as follows
A continuous urban spread constituting towns and their outgrowths
Two or more contiguous towns along with their outgrowths
It must consist of a statutory town – a town with a municipality, cantonment board, notified town area committee – whose population must not be less than 20,000
It must have a population above 1,00,000
Growth and development in Madhya Pradesh
Since 2011, Madhya Pradesh has showcased a good growth and development pattern. In 2011-12, there was a GDP growth of 12%, followed by tourism, medical facilities, and infrastructure growth. The state is mainly an agricultural economy displaying recent shifts towards the industrial and service sectors, thus contributing to the urbanization of certain parts of the state. The districts of Indore, Bhopal, and Gwalior are the top urbanized areas. Indore is the most urbanized and populated city, and Bhopal is the second most populous city in population and development.
Top 5 Urban Agglomerations in Madhya Pradesh according to Census 2011
Indore Urban Agglomeration
Indore is the commercial hub of Madhya Pradesh with the automobile, pharmaceutical, software, retail, textile, and real estate industries.
Population: 1,960,631
Bhopal Urban Agglomeration
Bhopal is the state and industrial capital of Madhya Pradesh.
It has industries producing electrical goods, cotton, chemicals, flour mills, textiles, etc.
Recent years have marked the growing IT sector, tourism, renowned educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.
Population: 1,795,648
Jabalpur Urban Agglomeration
Jabalpur is part of the Narmada Basin, making it an agricultural economy.
The surrounding villages are known for their plenty of yields in sorghum, millet, wheat, and rice.
Jabalpur has industries based on minerals, ready-made garments, electrical goods, glassware, sawmills, steel, cement, food processing, etc.
Jabalpur is known for Ordnance factories – factories under the Ministry of Defence, GOI, which produce defense hardware, and defense equipment for the Indian Army
Population: 1,054,336
Gwalior Urban Agglomeration
Gwalior lies in a strategic location and is the main junction in the New Delhi to Chennai railroad and is a major stop on the NH-3 and NH-75
It has industries in dairy, chemicals, manufacturing, textiles, and chemicals
Gwalior is also known for handicrafts, small industries (like potteries), and its historical tourism sector.
Population: 1,053,505
Sagar Urban Agglomeration
Sagar’s economy is mainly agricultural. The farmers use modern technology for production. The major crops grown include chickpeas, wheat, sorghum, and oilseeds.
Sagar is also involved in poultry farming, animal husbandry, fishery, and cattle fairs.
Sagar is known for its old university, Dr.Hari Singh Gour central university, and its proximity to Khajuraho tourism.
The small-scale industries of Sagar include – steel utensils, detergent cakes, plastic goods, acrylic products, incense sticks, etc.
Population: 273,357
Conclusion
An urban agglomeration is a vast spread of continuous urban areas with a major town/city as the centre.Urban agglomerations are marked by development, industrialization, infrastructure, and high human population density.Factors contributing to urban agglomerations in Madhya Pradesh are – pull factors (migration, seeking out better opportunities, healthcare, and educational facilities), growth and development, and destabilization of the agrarian and forest economies. The Census of India, 2011 describes an urban agglomeration as a contiguous urban spread surrounding a statutory town with a population of more than 100,000.
The urban agglomerations in Madhya Pradesh include – Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar, Satna, Ratlam, Chhindwara, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Khargone, Neemuch, and Sehore.
