Skip to main content

State of Peri-Urban: Lucrative spaces for real estate developers


By Rumi Aijaz
The state of the Peri-Urban is evolving by the day in India. Multiple large cities in the country are experiencing a gradual or sudden influx of migrants into their cities or state. This increases the demand for more land to create accommodation for the new inhabitants of the city. In such a situation, the market forces drive up the prices for land in primary areas within the city. This forces people to find space in the “peripherals” of the city.
They mostly come under the city’s geographical limits and are the concern of the city administration. With the growing occupation of these areas, there is a large pressure on the development of these places. The rise of the Peri-Urban has been observed in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, etc. The expansion of the Peri-Urban has created many issues and challenges for the city administration.
To further discuss the topic, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi hosted a #WebPolicyTalk conducted by the Centre for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS) on the topic “The State of the Peri-Urban” under the series, The State of Cities- #CityConversations on the 16th of November 2021. The guest speaker for the talk was Dr. Kanchan Gandhi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali.
The discussants in the talk were Sameer Unhale, Joint Commissioner, Directorate of Municipal Administration, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Bhawna Bali, Assistant Professor, Department of Sustainable Engineering, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Delhi, and Dr. Ashima Sood, Associate Professor and Co-Director, Centre for Urbanism and Cultural Economics (CUCE), Anant National University, Ahmedabad. The talk was moderated by Dr. Rumi Aijaz, Senior Fellow, and Head, Urban Policy Research Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi. Dr. Kanchan Gandhi based her talk on “Splintered Urbanism and the Litigant Citizen: Exploring Peri-Urban Growth in the Periphery of Chandigarh”.

Chaos at the Margins

Peri-Urban areas are lucrative spaces for real estate developers or actors as the cost of land is cheaper. The development of cities like Gurugram and Noida is an accurate example for showing privatized urban development. Dr. Kanchan focused on Chandigarh and mentioned that Zirakpur was being developed as a satellite city of Chandigarh since the 1990s, however, it only got a master plan in 2008. Chandigarh cannot be seen as a lone city and most of the activities happen between the tri-city area, which also includes Mohali and Panchkula.
The various settlements in the city also contribute to the story of their development. Indira Colony in the Mani Majra area was initially a camp set up for migrant workers who were involved in constructing the city of Chandigarh. Another such settlement is the Bhaisina Tibba, which is not recognized by the government, therefore cannot enjoy some of the schemes such as Swachh Bharat Toilet, which are available to the people of Indira Colony. Another settlement of migrants would be in Jagatpura which also lacks necessary amenities.

Zirakpur – The Centre of Attraction

According to the initial plans, peripheral areas such as Zirakpur, Mullanpur, SAS Nagar or Mohali, Bannur, etc. were designated for green growth. On the contrary, these areas have been rapidly urbanizing. The advantage of the rapid urbanization of neighboring areas or peripherals is that it can reduce the operational cost of the businesses.
“Some of the business people want to move out of Chandigarh and shift to Zirakpur as it cuts their operational costs by 50%”, said Dr. Kanchan.
Zirakpur provides lower rental charges for commercial purposes, poses to be an integral transit node, and is well connected to the airport and railway station.

The Rise of Zirakpur

In 2001, Zirakpur had a population of 20,000 people collective of all the villages in the area which created the node. Now, the place has a population of around three lakhs. Zirakpur is a strategic location as it has the highway for Shimla, Delhi, Patiala, and Ambala passing through it. The low rental charges also attract businessmen and vendors into the area. Dr. Kanchan commented, “What Zirakpur is to Chandigarh is exactly what Gurgaon is to Delhi”.
Zirakpur shares certain similarities with Gurgaon with the patchy kind of development. In both the cities, the city administration or government plays a secondary role as development is led by private capital. Even though only forty percent of the housing has been occupied in Zirakpur, the map below shows that the area is densely constructed. In an interview with the Chief Town Planner GMADA said that “the city’s infrastructure does not match its residential growth”.
There are about 60-70 private developers who operate in the area of Zirakpur and there exists a state-builder nexus where people in authority or power are direct parties in property development or land deals. There have been cases where people have used this power to provide clearance or completion certificates without proper inspection, which has also created sub-standard group housing societies.
There also have been cases of disease breakouts in housing societies or villages. One such incident is the multiple cases of diarrhea in the Bhabat village of Zirakpur due to a poorly constructed sewage system seeping into the drinking water system. This intends at the larger issue of housing inequality, where luxurious housing and rural or low-cost housing stand in simultaneity. The inequality does create the scenario of increasing crime in the area.

Creating the Discourse – Reflections from the Discussants

As Dr. Kanchan Gandhi concluded, Dr. Rumi Aijaz gave his perspective on the matter and further elaborated on the points presented by Dr. Kanchan. As Dr. Rumi opened the discussion to the other discussants Dr. Bhawna Bali was the first to give her remarks. Dr. Bali commented, “today’s peri-urban will be tomorrow’s core city”, which was to imply that there is nothing constant about the rise and development of the peri-urban area. The lack of documentation and the existence of a plan or master plan for the development of urban settlements will cause confusion and unorganized urban settlements.
Sameer Unhale added his views and distinguished between transitory urbanization and peri urbanization. He also commented that the distinction of the rural-urban level at a conceptual level can cause misunderstandings and poor implementation. He also mentioned the level of confusion that usually arises in administration due to the expansion of peri-urban areas into the jurisdiction of the municipal corporations.

Acknowledgment: Arjun Sujit Varma, Research Intern at IMPRI

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative   A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.  

Buddhist communities in Michigan protest for Mahabodhi Temple’s return to Buddhist control

By A Representative   Buddhist communities in Michigan have staged protests demanding the return of the Mahabodhi Vihara in Gaya, Bihar, India, to full Buddhist control. The Mahabodhi Temple, regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site in Buddhism, is currently managed under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority of control to non-Buddhists.