Das, Sandipta and Angadi, Dasharatha P.
Spatio-temporal analysis of urban functional development and its zone of influence: A micro level study of barrackpore subdivisions, West Bengal - Urban India: A Journal of the National Institute of Urban Affairs - 40(3), Jul-Dec, 2020: p.118-137
Regional development of an area is associated with its growth of socioeconomic facility creations. The process of urban growth is also allied with regional development, since regional development, urbanization, and socioeconomic growth are somewhat interconnected. The optimal growth of urban centres is governed by the success of fulfilling the needs of basic services commensurate with the affordability of the local people. The hierarchical growth of urban centres in terms of facilities invites regional disparities through a notion of 'ranking' , a common differential mechanism or indicator introduced in developing economies. As a result, some of the ULBs enjoy superior facilities while others suffer from the lack of essential services in relation to their population size. To solve such regional imbalances, looking for a rational micro-level planning model becomes essential. This study attempts to gain an understanding of the spatio-temporal variations on the functional potentiality of urban centres and their growth and development over the period 1971-2011. It takes the Barrackpore subdivision, known as an industrial zone in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, as its primary case study. This area consists of 16 municipalities or urban centres. The study aims to discern the 'influence' zone and hierarchical growth of each urban centre over the four decades. Further, it examines how the small urban centres gradually attained their hierarchical status based on their functional weighting, how the geographical area started extending as a result of the facility influences and lastly, how this led to a rise in the socioeconomic conditions of the area. A 'relative ratio'is a measure for the adequacy or inadequacy of facilities across urban centres. The findings of the study indicate that the ratio of 'facilities to population' was greater in 1971 than in 2011. Over these 40 years, despite an increasing number of facilities provided, these proved to be inadequate or insufficient to support the needs of the increasing population. The range of zone of influence also reduced over the same period as the functional potentials improved in each small urban centre. Proper planning recommendation is an absolute necessity for tackling the inadequacy of urban centres; and for regional imbalances to give way to regional development. – Reproduced
Urban centers, Functional importance and adequacy, Zone of influence
Spatio-temporal analysis of urban functional development and its zone of influence: A micro level study of barrackpore subdivisions, West Bengal - Urban India: A Journal of the National Institute of Urban Affairs - 40(3), Jul-Dec, 2020: p.118-137
Regional development of an area is associated with its growth of socioeconomic facility creations. The process of urban growth is also allied with regional development, since regional development, urbanization, and socioeconomic growth are somewhat interconnected. The optimal growth of urban centres is governed by the success of fulfilling the needs of basic services commensurate with the affordability of the local people. The hierarchical growth of urban centres in terms of facilities invites regional disparities through a notion of 'ranking' , a common differential mechanism or indicator introduced in developing economies. As a result, some of the ULBs enjoy superior facilities while others suffer from the lack of essential services in relation to their population size. To solve such regional imbalances, looking for a rational micro-level planning model becomes essential. This study attempts to gain an understanding of the spatio-temporal variations on the functional potentiality of urban centres and their growth and development over the period 1971-2011. It takes the Barrackpore subdivision, known as an industrial zone in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, as its primary case study. This area consists of 16 municipalities or urban centres. The study aims to discern the 'influence' zone and hierarchical growth of each urban centre over the four decades. Further, it examines how the small urban centres gradually attained their hierarchical status based on their functional weighting, how the geographical area started extending as a result of the facility influences and lastly, how this led to a rise in the socioeconomic conditions of the area. A 'relative ratio'is a measure for the adequacy or inadequacy of facilities across urban centres. The findings of the study indicate that the ratio of 'facilities to population' was greater in 1971 than in 2011. Over these 40 years, despite an increasing number of facilities provided, these proved to be inadequate or insufficient to support the needs of the increasing population. The range of zone of influence also reduced over the same period as the functional potentials improved in each small urban centre. Proper planning recommendation is an absolute necessity for tackling the inadequacy of urban centres; and for regional imbalances to give way to regional development. – Reproduced
Urban centers, Functional importance and adequacy, Zone of influence