Urban growth modelling using Cellular Automata coupled with land cover indices for Kolkata Metropolitan region

Abstract

Urbanization is at a rapid pace in India since past two decades with severe increase in population and demand in the infrastructure service of the city along with environment degradation. This paper examines the urban growth pattern of Kolkata metropolitan area that includes Kolkata city for three consecutive decades. Urban pattern analysis is carried out along with modelling future developmental pockets using specific growth pattern of the city. Results indicate urban growth from 4.1% in 1990 to 11.58% in 2017 and mainly sprawling outward in the buffer region. Modelling using CA-Markov pointed out that urban growth may increase by 14.94% by 2025. The notable observation of our study is that urban growth would have an infill growth in the city completely and then starts sprawling outward and emphasises need for policy planners and urban managers to provide immediate interventions for infrastructure development necessary for sustainable growth of Indian urban agglomerations.