Urbanisation in Tripura

Indraneel Bhowmik
Reader in Economics
Tripura University
Objective, Scope & Methodology

Trace the process of urbanisation in Tripura.

Explore the extent of urbanisation in Tripura

Study the trends and volume of urbanisation in the state

Analyse the urban morphology in the present context

Map out the features of urbanisation

Attempt to make policy suggestions.

Secondary data sources- Census publications

The standard mathematical estimations have been applied as

and when required in the course of the study.

Urbanisation in Tripura 2
District–wise Urban Population, Urban-rural ratio
& number of urban areas (UAs) in Tripura (2001)

Total Urban Urban: No. of

District Population Population rural Urban
ratio Areas
West Tripura 1532982 467 27:73 13
South Tripura 767440 54167 7:93 4
Dhalai 307868 18867 6:94 3
North Tripura 590913 62669 11:89 3
Total 3199203 545750 17:83 23
Source: RGI (2001)

Urbanisation in Tripura 3
 Number of urban areas in Tripura during 1901-2001

Year Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Class VI Total

1901 1 1
1911 1 1
1921 1 1
1931 1 1
1941 1 1
1951 1 1
1961 1 1 4 6
1971 1 4 1 6
1981 1 1 4 2 2 10
1991 1 4 7 4 2 18
2001 1 6 9 7 23
Urbanisation in Tripura 4

Source: Various Census Reports

Population of Tripura by residence, 1901-2001

3500000

3000000

2500000
Total
P opulation

2000000
Urban
1500000

1000000

500000

0
1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001
Census

Urbanisation in Tripura 5

Source: Various Census Reports

 Growth rates of Urban & rural population of
Tripura and the urban-rural differential.

10 8
RGUP RGRP URD 7
9
8 6

7 5
4

D ifferen tials
6
3
G ro w th rates

5
2
4
1
3 0
2 -1
1 -2
0 -3
1901- 1911- 1921- 1931- 1941- 1951- 1961- 1971- 1981- 1991-
1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

Urbanisation in Tripura 6
 Urban population and the number of urban
areas in Tripura according to size class during
1901-2001

I II III IV V VI Total
`
1901 6415 6415
1911 6831 6831
1921 7743 7743
1931 9580 9580
1941 17693 17693
1951 42595 42595
1961 54878 13240 34879 102997
1971 264 52758 9338 162360
1981 132186 20806 52018 13530 7028 225568
1991 157358 116131 105782 33384 9066 421721
2001 189998 182234 125061 48457 545750
Urbanisation in Tripura 7
Source: Various Census Reports
 Proportion
Urban Bodies Area Population Density
Area Population
Agartala MC 58.84 367822 47.67 64.91 6251.22
Dharmanagar NP 7.77 30785 6.30 5.43 3962.03
Area, Kailashahar NP 6.19 20279 5.02 3.58 3276.09
Population Kumarghat NP 3.5 11591 2.84 2.05 3311.71
and Kamalpur NP 10.16 10633 8.23 1.88 1046.56
Density of Khowai NP 5.82 20435 4.72 3.61 3511.17
Urban Teliamura NP 3.75 19606 3.04 3.46 5228.27
bodies of Ranirbazar NP 1.95 11878 1.58 2.10 6091.28
Tripura Sonamura NP 4.13 10335 3.35 1.82 2502.42
Udaipur NP 6.1 31023 4.94 5.47 5085.74
Amarpur NP 8.55 10863 6.93 1.92 1270.53
Sabroom NP 2.53 5766 2.05 1.02 2279.05
Belonia NP 4.13 15687 3.35 2.77 3798.31
Urban Tripura 123.42 566703 100 100 4591.66

Urbanisation in Tripura 8
 Density, Proportional Area & Proportional
Population of Urban Bodies of Tripura

70.00 7000.00
Area
60.00 6000.00
P roportion of the state

Population

D en sity (p er sq .km )
50.00 Density 5000.00

40.00 4000.00

30.00 3000.00

20.00 2000.00

10.00 1000.00

0.00 0.00
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Urbanisation in Tripura 9
Features of Urbanisation in Tripura

 Lopsided urbanisation with growth in the

capital city and its suburbs- fragmentation of
the older residences and emergence of tiny
plots
 Urbanisation occurring without industrialisation
and formation of strong economic base
 Public administration led urbanisation
occurring in erstwhile villages which are not
capable of providing urban lifestyle and
facilities.
 Distress migration and internal displacement
resulted in uneven growth of urban centres

Urbanisation in Tripura 10
The process of urbanisation would receive
great fillip if –

a] there is a redirection of investment to develop a strong
economic base for the medium and smaller urban areas

b] there could be greater integration of the rural and urban
economy with emphasis on plantation and horti-based
industries,

c] comprehensive use of the high levels of education and
literacy are made to explore the potentials of the BPO and call
centre units

d] the coverage of the Integrated Development of Small and
Medium Towns (IDSMT) is extended with transparency and
fairness,

e] initiation of Urban Development Authorities with more
executive powers is undertaken,

f] scientific and hygienic garbage disposal and waste
management systems are adopted with the introduction of the
underground sewerage system and covering of the open drains,

Urbanisation in Tripura 11
 Thank You

For clarifications- eyebees@gmail.com

Urbanisation in Tripura 12