Author: Shannon Kelly
Place: Mumbai
Publisher: Department ASRO K.U. Leuven
Year: 2007
Pages: 288
Subject: Urbanisation
Sub-Subject: Urban Development
Keyword: Urban Developemnt, Informal Settlements, Vision Mumbai, Infrastructure
Classification: 711.4
Shelf: C1R3
Accession No: B347
Contents: Contents : I. Urban Region Mumbai: Brief; Studio Timing; Spring 2007 Lecture series; II. Relevent Readings : Biography of Mumbai; Planning Mumbai; Mill Lands; Port : Eastern Docklands; III. Historical Timeline; IV. fieldwork Design Thesis(2006-2007); V. Mumbai Bibliography
Abstract: Mumbai, India’s financial and cultural hub, faces significant urban challenges due to its rapid growth and vast disparities. The city, with a population exceeding 13 million, is one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas, supporting a high residential density of 34,000 people per square kilometer. Despite its economic strength, driven by sectors like IT, healthcare, and manufacturing, a large portion of the population (92%) works in the informal sector. Mumbai is marked by stark contrasts, housing both India’s richest and poorest populations, with the world’s largest slum, Dharavi, and millions living in informal settlements. The city’s economy has evolved since 1991, with a shift from its cotton and port industries to a burgeoning IT sector. As part of its vision to become a “world-class city,” the state government has sold public land for development, leading to rapid urbanization. However, this growth has prioritized luxury housing and shopping malls over essential infrastructure like affordable housing, schools, and public spaces. The studio will investigate two key contested sites—the Mill Lands in the northwest and the Eastern Waterfront/Bombay Docklands—both of which hold significant historical value and are being repurposed for new development projects.