India is at the centre of the ongoing global urbanisation and transformation. It’s current population stands at 1.46 billion, making it one of the most populous country in the world. Currently, 37% of 1.46 billion population reside in urban areas, and is expected to increase significantly to 53% by 2050. A further deep dive indicates that a bulk of this urban population is concentrated in a few big cities. In line with this, six Indian cities rank amongst the world’s 37 megacities which have 10+ million population. By 2035, this list is expected to add Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and potentially Pune.
Cities are not just population centres, but also attract businesses and investments, becoming key economic nodes and real estate markets. Square Yards latest report ‘Cities in Motion – Tracing 30 Years of Urban Expansion in Key Indian Cities’ delves into India’s dynamic urbanization landscape, to analyse and compare the growth patterns of built-up areas within its major cities.
Key Highlights:
- The urban built-up footprint area has grown 2X reaching a total of 4,308 sq.km. in top-8 cities, with an additional 2,136 sq. km. of land developed over three decades.
- Pune recorded the fastest growth at 332%, expanding from 86 sq. km. in 1995 to 373 sq. km. in 2025.
- Delhi NCT+NCR added the largest quantum of built-up footprint area of 400 sq. km., reflecting a 71% increase from 567 sq. km. to 967 sq. km.
Explore the full findings below in our report:
