A metropolitan area, with its ceaseless energy and boundless possibilities, is a testament to human potential. It is a realm where cultures converge, and opportunities flourish. A metropolitan area, commonly referred to as a metro area, refers to a major city with its suburbs, nearby cities and towns. From this, a question might arise, “How is a metropolitan area different from a city?” The difference is that a metropolitan area may contain several cities within its sprawl, although it must have one core city, typically the largest and most developed. Another must-have attribute of a metropolitan area is that it has to be densely populated. For instance, despite being far larger than Dhaka, many cities in India aren’t metropolitan areas because they’re not densely populated, and most activities in the country aren’t centred around them. To sum up, an area which is populated, developed and contains the key infrastructures of a country is a metropolitan area.
In a metropolitan area, one can find diverse socio-economic groups, each with lifestyles and economic statuses. These groups consist of the upper class, upper-middle class, middle class, lower-middle class, lower-class people, etcetera. These socio-economic groups are fluid and can change over time due to economic trends, shifts in the job markets and other factors. Each of these groups has varying levels of need for development in the metropolitan areas. The development of metropolitan areas has significantly impacted urban planning by changing how cities are designed, built and managed. The notion of development in the metro areas is characterised by affordable housing, improved infrastructure, including transportation systems, basic services, and jobs for the unemployed people living in these areas. Each socio-economic group mentioned here uses these different development instances to make their lives easier.
A survey done by UN-Habitat in 2020 says there were 1934 metropolitan cities containing more than 300,000 inhabitants representing 60% of the world’s urban population in that year. In the US, recently, population growth has been uneven. Urban counties have grown roughly at the rate of 13% since 2000; while suburban and non-metropolitan areas have grown more briskly. These survey results provide clear evidence that in almost all countries, a large portion of the population is shifting towards the metropolitan areas for better opportunities and, mostly, a better livelihood. That is precisely why these areas require more and more development as the days go by. Focusing on the transformation of metropolitan areas also benefits us in terms of sustainability. These cities allow the concentration of people and resources, which leads to more efficient use of resources and infrastructure. This concentration also fosters innovation and the burgeoning of new technologies. These developments promote sustainable growth, and focusing on them is how a country presents itself as a force to be reckoned with in the world.
Mega urban projects are arguably the quintessential symbol of entrepreneurial urbanism, and it is no coincidence that they have become a familiar part of the urban scene throughout the world. Different countries across the world are undertaking these projects in order to improve their metropolitan landscape. Our neighboring country India sets a prime example of this with the ‘Mumbai Coastal Road’ project. The iconic Mumbai coastal road is taking shape in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai. It is an 8-lane, 29.2-kilometre-long freeway along the Arabian Sea coast. It is projected to be used by 130,000 vehicles daily and is expected to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs from 2 hours to 40 minutes. What’s truly special about this project is its commitment to the environment. The coastal road features sea bridges and tunnels meticulously designed to minimize the ecological impact on marine life and coastal ecosystems. The investment in this transformative project is colossal. With an estimated cost of 13,060 INR, which is around 2 Billion US dollars, it reflects the dedication towards creating a modern and sustainable city life for their citizens.
Then there is China, proving itself to be a serious contender in the race of urban development with their project ‘City of The Future’. As their capital Beijing expanded, it grew extremely congested. Severe traffic jams, large amounts of pollution and housing crises plagued the city due to this congestion. To alleviate this, China proposed building a city in the rural area that would serve as a new home for Beijing’s non-essential capital functions, releasing the pressure on the main city. The city, named Xiong’an, was decided to be built in Hebei Province, located around 100 kilometres south of Beijing. Its first phase would cover 38 square kilometres and will primarily be the place for Beijing’s non-essential capital functions such as its finance, business and educational institutions. After the initial area, a larger 198 square kilometres would be built to serve as the main downtown area with plenty of shops, office buildings, parks and inter-city transport hubs. Lastly, Xiong’an’s new area would incorporate 1000 square kilometres of lakes, forests and farmlands around the main city. So essentially, China’s master plan for developing its metropolis was to expand it.
Bangladesh also has an interesting story to tell regarding metropolitan development. Some of our megaprojects, like the metro rail and elevated expressway, are built to make Dhaka a far better place to live. As one of the most severe problems we face in Dhaka is being stuck in a traffic jam, our urban transformation projects were centred around the idea of alleviating that problem. The Dhaka metro project commenced in 2022 and is projected to serve more than 60,000 passengers per hour with a wait time of approximately 4 minutes. Another mega project, The Dhaka Elevated Expressway, will connect the Shahjalal International Airport with Kutubkhali via Mohakhali, Tejgaon, and Kamalapur. The already opened section of the expressway from Farmgate to Uttara takes only 9-10 minutes in place of its usual 1 -1.5 hours. One can easily see how that will improve the transportation crisis and speed up people’s daily lives in Dhaka. Bangladesh is looking to attain sustainable growth and have an exemplary impact with these projects.
Author- Adrita Zahin Hai
