Urban sprawl is a process of spontaneous Urban growth. With the expanding economy, increasing pressure on land, rapidly increasing rentals, and housing infrastructure shortages, the urban population gradually starts to prefer to move out. This process is haphazard and if not checked and regulated can result in serious planning challenges in the future.
The process of conversion of rural land into the Rural-Urban Fringe, Urban suburbs, Edge city, and the final seamless integration is generally the consequence of urban sprawl.
Urban sprawls has become more rapid and more pronounced with the expansion of road transport and connectivity expansion.
IN the periphery, Beyond the administrative boundary of the periphery regions, weak laws and the absence of restrictions is an incentive for land colonization into an urban center.
Features of Urban sprawl
- The expansion of the urban area begins with squatters and land grabbers
- They are characterized by extensive land uses. Land use where more land is acquired like single-storeyed dwelling and single-storeyed and double-storeyed commercial complexes with large parking yards, warehousing and dump yards, etc.
- Such regions have almost complete segregation of commercial and residential functions. ie. single land-use zoning. This requires the residents to commute using their vehicles for any commercial transaction. In the long run, such segregations are wasteful and also result in more traffic problems.
- They are characterized by high social distance and also high spatial disparities, perceived inequalities along with lack of proper administration and policing can result in higher crimes.
- Because of Haphazard growth in the region, it has the problem of basic amenities which in the later stages of urban integration can be a major challenge in urban planning.
Urban sprawls are a feature of almost all cities. Urban planning needs to anticipate such potential sprawl regions so as the social and infrastructural transformation and economic integration of the urban peripheral region is smoother and is more planned.
Main Post - Geography Optional Syllabus
Continuation - Urban problems and urban planning