Megacity Case Studies
LA Megacity
Reasons why it grew?
Railway in 1876
Discovery of oil
Development of the film industry and aircraft
By 2000 14 million people lived there
Problems Facing LA
Suburban sprawl has led to congested freeways, loss of the best farmland and decline of central LA (Donut City)
Housing shortages
Urban tension – due to ethnic enclaves (1992 there were race riots in the city)
Water – having to be piped in from 350kmn away and causing conflicts with other states
Waste – 50,000 tonnes of waste is produced each day
Transport congestion – 10 million vehicles on the road
Massive energy use
Sustainable future?
PLAN (Progressive Los Angeles Network)
Increase urban parks and clean up contaminated brownfield sites
Promote clean fuel vehicles and green energy
Require developers to build affordable housing
Improve public transport with new rapid bus lanes
Promote smart growth land use where people can drive less and live nearer to where they work Ban new retail malls which undermine local shops and communities
Mumbai Megacity
Reasons why it grew?
Rural to urban migration (600 new migrants per day)
Push and pull factors
Natural Increase
Problems
60% of Mumbai’s population live in poverty
Massive slums such as Dharavi have grown in the city (Dharavi’s population is 1 million)
Increasing informal sector
Average incomes are very low
Fresh water is contaminated
Sustainable Future?
VISION MUMBAI
Boost economic growth by 8 – 10% by focussing on services (create 200,000 new service jobs) Upgrade infrastructure e.g. education/ water etc
Increase housing availability
Improve transport infrastructure
Sell the land occupied by the slums and redevelop it – new high rise blocks will be built for the slum populations
Reasons why it grew?
Railway in 1876
Discovery of oil
Development of the film industry and aircraft
By 2000 14 million people lived there
Problems Facing LA
Suburban sprawl has led to congested freeways, loss of the best farmland and decline of central LA (Donut City)
Housing shortages
Urban tension – due to ethnic enclaves (1992 there were race riots in the city)
Water – having to be piped in from 350kmn away and causing conflicts with other states
Waste – 50,000 tonnes of waste is produced each day
Transport congestion – 10 million vehicles on the road
Massive energy use
Sustainable future?
PLAN (Progressive Los Angeles Network)
Increase urban parks and clean up contaminated brownfield sites
Promote clean fuel vehicles and green energy
Require developers to build affordable housing
Improve public transport with new rapid bus lanes
Promote smart growth land use where people can drive less and live nearer to where they work Ban new retail malls which undermine local shops and communities
Mumbai Megacity
Reasons why it grew?
Rural to urban migration (600 new migrants per day)
Push and pull factors
Natural Increase
Problems
60% of Mumbai’s population live in poverty
Massive slums such as Dharavi have grown in the city (Dharavi’s population is 1 million)
Increasing informal sector
Average incomes are very low
Fresh water is contaminated
Sustainable Future?
VISION MUMBAI
Boost economic growth by 8 – 10% by focussing on services (create 200,000 new service jobs) Upgrade infrastructure e.g. education/ water etc
Increase housing availability
Improve transport infrastructure
Sell the land occupied by the slums and redevelop it – new high rise blocks will be built for the slum populations