Constraints of space and resources aren’t new to Indian cities. The influx of migrant population to metros from neighbouring, lesser developed states affects job opportunities as well as living conditions. Municipal planning corporations encouraged the development of “satellite cities” to decongest densely populated big cities. As described by Singapore- based Basha Research Corporation, “A satellite city is designed to house the overspill population of any major city, but located well beyond the limits of that city”. Essentially a concept in urban planning, most satellite cities are connected to major transportation links of the region, on the outskirts of larger metros.
Indian satellite towns have become independent economies over the years. About 100 satellite cities have emerged from large metros since 1947 and evolved into autonomous townships with their own municipalities. These self-sufficient cities are well-equipped with schools, hospitals, hotels and industries. While they may not have the economic power of their more developed twin, they definitely boast of evolved landscapes that provide competent urban sprawls for its residing population. Here’s an overview of a select few satellite towns that have become much more than just extensions of their larger counterparts.
MUMBAI: NAVI MUMBAI
The project of creating a “decongesting twin” of Mumbai was handed over to City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). The mandate was simple: to convert 344 sqm of village marsh into a liveable city. Navi Mumbai came to life in 1972, close to India’s first six-lane, access controlled Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Today, Navi Mumbai’s Kalamboli area serves as a competitive SEZ (Special Economic Zone). The satellite city also welcomes a number of startups and small-sized firms due to its lower rate of real estate compared to Mumbai. The much awaited mega project of Navi Mumbai International Airport kicked off this year as well, after being stuck for almost 20 years. Its first flight should hopefully take off by 2019, as scheduled.
Going by CIDCO’s projections, the airport will cater to 35 million passengers by 2020, positioning Navi Mumbai as an airport hub of Maharashtra. Also underway is a convention centre by CIDCO on the Sion-Panvel Expressway, that will further strengthen the satellite city’s offering to business travel. This state-of-the-art CIDCO Exhibition Centre will sprawl across 18.30 acres, housing a gigantic business and exhibition centre, an ancillary block and a food-court.
Its improving connectivity, fantastic accessibility and rising commercial significance have invited hotel groups from around the world to consider Navi Mumbai for their India expansion. Indian hotels are eyeing this satellite town too; Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is opening The Gateway Hotel there and a Courtyard by Marriott will also be unveiled next year. “Because of the sheer economics of land availability, Navi Mumbai is an area for expansion. Many big corporations are moving their headquarters there because of the availability of larger office spaces and reasonable accommodation for the employees,” says Navjit Ahluwalia, senior vice president for hotel development, India and sub- continent at Marriott International.
With good infrastructure, impressive residential facilities and efficient connectivity, Navi Mumbai is a success story. The township is buzzing with hotels, malls and recreational facilities for its residents such as parks and jogging tracks. It has turned into an entertainment and lifestyle destination that hosts a lively nightlife for its residing urban population, setting a fantastic example for upcoming satellite townships.
KOLKATA: NEW TOWN
Situated in Kolkata’s outskirts, the fast-growing satellite city of New Town rose to become the second largest information technology hub of West Bengal after the proximate satellite town of Salt Lake. It is developed by West Bengal Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO). Action Area-II within New Town, is its central business district, where IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro have set shop. Real estate firms such as DLF, Ambuja Realty and Tata Group have also recognised the potential of New Town and established a presence there.
The satellite township boasts of pioneering India’s first wifi road connectivity on its Main Arterial Road. It also prides itself on some of the best health centres, education institutes, high-quality infrastructure, providing denizens that move there from increasingly cramped Kolkata a better standard of life.
New Town houses exceptional art and heritage centres to keep up with its neighbour Kolkata, cultural capital of India. WBHIDCO built Rabindra Tirtha, a cultural and research institute with art- galleries, an auditorium, a mini cinema hall and music room for New Town’s discerning residents. Further, the satellite city has made way for Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) that is being built in Rajarghat around the New Town Eco Park and the upcoming Kolkata International Convention Centre. Considering the availability of space, it is an ideal choice in East India for setting up the convention centre. Construction is underway, and once complete, it is slated to host many national level conferences. Recognising this opportunity, the West Bengal government and WBHIDCO put forth the idea of Kolkata International Convention Centre, a 100-acre site that will feature a multi-purpose hall and an open-air exhibition area that can accommodate up to 2,000 delegates. The complex will be annexed to a building that will house conference rooms, library, gym, swimming pool, restaurant and a multi-level parking lot.
New Town has many facets, and a burgeoning banking industry is another feather in its cap. Deemed to be the financial hub of East India, 19 banks have already invested in land there, including State Bank of India, that is building a new training centre there. It is no doubt that New Town is the new face of West Bengal’s attractive investment opportunities. With fantastic health care provisions, state-of-the-art residential complexes, hotels and malls, it is attracting the urban professional looking to move, not too far away from Kolkata.
PUNE: PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD
Pimpri-Chinchwad New Township Development Authority (PCNTDA) was formed in 1972 with the mandate to develop a world-class twin-city for Pune. However industrialisation in Pimpri-Chinchwad started way back in 1954 with Hindustan Antibiotics setting shop there. Over the past few decades, Pimpri-Chinchwad has evolved into an IT and automobile powerhouse of West India.
It is the hub for home-grown automobile giants such as Premier, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Kinetic Engineering and Force Motors. It also houses units of international bigwigs such as Daimler and Chrysler. Manufacturing units have attracted auto-ancillary companies that have made this satellite city their hub.
Along with its automobile and manufacturing sectors, Pimpri-Chinchwad is experiencing rapid growth in real estate and exports too. Information Technology is booming as well, considering its neighbour, Pune is a leading tech-hub in India. This phenomenon has invited educated professionals to migrate to the satellite town. Located within the city, Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park houses global firms such as IBM, Accenture, Credit Suisse and Wipro. With over 4,000 units spanning across industries and some of the top multinationals, Pimpri’s economic map is expanding fast. It has established itself as the largest industrial unit after the proximate financial hub — Mumbai.
The satellite city is also known for its acclaimed education institutions and research centres such as Dr D Y Patil Institute of Engineering and Technology and Pimpri-Chinchwad College of Engineering and Research. Its educated and young population graduates into an array of opportunities in its many burgeoning sectors.
Investments crossing `9,500 crore in infrastructure projects and a mass rapid transit system are coming up in Pimpri and PCNTDA is focussing on urbanising the industrial area that has become a haven for employees working there.
Students and working professionals moving from Pune or from the rest of India are welcomed with a peaceful lifestyle devoid of the clutter experienced in big cities. Low prices of real estate are an added incentive to the migrating urban population.
DELHI: FARIDABAD
One of the many satellite cities bordering the capital, Faridabad appeals to private investors and industries from the world over due to its strategic location. Situated in the National Capital Region, it lies parallel to the Delhi-Agra highway, connecting easily to India’s foremost tourist destination — Agra. It is also well-connected to central Delhi via the Metro and nearby industrial cities of Noida and Gurugram. Its superb accessibility and efficient transport system have been conducive to its burgeoning economy. One of the most developed cities of the state of Haryana, Faridabad along with Gurugram contributes 50 per cent of the state’s GDP. (Though it falls in Haryana geographically, it is politically Delhi’s satellite city.)
Primarily divided into two parts — Old and New Faridabad, the satellite city’s industries have picked the latter, alongside government bodies and SEZs. Old Faridabad houses large expanses of farming land that serves its agribusiness, a long-standing strength of Faridabad. Known for its high quality henna, it is the largest producer of this traditional dye. International and domestic trade of the dye from Faridabad is estimated at `300 crore annually, according to the Faridabad Henna Manufacturing Association.
Recognised as the manufacturing capital of the country, almost 50,000 industrial units have invested there. Out of these, 5,000 companies are from the automobile sector. The rest vary from small- to mid-sized firms across engineering and mechanical industries. A city known for its farming capabilities has now transformed monumentally.
Even with self-sustaining infrastructure, skyscrapers, IT parks, malls and residential complexes, living costs there are cheaper than in Delhi and Gurugram. Although Faridabad has a long way to go until it can compete with its neighbouring cities in terms of lifestyle: it offers affordable cost of living, and acceptable standards of education and medical services that are attractive to the urban youth residing in the National Capital Region. Denizens living in Faridabad don’t shy away from visiting proximate towns on the weekends, either.
CHANDIGARH: MOHALI
The Chandigarh Tricity is made up of Chandigarh and its two satellite cities — Panchkula and Mohali. The trifurcation of this city took place in the late 1960s, when it acquired the status of a union territory. Mohali is the 18th district of Punjab and was formerly known as SAS Nagar, after the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh.
The satellite town paves the way for Punjab’s IT industry and plays a key role in Chandigarh’s economy. Companies such as Dell and Philips have expanded their presence there. One of its biggest projects is by Denver-based Quark, that invested US$500 million to create QuarkCity in Mohali. This 46-acre multi-use development comprises of corporate spaces, residential buildings, retail stores and an SEZ. Its main purpose is to provide room to IT firms that are looking to enter Punjab. The complex also features housing facilities equipped with shopping centres, residential townhouses, condominium apartments, restaurants, multiplexes and entertainment options.
Another industry that flourishes there is retail. Considered to be one of the largest markets of the state, Mohali is the choice for top fashion brands entering the region. The population of Punjab is affluent and brand conscious. Shoppers from Chandigarh travel to Mohali’s many malls to visit, say a Zara or Marks and Spencer. Swedish retailer Hennes and Mauritz has also chosen Mohali for its foray into the Northern state. The 2,554 sqm store launched this May, and while retail experts dubbed this as a bold decision, the company is confident of its choice.
Mohali is known for a number of schools, colleges and universities that attract the urban population from cities across India. Situated in Knowledge City are Indian Institute of Science Education and Research and Indian School of Business.
Apart from this, it is also acclaimed for its world- class sports’ arenas that hail supporters from all over India, aiding tourism in this satellite city.
Punjab Cricket Association’s state-of-the-art cricket stadium and International Hockey Stadium are home to state-owned leagues. While not many choose Mohali to live in, its varied entertainment choices position it as a well-equipped student city.
