Historic Timeline

bangalore

HISTORY OF URBANIZATION BANGALORE

The fort and Pettah is surrounded by agriculture and green spaces. There is a distinct separation between green space and urban space.

Kempe Gowda I founded Bangalore by building a fort with 4 gates and Pettah, the old centre of commerce. Tanks provide water and social gathering spaces. The British cantonment, which is the new centre of administration and commerce, was set up east of the fort after Tippu Sultan’s defeat and colonisation. Cubbon Park was built as a buffer space between the new and old centres. The buffer zone is 1.5km wide. Other notable colonial developments include the general bazaar, parade square and batteries. Decentralised new settlements such as Malleswaram are planned. Also note the existence of Hebbal as a small rural settlement, and Hebbal tank which provides water.

New planned settlements provide new homes for the rapidly growing population. India gains independence from Britain in 1941. Rapid urbanisation begins as the Scientific Policy Statement establishes technology as a major driver for economic growth in 1956. More small rural settlements appear. Better linkage between rural and urban areas with new roads

In the 1970s, urban areas start to encroach rural areas. Farmers are faced with competing landuse and urban pollution problems. Urban development reaches Hebbal and Yelahanka. The IT boom results in new settlements such as Electronics City. 2003 map showing where IT industries are concentrated. Smaller IT industry clusters are observed in other urban areas, not just in the CBD area.

The Indian economy transforms to become more market-oriented. The agglomeration of IT industries becomes the unofficial new CBD. Urban sprawl has led to loss of vegetation and water bodies across Bangalore. Afforestation movements from groundup were organised to counter the rapid loss of green cover.

General urbanisation pattern: rapid expansion regardless of direction, but mostly concentrated along major roads which converge to the centre. Rapid loss of vegetation until 2019.