Delhi loses out to Gurgaon, Noida

For aspiring migrants, it’s no longer ‘Dilli Chalo’.

For aspiring migrants, it’s no longer ‘Dilli Chalo’.

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Driven by a booming services business, Gurgaon and Noida have emerged as the new centres of attraction.

According to Census 2011, Delhi’s four satellite towns — Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad — registered rapid population increases during the last decade even as the Capital’s population growth rate nearly halved from the previous decade.

Although Gurgaon and Noida lead the pack, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, too, continue to draw migrants in large numbers. What’s more, experts say this shows Delhi is following the trends visible in other large metros around the world.

In Mumbai, Census 2001 showed that population in older, more established parts grew slowly as compared to suburbs, such as Thane. Today, Thane district has the highest population in the country — more than 1.1 crore.

On Delhi’s emerging population growth pattern, PM Kulkarni, a social science professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said: “This means the pressure on Delhi’s infrastructure will not increase as much as it has in the past.”

He said, “Of course, the pressure on transport will not ease if the inner-city areas of Delhi that are converted into business establishments. But the pressure on the municipal infrastructure will be eased.” District-wise figures released on Tuesday indicate migrants are opting for the suburbs.