Emerging Pattern and Trend of Migration in Megacities

Rural-to-urban migration, particularly between states, towards megacities continues to contribute to their overall growth, although the trajectory of migration is shifting towards smaller cities. Based on analysing the census figures from 2001 to 2011 and the National Sample Survey Office data, this paper notes that interstate and combined migration figures may be rural-to-urban, but that characteristic is changing. Intra-state migration to the megacities has emerged as an urban-to-urban trend. Delhi is the most preferred megacity for migration from other states. Employment continues to be the single largest reason for interstate migration, but it is declining. Whereas reasons other than employment motivate people for intra-state migration.

Migration is an inevitable phenomenon in a globalised world and improves individuals’ social and economic well-being via better opportunities in a secured
environment (Santhapparaj 1996; Faggian and McCann 2006; Herrmann and Svarin 2009). Migration has major implications for urbanisation (Rao 1981); changes in land-use pattern due to industrialisation, settlements, and infrastructure building that eventually generate employment opportunities and, particularly in Asia, migration has also been linked to urban growth (Guest 1994). In developing countries, rural-to-urban migration and employment are closely related (Rhoda 1983).