India’s Metros Double Urban Spread in 30 Years — Pune and Bengaluru at the Forefront
India’s Metros Double Urban Spread in 30 Years — Pune and Bengaluru at the Forefront
Over the last three decades, India’s major cities have undergone a dramatic transformation — expanding far beyond their original footprints and evolving into sprawling urban powerhouses. A new report by Square Yards titled “Cities in Motion – Tracing 30 Years of Urban Expansion” offers a data-driven look into how this growth has reshaped the nation’s urban landscape from 1995 to 2025.
The research, which utilized satellite imagery from Landsat and the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL), focused on the actual built-up areas of cities, not just their municipal limits. This gave a clearer picture of how these urban centers have expanded into nearby towns, villages, and open spaces — effectively redrawing the map of urban India.
Topping the list of fastest-growing metros is Pune, which recorded a staggering 332% increase in its built-up area over the last 30 years. What was once a relatively compact city has now stretched to a built-up footprint of 373 square kilometers in 2025. The transformation is largely attributed to the IT boom, strategic development around the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, and improved connectivity thanks to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The city has also seen a surge in both residential and commercial real estate, fueling outward expansion into nearby areas.
Closely following Pune is Bengaluru, which has grown by 186% to reach a built-up area of 498 square kilometers. Widely recognized as India’s tech capital, Bengaluru’s rapid expansion was powered by the rise of the IT sector, infrastructure projects like the Outer Ring Road and Namma Metro, and the development of the Bengaluru-Mysore Expressway. Its population more than doubled in the same period, reflecting the city’s magnetism for both talent and investment.
Despite not matching these cities in percentage growth, Delhi-NCR continues to be the largest urban agglomeration in the country. Spanning a vast 967 square kilometers in built-up area as of 2025 — a 71% increase since 1995 — NCR’s expansion was largely driven by the rise of satellite cities such as Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad. Massive infrastructure projects like the Delhi Metro network, Dwarka Expressway, and the upcoming Noida International Airport have played a significant role in making it the most connected and populous urban region in India.
Mumbai, on the other hand, has experienced slower horizontal growth — only a 43% increase in built-up area to 588 square kilometers. However, what it lacks in sprawl, it makes up for in vertical development. Land constraints and skyrocketing property prices have pushed the city to build upward. Redevelopment of old mills, slums, and chawls, combined with large-scale infrastructure upgrades such as the Mumbai Coastal Road, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the Trans Harbour Link, are reshaping its skyline and density profile.
Other major metros have also witnessed significant changes. Chennai’s urban footprint expanded by 137%, driven by strong industrial and IT sector growth. Hyderabad nearly doubled its size (95%) thanks to projects like HITEC City and the Outer Ring Road, supported by business-friendly policies. Ahmedabad grew 102%, helped by the emergence of GIFT City and improved regional connectivity. Kolkata saw an 87% rise in built-up area, particularly due to eastward expansion into Rajarhat and New Town.
Looking ahead, India is moving toward a more decentralized model of urban growth. Megacities like Delhi and Mumbai will remain central to the economy, but smaller cities and emerging urban hubs are expected to take on a greater role in job creation, housing, and innovation. According to the report, more than 53% of India’s population — nearly 876 million people — will be living in cities by 2050.
Urban growth patterns are clearly dividing into two main styles: vertical and horizontal. Densely packed cities like Mumbai and central Bengaluru are growing upward, using high-rises and mixed-use buildings to accommodate more people in limited space. On the flip side, cities such as Pune and Hyderabad are expanding outward, into peri-urban areas where land is more available and affordable. This horizontal expansion supports the development of IT parks, logistics hubs, and large-scale housing projects.
