Demarcating Peri Urban Areas of Kolkata through Computer Modelling from Demographic Data

Cities of 21^st century is marked by phenomenal growth in peripheral regions rather than core city, yet the study on peripheral zone, also known as peri urban area, in relatively low. In this regard, an attempt has been made to delineate the extent of peri urban areas of Kolkata, India with respect to job opportunity and population density based on the Census data for the year 2011. Two major indices have been developed such as livelihood opportunity index and depeasantization index for 56 community development blocks distributed over four adjoining districts of the core city namely Nadia, Bardhaman, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas using data management software. Regression analysis of the indices show that, peri urban of Kolkata does not display a concentric pattern. It is observed that, the blocks which are adjacent to core area have high level of urban growth. The blocks in outer periphery have moderate level of urban growth. Low urban growth is observed in the blocks in intermediate zone, especially on the eastern side. Blocks with industrial estates and real estates also show high urban growth. Connectivity with core city plays a major factor for urban growth. It reflects a complex distribution of habitats that can be best described as coagulating urbanism.