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Construction at New Delhi’s East Kidwai Nagar residential redevelopment project on Oct. 24, 2018.

Construction at New Delhi’s East Kidwai Nagar residential redevelopment project on Oct. 24, 2018.

Photographer: Ruhani Kaur/Bloomberg

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New Economy

Will Future Megacities Be a Marvel or a Mess? Look at New Delhi

With a population that’s swelling by about 700,000 each year, India’s capital could be the world’s biggest megacity by 2028.

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The effects of unbridled urbanization are inescapable in India’s capital city. Smog blankets landmarks like India Gate in winter, delaying flights at the airport due to poor visibility. Traffic jams are part of the daily routine and slums abut New Delhi’s luxury hotels and private mansions, testifying to a growing wealth divide and chronic housing shortage.

And every day, the problem gets bigger. More than 27 million people live in and around Delhi with about 700,000 more joining them each year, according to research firm Demographia. The United Nations forecasts that by 2028 the population could outstrip Tokyo’s to make Delhi the world’s biggest megacity.

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