ABSTRACT
Uncontrolled urban development of Pimpri Chinchwad area was assessed to understand
shifting of urban growth center and its controlling factors during last forty
years. Out of forty, initial 20 years span (1973 to 1993) is compared to subsequent 20
years (1993 to 2013). The secondary data i.e. topographic maps (year 1970 and 2009)
and satellite image MSS, LISS III (year 1973 and 1993) and LISS IV image (year 2013)
were used for preparation of land use land cover maps. Furthermore, Shannon entropy
computed by built-up land class, was showing the entropy 0.81, 0.92 and 0.97
for year 1973, 1993 and 2013 respectively, hence the steady growth during past
forty years. However, growth centers of urban development shifts from automobile
industries at Pimpri (central part) to information technology (IT) industries towards
Hinjewadi (western part) area. This shift was determined from the demographic
alteration in study area. To understand demographic alteration, the spatial
results were verified through ground truth survey reveals population growth is in
the form of vertical growth such as increase in multi storey buildings instead of
single storey housing. This study highlights the shifting of urban growth centers in
developing countries such as India from automobile to IT industries. The shifting
of growth center was resulted into impact on existing public services (drinking water,
sanitation, waste management, roads, hospitals etc.). In conclusion, present
study warrants the attentions towards shifting of urban growth center from such
rapidly growing industrial city of the developing countries while deciding future
urban planning.