Urban built-up footprint in India’s top eight cities doubles since 1995

India’s urban landscape is expanding at a staggering pace. The built-up area across the country’s eight largest cities has doubled over the past three decades, growing from 2,136 sq km in 1995 to 4,308 sq km in 2025. This rapid growth reflects a broader trend: according to integrated real estate and mortgage platform Square Yards, by 2050, India will add more than 330 million people to its urban population, the equivalent of absorbing the entire population of the United States into its urban fabric.

This migration means close to 100 million new homes will be required, alongside massive investments in transit, infrastructure, and services.

The analysis covers urban areas of the top eight cities of India, which are also among the largest urban agglomerations and real estate markets in the country, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR (Delhi, Gurugram, Noida & Greater Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad), Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai MMR, and Pune.

“Around the world, cities drive more than 80% of GDP, and for India too, the journey to becoming a developed economy runs through its urban centres. We are already seeing this play out in major cities of India where skyscrapers, dense cores, and thriving business districts are reshaping how we live and work,” said Tanuj Shori, CEO and founder of Square Yards.

“While metros continue to dominate, the real excitement is also in Tier 2 and 3 cities, where better infrastructure and capital flows are powering the next wave of growth,” Shori said.

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By 2050, more than 800 million Indians will live in cities, according to the United Nations. Already, we are witnessing the explosive rise of our megacities—Mumbai and Delhi stand tall as global urban powerhouses, while Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai are rapidly cementing their positions as vibrant centres of technology and innovation.“This vertical expansion, marked by high-rises, dense cores, and thriving business districts, is reshaping the real estate landscape with premium residential, commercial, and mixed-use assets,” the report said.The expansion of urban areas has been propelled by deliberate policy shifts, sustained infrastructure development, globalisation, and a steady influx of working populations.
According to the United Nations, urban areas now contribute more than 80% of the global Gross Domestic Product.

“Cities bring together people, capital, and enterprises, creating dynamic hubs of productivity, innovation, and cultural exchange. Today, 58% of the world’s population is residing in urban areas. However, only a fraction of the earth’s land surface is urbanised. This dense clustering of people highlights the essential role that cities play in shaping economic, cultural, and social development,” the report said.

With a population of approximately 1.46 billion, India is now the most populous country in the world. Currently, about 37% of the Indian population lives in urban areas. This number is projected to rise significantly to 53%, reaching an estimated 876 million by the year 2050.

As seen globally, India’s urban population is also concentrated in a few major cities. Among the 37 megacities (10+ million) worldwide, six are in India, the largest being Delhi and Mumbai.
By the year 2035, this number is expected to increase to seven, with Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and potentially Pune joining the list.

“These cities are not just population centres; they also serve as major economic hubs, attracting people, businesses, and investment. As such, they are becoming key markets for real estate development,” the report said.

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