• Dr. Mausumi Bandyopadhyay

Urbanization is a distinct way of life which emerges in cities due to their large, dense and heterogeneous population. It has influence on society, environment and fringe areas. It takes place due to natural growth, migration and reclassification. Urbanization leads to encroachment of towns into arable and wet land (West Bengal Development Report-2010). Usually in cities, people have more freedom to choose better basic needs as well as health, education, employment, recreation, cultural activities and sports & games. As a result social structure and institutions become more dynamic and ultimately it stretches its hands towards urban periphery (Dr. S.A.A. Jafri and B.K. Bajpai-2012). The city life clearly influences its residents in terms of social, economic and human development. Ultimately the evils takes place in towns and cities and reason behind it, is unhealthy living condition of very large- size population. In view of that, National Commission of India on Urbanization has recommended developing intermediate and small towns. In the context of Urbanization, a study has been made on South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal has Latitudinal extension between 21°26´0²N and 22º33´45²N and longitudinal extension between 88º3´45²E and 89º4´50²E. Area of the district is 9,960 Sq. Km. It has seven municipalities and 29 Community Development Blocks. Bangladesh is located in the east of the district, Purba Medinipur and Haora district of West Bengal is in the west, Kolkata and North24 Parganas district lie in the north and Bay of Bengal is in the south of the study area. The major objectives of this study are: 1. To analyze the trend of urbanization in terms of (a) Level of urbanization, (b) Rate of urbanization and (c) Urban growth rate 2) the number and aerial expansion of urban units, 3) Causes behind urban expansion, 4) to find out the changing pattern of population due to urbanization, 5) To evaluate its socio-economic impact on the society.

Key words: urbanization, urban growth rate, level of urbanization, census town, impact of Urbanization

"Urbanization in the District of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal: An Analytical Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 6, page no.a759-a764, June-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2206089.pdf

"Urbanization in the District of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal: An Analytical Study", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 6, page no. ppa759-a764, June-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2206089.pdf