Metropolitan cities play a crucial role in the development of the state & the country. This article focuses on the major metropolitan cities of India & provides a list of Metropolitan Cities in India 2024.
What is a Metropolitan City?
A city with a population of 10 lakh/1 Million or more, rich culture, major economic & infrastructural development, and a major urban center is considered a Metropolitan or Tier-1 city.
These cities are the ideal residential localities and people prefer to move here for job & lifestyle changes.
All major governing laws are applied first in the metropolitan cities. The major administration legislative bodies also exist in metro cities.
Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai & Kolkata are the major metropolitan cities in India
List of Metropolitan Cities in India
Depending on the population density, economy, culture, and other important factors, there are different metropolitan cities in India.
Let’s discuss the major metropolitan cities in India.
Mumbai
The current population of Mumbai is more than 23 Million or 2.3 crore, which makes it one of the most populated cities in India.
Mumbai is one of the best cities for real estate investment.
Mumbai contributes 6.16% to the Indian GDP, which is the highest of any metropolitan city in India. It’s also responsible for India’s 25% of Industrial Production, 70% of Marine trading & 70% of financial transactions as well, making Mumbai the commercial capital of India as well.
The availability of Filmcity makes Mumbai the major entertainment hub of India. Filmcity was established in 1977 and is spread across 520 acres. Producing over 1200 films & 30-40% of India’s commercial ads & TV serials are produced every year in Film City, Mumbai.
The Taj Hotel, Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Famous beaches, authentic forts, ancient caves, filmcity, exciting nightlife, and many more such locations attract millions of tourists per year to Mumbai. More than 06 million tourists visited the city last year
Mumbai has some of the finest infrastructures, airports, the MTHL, highways, employment hubs, diverse culture, helpful community, etc. This results in around 50 lakh people shifting to Mumbai for livelihood every year, making Mumbai one of the best residential Metropolitan cities in India.
Delhi
With a current population of over 33 Million/3.3 Crore, Delhi – The Capital of India, is one of the most celebrated Metropolitan cities of India.
The contribution of Delhi towards India’s GDP is around 4.94%, which rounds up to around $293 Billion. This makes Delhi one of the richest Metropolitan cities in India.
As the capital of India, Delhi is home to important administrative centers like the Rashtrapti Bhavan, PM’s Office, Parliament Office/Samsad Bhavan, important legislative & political bodies, etc.
Delhi consists of several beautiful monuments like India Gate, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, etc. which attract more than 30 Lakh tourists every year.
Important Highways, Airports, Busy Metro lines, advanced education, blend of modern & authentic lifestyles are the best features of Delhi.
Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world, which gives it major historical and cultural importance. Around 3 Lakh people migrate to Delhi every year, from different parts of the country & the world as it’s one of the best metropolitan cities in India.
Bangalore
Bangalore has a total population of around 14 million/1.4 crores, making it one of the top Metropolitan cities in India.
Bangalore – the Capital of Karnataka, is also known as the Silicon Valley of India due to all the major IT & technological advancements in the city.
The climate of Bangalore is mostly sunny during the day & cool during the night. The availability of famous parks & green areas makes Bangalore the Garden City of India.
Bangalore contributes around $300 Billion to the GDP of India, making it one of the wealthiest cities.
Many companies like TCS, WIPRO, Infosys, etc. have their headquarters in Bangalore. The city has given a major push to several startups & entrepreneurs and is one of the top tech & industrial hubs across the world.
The architecture & culture of Bangalore is rich, artistic & diverse. There are several locations like the Bangalore Palace, Cubbon Park, Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Bangalore Fort, and many more which attract millions of tourists every year.
In the past few years, Bangalore has witnessed major infrastructural developments like Expressways, Metro Lines, Bridges, Flyovers, IT Parks, etc. To experience this advanced lifestyle, a huge number of people migrate to Bangalore for new work & living experiences.
Kolkata
Kolkata – the capital of West Bengal has a population of over 1.5 Crore / 15 Million, making Kolkata one of the major Metropolitan cities of India.
Kolkata is one of the most culturally rich cities in India, which also makes it the Cultural capital of India.
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata has a deep connection with arts & literature. It’s a land where great scholars & artists like Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, Subhas Chandra Bose, and many more.
The beauty of Kolkata attracts tourists from all over the world. The Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Durga Puja, Kali Puja & several other events & locations are witnessed by thousands of people every year.
The GDP contribution of Kolkata is $220 Billion, which stands at one of the top ranks in the Metropolitan cities of India. The huge industries, finance & trading affairs, and major port areas are responsible for the commercial success of Kolkata.
To experience this culturally rich lifestyle, lakhs of people shift every year to Kolkata.
Chennai
With an existing population of over 65 Lakhs, Chennai – the Capital of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most important Metropolitan cities in India.
Chennai contributed around $130 Billion to India’s total GDP. The commercial success of Chennai is majorly responsible to the Automobile industries, IT hubs, MNCs, etc. making it a great working environment.
Formerly known as Madras, the history of Chennai goes back around 400 years. With a long history, the city also has a diverse culture and is very much connected to arts & literature.
Chennai is also famous for the Tamil Film Industry, Kollywood which produces a lot of Tamil films every year.
The rich culture, beautiful temples, fine beaches, delicious food, and many more factors attract lakhs of people around the globe.
The major IT & Tech Hubs, attractive tourist locations, diverse community, excellent education, etc. are the major reasons behind a huge number of people shifting to Chennai every year.
Jaipur
Jaipur is the Capital of Rajasthan. This metropolitan city has a current population of more than 43 lakhs.
Considered the Pink City of India, Jaipur was founded in the year 1727. The city is deeply connected to its royal & rich cultural heritage.
The architecture in this city has an essence of pink, and the authenticity of the city lies in the performing arts, music, sculptures & delicious food.
The number of tourists visiting Jaipur keeps on increasing every year. The latest record featured more than 13 crore tourists visiting Jaipur last year to witness the beautiful palaces, forts, and architectural beauty of Jaipur.
Jaipur contributed $24 Billion towards the economy of India. The major source of revenue here came from the jewelry business, tourism, trade, handicrafts, etc.
As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities in India, many people prefer living in Jaipur.
Pune
Pune in Maharashtra has a total population of over 43 Lakhs.
Pune is also known as the Oxford of the East, because of a variety of educational institutions in the fields of engineering, medical, management, science, and research, and many such universities exist here.
Pune contributed $69 Billion to the Indian Economy. The city achieved this financial success due to the major automobile industries, MNCs, BPOs, IT & Tech hubs, and software & research companies as well.
Pune is one of the most culturally rich metropolitan cities in India. It is blessed with natural greenery, hills, temples, ancient forts, and many such locations that attract several tourists every year.
A beautiful city with natural greenery, employment opportunities, rich culture, great food & a developing Pune real estate market are the major reasons that people prefer living in this city.
Hyderabad
The Capital city of Telangana, Hyderabad has a population of over 1.1 crores.
With a GDP of around $85 Billion, Hyderabad city is one of the richest metropolitan cities in India. The rich economy of Hyderabad is majorly supported by IT hubs, MNCs, Pharmacy & Biotechnology Industries, Software companies, tech startups & major giants like Microsoft, Google & Amazon are also operational in the city.
Hyderabad is also known as Cyberabad because of the huge IT wave flourishing the city. All the major IT & Tech hubs are present at a huge corporate district HITEC City – Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City
Hyderabad has an ancient history going back to the Nizams, which gives the city a blend of modern & royal culture. The culture showcases traditions, festivals, architecture & delicious cuisines like the world-famous Hyderabadi Biryani.
Every year thousands of tourists visit Hyderabad to witness the Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi Tomb & several beautiful monuments in the city. Along with that, the Hyderabadi Film Industry – Kollywood is a major contributor to the Indian Film Industry.
The rapidly developing environment, best infrastructure, rich culture & proper education system are the reasons behind thousands of people choosing properties in Hyderabad.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is the largest city of Gujrat, with a population of over 88 lakhs.
The economy of Ahmedabad was last recorded at $110 Billion. The financial growth of the city was majorly possible due to the Textile, Manufacturing & Engineering Industries. The city has also flourished in the IT, Chemicals, Pharma & Automobiles sector.
In the backdrop of such big industries, you will still find traditional markets, authentic bazaars & modern shopping complexes as well.
The culture at Ahmedabad stands out as it has the pure essence of Gujrat. The communities are diverse, festivals like Navratri, Uttarayan/Makar Sankranti & Diwali are celebrated on a large scale, and delicious food & beautiful architecture can’t be ignored.
Every year, millions of tourists are attracted to Ahmedabad. Places like Sabarmati, Statue of Unity, Jama Masjid, Ancient forts, temples, and many such places are a must-visit.
Ahmedabad provides a lifestyle that is culturally rich & financially significant, which is the main cause behind thousands of people migrating to this city every year for a better living experience.
Surat
Surat is one of the major cities in Gujarat with a population of over 89 Lakhs.
Surat is acclaimed as the Diamond City, because of its huge diamond-cutting & polishing industries. The city is a major Diamond hub across the world, as it processes around 90% of the World’s overall diamonds.
As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities, the GDP of Surat is over $60 Billion. Along with diamonds, Surat is also a major textile hub & is prospering in Manufacturing, IT, Petrochemicals, Trading & the Real Estate Sector as well.
Surat is also considered the Cleanest City of India, which enriches the city’s culture even more.
To experience the diverse culture, beaches, rivers, castles, temples, and various calming places, millions of tourists visit Surat every year.
Being the fastest growing city in India, a huge number of people shift to Surat for a better living & work experience.
Future Metropolitan Cities in India
As we discussed the major metropolitan cities in India, it’s also important to discuss the cities with a future potential to become a Metropolitan City.
Here’s a list of a few cities that are developing gradually.
- Navi Mumbai
- Gurgaon
- Vadodara
- Chandigarh
- Mysore
- Dehradun
India has a great potential to develop many metropolitan cities in the coming years, which will be a great location to spend your life in.
FAQs
| What is a metropolitan city?
A Metropolitan or Tier-1 city has a population of 10 lakh or more, a rich culture, major economic & infrastructural development, and is a major urban center too. |
| What are the major Metropolitan cities of India?
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad & Surat are some of the major metropolitan cities of India. |
| Which is the most populated metropolitan city?
Delhi is the most populated metropolitan city with a population of over 33 Million, followed by Mumbai ( 23 Million ) & Kolkata ( 1.5 million ). |
| Which Metropolitan city has the highest GDP?
Mumbai has the highest GDP which is over $ 368 Billion. |
| Which is the first metropolitan city in India?
Kolkata is the oldest metropolitan city in India. |
| Which is the largest metropolitan city?
Delhi is the largest metropolitan city with an area of 1484 sq.km. |
| Which metropolitan city is called the Diamond City?
Surat ( Gujrat ) is called the diamond city of India. |
| Which is the best metropolitan city for working professionals?
Majorly people shift to Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi for better job opportunities. |
