BENGALURU: The city’s infrastructure has come under sharp political and corporate scrutiny of late. Now, population projections for Bengaluru also echo concerns, with state data revealing a steep rise and projecting a more than 20% increase by 2031.
According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), the city’s total population is expected to rise from around 1.22 crore in 2021 to nearly 1.47 crore by 2031. Bengaluru’s projected growth between 2025 and 2026 alone is 1.93% — the highest in Karnataka.
Experts attribute this relentless rise in population to the city’s strong migratory pull, driven by its diverse job market. With Bengaluru’s share in Karnataka’s population projected to rise from 18.2% in 2021 to 20.7% by 2031, the data reinforces the need to decongest the capital and strengthen other urban centres.
Urban spaces outside the state capital also reflect a similar trend, with Karnataka’s overall urban share expected to increase from around 43.9% in 2021 to nearly 47.8% by 2031. “Bengaluru’s growth is largely driven by livelihood opportunities,” said K Narasimha Phani, the joint director, Directorate of Economics and Statistics.
Migration plays a major role, not just from outside Karnataka, but also from within the state,” K Narasimha Phani added.
Experts have warned that rampant expansion of city borders could spell even more trouble, as infrastructure and planning frameworks within current limits remain under severe strain.
“Bengaluru’s town planning framework is very old,” said Dr S Madheswaran, adviser to the Jain University and former director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC). “Newer divisions and peri-urban areas, places that have effectively become part of the city, are not reflected in current plans. Without granular, division-level data, planning remains a top-down exercise that risks failure,” Dr Madheswaran explained.
He added that peri-urban belts, which were once rural but are now absorbed into Bengaluru’s fringes, have become planning blind spots. “These areas fall through the cracks of governance, making it difficult to extend health, education, and civic facilities. Even meeting basic norms such as one primary health centre for every 50,000 people needs microscopic data for proper planning,” he further said.
Experts believe the Bengaluru story could serve as a cautionary tale, underscoring the need for proactive urban infrastructure development before other cities face similar levels of strain.
Pearl D’Souza is a principal correspondent at The Times of India,...
Read MorePearl D’Souza is a principal correspondent at The Times of India, having dedicated nine years to journalism. She covers health, along with a wide range of other topics. She is particularly focused on the rapidly evolving health sector, with special emphasis on public health infrastructure. Her reporting spans education, science, and technology, food. She was certified as a Climate Correspondent by the Fulbright-Hays Public Diplomacy Program, organized by the US Mission India in 2024, and is a 2025 candidate for United Nation's RAF memorial journalism fellowship.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment