CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF URBANIZATION IN NORTH BENGAL

The process of urbanization is a very dynamic one and no two urban centers are alike. North Bengal consist of the eight northern most districts of the state of West Bengal. North Bengal occupies a very special position from strategic angle given the fact that it shares international border with the three neighboring countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Moreover, the entire north-east India is connected with the mainland by a narrow corridor of roughly 30 km. wide around Siliguri city. Given its strategic importance and increase in international trade with the neighboring countries, this region gained a lot of attention both from central as well as state governments and associated infrastructural change during recent years. The process of urbanization which was initially lackluster also geared up having its own implications given the delicate geo-environmental setting of North Bengal. In this book an attempt has been made to cover some of the burning issues of urbanization being faced across various urban centers of North Bengal in recent years.