Volume-XII, Issue-III, May 2026 |
Dynamics of Urban Growth and Spatial Transformation in Dhulian Urban Cluster, West Bengal Chandan Dutta, Research Scholar, Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India |
Received: 19.05.2026 | Accepted: 29.05.2026 | Published Online: 31.05.2026 | Page No: 214-233 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.03W.336 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
In recent decades, Dhulian town and its surrounding areas in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, have experienced rapid urban growth and extensive spatial transformations. Consequently, investigating urban growth and quantitatively assessing land use and land cover (LULC) transformation have emerged as critical areas of study. This study examines the trends, patterns, and processes of urban growth and associated spatial transformations in the Dhulian Urban Cluster. Landsat imagery from 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2023 has been used to generate classified LULC maps employing the Maximum Likelihood method and the Supervised Classification technique in ArcGIS 10.8.2 software. Classification error has been minimized through the use of high-resolution Google Earth Imagery, while Post-Classification Comparison Change Detection Techniques have been applied for mapping and monitoring the temporal land transformations. Furthermore, statistical analyses and thematic mapping have been conducted using secondary data to assess the urban growth and its spatial and temporal variations. The findings indicate rapid urban expansion and spatial transformation within the study area, primarily driven by the increasing population pressures, growth of census towns, expansion of non-farm economic activities, and infrastructural development. During 1991-2023, built-up areas accelerated at a rate of approximately 373.9 percent, while the extent of agricultural land and open or fallow land declined significantly. Urban areas have expanded through horizontal extension along the corridor between the Ganga River and the National Highway. Understanding the urban growth pattern and its impact on surrounding areas may contribute to formulating micro-level planning strategies for urban development. | ||
Keywords: Urban Growth, Population Densification, Spatial Transformation, Land Use and Land Cover Change, Change Detection |