February 6, 2019 Comments Off on 4 of the Megacities of the Future Views: 1053 Urban Trekker

Everyone knows what sort of population bombs resemble cities such as Beijing, Delhi or Shanghai. With millions of people living there, these thriving urban hubs are some of the world’s leading megacities.

Yet, amid rapid population growth and accelerated urban development at the global scale of the past few decades, new urban hot spots on the world map have emerged. Below: 4 of them. The megacities of the not so distant future, and some of the challenges they are facing. (What is a megacity? Learn more here)

Wuhan – China’s first ‘sponge city’

Yes, you read right. China’s Wuhan used to be ‘the city of hundred lakes,’ but that’s past simple. This city, which is the sprawling capital of central China’s Hubei province and historically well prone to floods, had 127 lakes in its main area as recently as the 1980s. However, excessive urban development has taken the toll on nature since. Only around 30 lakes survive today, while Wuhan’s population has boosted to 10.61 million according to 2015 census.

1956: The first Wuhan Yangtze bridge construction

Various solutions have been wrought by city designers to aid the city’s continuing flooding issue. When heavy floods occurred in 2016, wholesome communities were cut off from access and 14 people lost their lives. Only in 2015, Wuhan was declared as one of the country’s first of 16 “sponge cities,” which as described by the Guardian, are “areas piloting ecologically friendly alternatives to traditional flood defences and drainage systems.”

Condominium development in Wuhan, China

Some of the fancy features, embedded in urban amenities and devised to absorb and manipulate water flows and rainfalls, include artificial ponds, permeable pavements, grass swales and rain gardens.

Angola’s Luanda, the expensive ‘capital’ of inequality

Luanda is one of the fastest growing African cities. The capital of Angola, overlooking the Atlantic, is not growing without several challenges, however.

View of downtown Luanda in 1883

It’s an expensive city to visit and visas for journalists are hard to obtain. Here’s what the Guardian writes about this city: “Government bureaucracy is obstructive and relentless, and the chance to document ordinary life relatively rare. Angola was once looked to with hope: having shaken off the yoke of colonial Portuguese rule in 1975, could it use its clean slate to put socialist principles into practice?”

The port of Luanda seen from an airplane (2014), Photo courtesy: U.S. Department of State



“Decades on, inequality is stark: wealth has been hoarded by the elite and the rights of ordinary citizens are trampled on. Many are forcibly evicted to create new developments where they can’t afford to live.”

New suburb under construction in Luanda, Angola (2010), Photo by: Paulo César Santos

Urban development proceeds at a fast pace in this city. New city areas extend down the Atlantic coastline. The population numbers almost 8 million, with prospects to reach 16 million by 2030, which makes Luanda’s megacity status pending.

Around one-third of Angolans live in Luanda, 53% of whom live in poverty.

Luanda was found by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novias in 1576. The obscure history of the city includes slave trade which abolished in 1836. As one of the most advanced cities under Portuguese imperialism, the city also grew from trading various resources including palm oil, wax, timber, ivory, cotton, coffee, and cocoa.

Hyderabad, India’s version of L.A.

India’s Hyderabad is best known for its Hitech City (abbreviated for Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City).

The urban realm provides to various segments of the IT industry as well as small and medium enterprises. It directly aids India’s status as one of the world’s fastest growing and most exciting economies. People compare this part of Hyderabad to the Silicon Valley in the U.S.

Mall building in Hyderabad, Photo: Ashdilmil, CC BY-SA 3.0

But there is more to this Indian city, founded in 1591 by a rich and mighty sultan, along the banks of Musi River in the heart of the country.

Street scene at Necklace road (Hussain sagar), Hyderabad, India, Photo: Fountain_Head, CC BY 2.0

Hyderabad can take pride in its Genome Valley which boasts production, research, and innovation in the biotech sector. Even more to its Ramoji Film City. All kinds of sets can be seen here– the world’s largest film studio and essential part of Tollywood, India’s Telugu-language film industry.

Hitech City, Genome Valley and Ramoji Film City are all ‘cities within a city’, just to name three. Hyderabad is growing so fast that will secure its megacity status by the next decade. By 2035 it is expected that some 15 million people will live in the greater area of Hyderabad.

From the urbanscapes of Hyderabad

You can go there, either for the fastest growing film industry in the world or for the next generation of biotech research, but also be ready to witness the next level of traffic chaos and halt. Rumor has it, this city has one of the most terrible traffic issues worldwide.

Tehran, a city of chaos aspiring for ‘order’

Perhaps a less known fact is that the city of Tehran is one of the most populated cities in the western parts of Asia. The capital of Iran has growing ambition to present itself as the next smart city to the world, though its exploding population of almost 8.5 million, blistering to 14 million within the greater Tehran area, struggles with serious air pollution issue.

Overcrowded Tehran, Photo: Örlygur Hnefill, CC BY 2.0 /Flickr



According to the World Health Organization, Tehran is ranked 12th among 26 megacities in terms of ambient PM10 levels. Residents also struggle with one of the world’s most serious issues of overcrowding, water shortages and headache-inducing traffic. A real concrete jungle, with thousands of minarets towering to the skies.

To reduce city chaos, Tehran plans to implement electronic identity system through smart national ID cards. Such project can begin within the capital and spread to other cities across the country.

Pollution in Tehran. Photo: Hapal, CC BY-ND 2.0 / Flickr

“According to statista, smart cities, also commonly known as cyberville, digital cities, intelligent cities, and wired cities, are urban areas that collect electronic data from citizens, devices, and assets to manage available resources more efficiently,” writes Tehrantimes.com, this as a hint what kind of smart city Tehran might want to be in the future.

“A wide range of information and communication technology (ICT) applications are executed to enhance, reduce costs and resource use, as well as increase the communication between government and citizens. Ideally, these applications can enhance knowledge and innovations, promote working environments, and connect technology and society. It also strives to embed a digital connection between government services and citizens to positively impact local communities.”

Does this kind of future scares you or excites you?

Tags: Angola, china, Hyderabad, India, Iran, Luanda, megacities, megacities of the future, overcrowded cities, overpopulation, Tehran, Wuhan