This case study is set against the backdrop of the development of industrial corridors between major cities as a means to drive regional economic growth. The Government of India is currently developing several such corridors, such as one between Delhi and Mumbai, and another between Bangalore and Chennai. The assumption behind the corridor development policy is that trunk infrastructure will provide an impetus for greater connectivity which in turn will improve industrial development in the region. These shifts in economic activity will trigger urbanisation along the corridor. This study attempts to question some of these assumptions and unpack rural – urban transitions along a transport corridor by focusing on changes in employment patterns that emerge over time. It does so by studying the Chennai to Cochin corridor, which is a historic trade route along the railway line between Chennai and Cochin. The settlements along this corridor have a high proportion of their workforce engaged in non-farm activities. Through this case, we attempt to understand how settlements change in response to a transport corridor, with a particular focus on how the presence of the corridor and improved connectivity shapes the employment patterns in the region around it.

About the Case Author
Shriya works on urban economics, urban form, economic geography and policy. She has studied the urban from a range of different perspectives – economic processes, sustainable land use practices and human rights.