Census town

A census town is a type of town that satisfies certain characteristics, depending on the country in which it is located.

In India, a census town is one which is not statutorily notified and administered as a town, but nevertheless whose population has attained urban characteristics. They are characterized by the following:

Examples of Indian census towns include Greater Noida, in Uttar Pradesh; Begampur, Chandpara in West Bengal; Ramachandrapuram, in Telangana; Amini, in Lakshadweep, Ghatshila in Purbi Singhbhum District of Jharkhand; and BGR Township (Bongaigaon Refinery Township) in Bongaigaon Urban Agglomeration.

The number of census towns (CTs) in India grew from 1,362 in 2001 to 3,894 in 2011. As per Pradhan (2013), these CTs account for 30% of the urban growth in the last decade. Pradhan also notes that the largest increase in the number of CTs was in the states of West Bengal and Kerala.

CTs are classified as urban areas by the Census of India if they satisfy the three conditions on population, density and workforce participation. However, CTs are still administratively rural, i.e. they are not recognized by the government as urban areas.

The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, in May 2016 asked the 28 states in India to take action to start the process of recognizing CTs as urban areas. The argument given for this conversion was that a statutory Urban Local Body (ULB) is required to ensure planned development of these areas. In this notification, Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (Urban Development) notes:

The opportunity of planned urban development might get lost if unplanned construction and ad hoc provisioning of infrastructure is allowed to take place over a long time.

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