From Shorelines to Skylines

Since the dawn of maritime trade and sea voyages, coastal areas have been preferred sites for human settlements, driven by economic and military advantages. India’s enduring relationship with maritime trade traces back nearly 5000 years, leading to the establishment of ports, settlements, and bustling coastal metropolises such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

What do Mumbai, Sydney, New York, Singapore, Bangkok, Miami, Istanbul, Chennai, Kolkata, Hong Kong, and Dubai have in common? Beyond being vibrant urban hubs, they all sit proudly on coastlines, inviting travellers worldwide. But why have coastal cities held such sway over empires, nations, and colonies throughout history?

Many cities have flourished at the confluence of rivers and oceans, enjoying the benefits of fertile land, sea trade routes, and defensive advantages against invaders. These cities have been home to important civilizations like those along the Nile, Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Yangtze rivers. They’ve helped shape how people live and do business around the world.

It is interesting to note that cities cover only 0.9 to 1.3 per cent of Earth’s land surface area, considering 71 per cent of Earth’s surface area is covered by water and 29 per cent by land; out of which cities cover only 2-3 per cent. Around 11 per cent of the global population lives in coastal cities. In India, for many years, three out of four metros were coastal cities, namely Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. In simple words, coastal cities have been a favourite destination for human activities. Facts suggest that coastal cities are three to four times denser than other urban settlements. Moreover, the number of megacities and their populations are both projected to increase greatly in the decades ahead. There is no denying that it will increase pressure on coastal cities.

Coastal cities have been the heartbeat of economic activity since the beginning of maritime trade. Indian historical records suggest that the genesis of maritime trade dates back to 3000 BC, almost 5000 years ago. According to Indian Navy’s website, Indians started maritime trade somewhere around 2600–1800 BC. During this time, the inhabitants of the Indus Valley civilization had maritime trade links with Mesopotamia. The excavation at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa has revealed that maritime activities flourished during this period. The discovery of a dry-dock at Lothal (about 400 km southwest of Ahmedabad) gives an insight into the knowledge of tides, winds, and other nautical factors that existed during that period. The dry dock at Lothal dates back to 2400 BC and is regarded as first such facility equipped to berth and service ships.

Under the rule of Ashoka, Saatvahana, and the Gupta Dynasty, Indian traders prospered through maritime trade. By the 8th century AD, Arab traders started coming to India, and West Asia became a trading hub for Europe and India. The maritime trade did not advance much during the Mughal rule, as they had found sufficient revenue from land and didn’t have much control over the coastal areas. But Europeans focused on coastal towns.

The first European voyage came from Portugal in the 15th century, and then others, including the Dutch, French, and British, followed. Portuguese businessmen landed in Calicut, Cochin, Goa, Surat, while British traders landed in Madras and Kolkata.Later, when the maritime trade became convenient and a necessity, especially during the colonial period, many more cities came up alongside coastal lines and became economic and political power centres.

Coastal cities now

Coastal cities are increasingly becoming vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, like rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other deteriorating coastal ecology. Across the globe, approximately 896 million individuals reside in low-lying coastal cities, facing the imminent threat of coastal hazards exacerbated by the rapid onset of climate change. For these people, their homes, businesses, and entire communities are at risk of disappearing.

India’s 7500-km coastline, spanning nine states and home to 420 million people, confronts the dual challenge of development and ecological preservation. If the balance between urban development and ecology is not maintained, it can cause not just environmental damage but also economic mess. A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that rising sea levels threaten to submerge 12 coastal cities including Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Visakhapatnam, nearly three feet underwater, by the century’s end.

It is in the interest of the nation to take care of its coastal cities and towns to fuel faster economic growth. For example, Mumbai needs to take a long stride to match the speed and scale of Shanghai, which is a long-held dream. Last year, Mumbai First, a Mumbai-based civil society, hosted the Global Coastal Cities Summit-2023 in Mumbai and released its outcome report that underlines some key suggestions from industry experts. The report recommendations focus on five major areas: building resilient infrastructure, implementing climate change adaptation measures, promoting sustainable urban development, strengthening governance and collaboration, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response.

It is important for our city leaders, bureaucrats, and urbanists planning coastal cities to learn from the experiences and experiments within the region and beyond to build a safe and sustainable future for all. It won’t be wise to ignore the warnings of institutions like the IPCC. It’s time to embark on a journey towards sustainable development, ensuring that our coastal cities thrive for generations to come.

The discovery of a dry-dock at Lothal (about 400 km southwest of Ahmedabad) gives an insight into the knowledge of tides, winds, and other nautical factors that existed during that period.