Overpopulation and Congestion in Mumbai: A City on the Edge.

Introduction: The Density Dilemma.

Mumbai, often dubbed India's economic powerhouse and one of the world’s most heavily populated cities, highlights the severe consequences of urban overpopulation. As of 2025, the city houses more than 22 million people within a limited area of just 603 square kilometers. This translates to a staggering density of nearly 73,000 individuals per square mile. These numbers have dramatically altered the identity of the “City of Dreams,” morphing it into a landscape where extreme congestion affects all aspects of daily existence—from slum overgrowth and chronic traffic jams to overstretched transit systems and deteriorating infrastructure. Mumbai’s unique geography, bound by the sea on three sides, restricts spatial expansion and intensifies these pressures, leaving the city struggling to keep up with its rapid population growth