In India, the urban fringe is the most sought after and, at the same time, the most problematic area of a peri-urban region. This is the area in which the city expands, yet is often subjected to a chaotic development before it is finally merged in with a city. An area of transition between the rural and the urban, the urban fringe has been the subject of study by different disciplines. The contributions in this book are written by geographers, architects, planners, and social scientists who present their own perspective on the nature of the urban fringe in India. The book looks at the historical development of suburban areas and the manifestations of the present urban expansion. It explores the rural-urban dichotomy, the fast-paced welcome and unwelcome changes, the problems of its development, and an overall impact of urban expansion on the economic life of the people. It evaluates the role of urban planning and the shortcomings that creep in during the period of plan implementation, following invariable interference from politicians and land speculators.