Why Are Megacities Still Empty?

The world is witnessing the rise of new planned cities that are being built from scratch by governments across the globe. While some of them have been successful, many others remain empty, raising the question of why countries are investing billions in building entirely new cities from scratch. In this blog post, we will explore this phenomenon and examine why these newly planned cities are either succeeding or failing.

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Naypyidaw, Myanmar

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• Myanmar’s third-largest city by area was built from scratch between 2002 and 2012 to alleviate overcrowding in Yangon.
• However, it has become known as an eerie ghost capital, with far fewer people living in this city than expected.
• The real reason for building this city might have been a strategic military move, with the location being remote and difficult for enemies to invade.
• The location of this new capital is supposed to improve the government’s control over these central areas.

Sejong, South Korea

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• The Sejong Administrative City was first proposed in 2002 to combat the uneven economic growth in the country and the congested capital city of Seoul.
• Construction began in 2007, and in 2012, government agencies began moving from crowded Seoul to the new capital, just 125 kilometers away.
• Today, almost half of the government ministries still remain in Seoul, along with the National Assembly.
• Despite its futuristic concept for high-end housing with generous green spaces, Sejong is criticized for promoting car dependency and a lack of community spirit.

Jakarta, Indonesia

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• Jakarta is one of the largest cities in the world, and it faces significant environmental and infrastructural challenges.
• The government is planning to move the capital to a new location in the jungle, which is still an empty plot of land.
• The move is expected to alleviate overcrowding and infrastructure issues while addressing the environmental challenges.

Egypt’s new capital

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• Egypt is building another megacity from scratch in the middle of the desert, which is soon to be home to 6.5 million people and the tallest skyscraper in the world.
• As of today, no one has moved in yet, raising the question of whether they will manage to fill it with people.

Overall, while building new cities from scratch may offer several advantages, it is not an easy task to accomplish. There are several challenges that governments must overcome to ensure the success of these cities, including insufficient transportation links and services, promoting car dependency, and a lack of community spirit. Additionally, governments must ensure that there is adequate demand for the new cities to prevent them from becoming ghost capitals. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether these newly planned cities will succeed or fail in the long run.

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