Mumbai(/mmba/; also known asBombay) is thecapital cityof the Indian state ofMaharashtra. It is themost populous city in India, most populousmetropolitan areain India, and theeighth most populous city in the world, with an estimated city population of 18.4million and metropolitan area population of 20.7million as of 2011.[7]Along with theurban areas, including the cities ofNavi Mumbai,Thane,Bhiwandi,Kalyan, it is one of the most populousurban regionsin the world.[8]Mumbai lies on thewestcoast of India and has a deep natural harbour. In 2009, Mumbai was named analpha world city.[9]It is also the wealthiest city in India,[10]and has thehighest GDPof any city inSouth,WestorCentral Asia.[citation needed]Mumbai has the highest number ofbillionairesandmillionairesthan any other city in India.[11][12]Theseven islandsthat came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities offishing colonies.[13]For centuries, the islands were under the control of successiveindigenous empiresbefore beingcededto thePortugueseand subsequently to theBritish East India Companywhen in 1661 King Charles II married the Portuguese Catherine of Braganza, and as part of her dowry Charles received the ports of Tangier andseven islands of Bombay.[14]During the mid-18th century, Bombay was reshaped by theHornby Vellardproject,[15][15]which undertook reclamation of the area between the seven islands from the sea.[16]Along with construction of major roads and railways, the reclamation project, completed in 1845, transformed Bombay into a major seaport on theArabian Sea. Bombay in the 19th century was characterized by economic and educational development. During the early 20th century it became a strong base for theIndian independence movement. Upon India's independence in 1947 the city was incorporated intoBombay State. In 1960, following theSamyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state ofMaharashtrawas created with Bombay as the capital. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1996.[17]Mumbai is thefinancial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. It is also one of the world's top ten centres of commerce in terms of global financial flow,[18]generating 6.16% of India's GDP[19]and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 70% of maritime trade in India (Mumbai Port TrustandJNPT),[20]and 70% of capital transactions toIndia's economy.[21]The city houses important financial institutions such as theReserve Bank of India, theBombay Stock Exchange, theNational Stock Exchange of India, theSEBIand the corporateheadquartersof numerousIndian companiesandmultinational corporations. It is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes likeBARC,NPCL,IREL,TIFR,AERB,AECI, and theDepartment of Atomic Energy. The city also houses India's Hindi (Bollywood) andMarathi film and televisionindustry. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higherstandard of living,[22]attract migrants from all over India, making the city amelting potof many communities andcultures.Contents[hide] 1Etymology 2History 2.1Early history 2.2Portuguese and British rule 2.3Independent India 3Geography 3.1Climate 4Economy 5Civic administration 6Politics 7Transport 7.1Public transport 7.1.1Rail 7.1.2Bus 7.1.3Road 7.2Air 7.3Sea 8Utility services 9Architecture 10Demographics 10.1Ethnic groups and religion 11Culture 12Media 13Education 14Sports 15See also 16Notes 17References 18External linksEtymologyThe nameMumbaiis derived fromMumbaorMaha-Ambathe name of theKoligoddessMumbadeviandAai, "mother" in the language ofMarathi, the mother tongue of the Kolis and the official language of Maharashtra.[13][23]

The temple of local Hindu goddessMumbadevi, from whom the city of Mumbai derives its nameThe oldest known names for the city areKakamucheeandGalajunkja; these are sometimes still used.[24][25]Ali Muhammad Khan, in theMirat-i-Ahmedi(1507) referred to the city asManbai.[26]In 1508,PortuguesewriterGaspar Correiaused the nameBombaim, in hisLendas da ndia("Legends of India").[27][28]This name possibly originated as theOld Portuguesephrasebom baim, meaning "good little bay",[29]andBombaimis still commonly used inPortuguese.[30]In 1516, Portuguese explorerDuarte Barbosaused the nameTana-Maiambu:Tanaappears to refer to the adjoining town ofThaneandMaiambutoMumbadevi.[31]Other variations recorded in the 16th and the 17th centuries include:Mombayn(1525),Bombay(1538),Bombain(1552),Bombaym(1552),Monbaym(1554),Mombaim(1563),Mombaym(1644),Bambaye(1666),Bombaiim(1666),Bombeye(1676),Boon Bay(1690),[30][32]andBon Bahia.[33]After theBritishgained possession of the city in the 17th century, thePortuguesename was officiallyanglicisedasBombay.[34]By the late 20th century, the city was referred to asMumbaiorMambaiinMarathi,Konkani,Gujarati,KannadaandSindhi, and asBambaiinHindi,PersianandUrdu.[citation needed]The English name was officially changed toMumbaiin November 1995.[35]This came at the insistence of the Marathi nationalistShiv Senaparty that had just won the Maharashtra state elections and mirroredsimilar name changes across the country.[citation needed]According toSlate, "they argued that 'Bombay' was a corrupted English version of 'Mumbai' and an unwanted legacy of British colonial rule."[36]Slatealso said "The push to rename Bombay was part of a larger movement to strengthen Marathi identity in the Maharashtra region."[37]While the city is still referred to as Bombay by some of its residents and Indians from other regions,[38]mention of the city by a name other thanMumbaihas been controversial, resulting in emotional outbursts sometimes of a violently political nature.[39][40]HistoryMain articles:History of MumbaiandTimeline of Mumbai historyEarly history

Kanheri Cavesserved as a centre of Buddhism in Western India during ancient timesMumbai is built on what was once an archipelago ofseven islands:Bombay Island,Parel,Mazagaon,Mahim,Colaba,Worli, andOld Woman's Island(also known asLittle Colaba).[41]It is not exactly known when these islands were first inhabited.Pleistocenesediments found along the coastal areas aroundKandivaliin northern Mumbai suggest that the islands were inhabited since theStone Age.[42]Perhaps at the beginning of theCommon era(2,000 years ago), or possibly earlier, they came to be occupied by theKolifishing community.[43]In the third century BCE, the islands formed part of theMauryaEmpire, during its expansion in the south, ruled by the Buddhist emperor,AshokaofMagadha.[44]TheKanheri CavesinBorivaliwere excavated in the mid-third century BCE,[45]and served as an important centre of Buddhism in Western India during ancient Times.[46]The city then was known asHeptanesia(Ancient Greek: A Cluster of Seven Islands) to the Greek geographerPtolemyin 150CE.[47]Between the second century BCE and ninth century CE, the islands came under the control of successiveindigenous dynasties:Satavahanas,Western Kshatrapas,Abhiras,Vakatakas,Kalachuris, Konkan Mauryas,ChalukyasandRashtrakutas,[48]before being ruled by theSilhara dynastyfrom 810 to 1260.[49]Some of the oldest edifices in the city built during this period are,Jogeshwari Caves(between 520 to 525),[50]Elephanta Caves(between the sixth to seventh century),[51]Walkeshwar Temple(10th century),[52]andBanganga Tank(12th century).[53]

TheHaji Ali Dargahwas built in 1431, when Mumbai was under the rule of theGujarat SultanateKing Bhimdevfounded his kingdom in the region in the late 13th century and established his capital inMahikawati(present dayMahim).[54]ThePathare Prabhus, among the earliest known settlers of the city, were brought toMahikawatifromSaurashtrain Gujarat around 1298 by Bhimdev.[55]TheDelhi Sultanateannexed the islands in 134748 and controlled it until 1407. During this time, the islands were administered by the Muslim Governors ofGujarat, who were appointed by the Delhi Sultanate.[56][57]The islands were later governed by the independentGujarat Sultanate, which was established in 1407. The Sultanate's patronage led to the construction of many mosques, prominent being theHaji Ali DargahinWorli, built in honour of the Muslim saint Haji Ali in 1431.[58]From 1429 to 1431, the islands were a source of contention between the Gujarat Sultanate and theBahamani Sultanateof Deccan.[59][60]In 1493,Bahadur Khan Gilaniof the Bahamani Sultanate attempted to conquer the islands but was defeated.[61]Portuguese and British ruleMain articles:History of Bombay under Portuguese rule (15341661)andHistory of Bombay under British rule

TheMadh Fortbuilt by the Portuguese, was one of the most important forts inSalsette.TheMughal Empire, founded in 1526, was the dominant power in theIndian subcontinentduring the mid-16th century.[62]Growing apprehensive of the power of theMughalemperorHumayun,Sultan Bahadur Shahof theGujarat Sultanatewas obliged to sign theTreaty of Basseinwith thePortuguese Empireon 23 December 1534. According to the treaty, the seven islands of Bombay, the nearby strategic town ofBasseinand its dependencies were offered to the Portuguese. The territories were later surrendered on 25 October 1535.[63]The Portuguese were actively involved in the foundation and growth of their Roman Catholic religious orders in Bombay.[64]They called the islands by various names, which finally took the written formBombaim. The islands were leased to several Portuguese officers during their regime. The PortugueseFranciscansandJesuitsbuilt several churches in the city, prominent being theSt. Michael's ChurchatMahim(1534),[65]St. John the Baptist ChurchatAndheri(1579),[66]St. Andrew's ChurchatBandra(1580),[67]andGloria ChurchatByculla(1632),.[68]The Portuguese also built several fortifications around the city like theBombay Castle,Castella de Aguada(Castelo da Aguada or Bandra Fort), andMadh Fort. TheEnglishwere in constant struggle with the Portuguese vying for hegemony over Bombay, as they recognized its strategic natural harbour and its natural isolation from land-attacks. By the middle of the 17th century the growing power of theDutch Empireforced theEnglishto acquire a station in western India. On 11 May 1661, the marriage treaty ofCharles II of EnglandandCatherine of Braganza, daughter ofKing John IV of Portugal, placed the islands in possession of theEnglish Empire, as part of Catherine's dowry to Charles.[69]However,Salsette,Bassein,Mazagaon,Parel,Worli,Sion,Dharavi, andWadalastill remained under Portuguese possession. From 1665 to 1666, the English managed to acquire Mahim, Sion, Dharavi, and Wadala.[70]In accordance with theRoyal Charter of 27 March 1668, England leased these islands to theEnglish East India Companyin 1668 for a sum of10 per annum.[71]The population quickly rose from 10,000 in 1661, to 60,000 in 1675.[72]The islands were subsequently attacked byYakut Khan, theSiddiadmiral of theMughal Empire, in October 1672,[73]Rickloffe van Goen, the Governor-General ofDutch Indiaon 20 February 1673,[74]andSiddiadmiralSambalon 10 October 1673.[73]In 1687, the English East India Company transferred its headquarters fromSuratto Bombay. The city eventually became the headquarters of theBombay Presidency.[75]Following the transfer, Bombay was placed at the head of all the Company's establishments in India.[76]Towards the end of the 17th century, the islands again suffered incursions from Yakut Khan in 168990.[77]The Portuguese presence ended in Bombay when theMarathasunderPeshwaBaji Rao IcapturedSalsettein 1737, andBasseinin 1739.[78]By the middle of the 18th century, Bombay began to grow into a major trading town, and received a huge influx of migrants from across India.[79]Later, the British occupied Salsette on 28 December 1774. With theTreaty of Surat(1775), the British formally gained control ofSalsetteand Bassein, resulting in theFirst Anglo-Maratha War.[80]The British were able to secure Salsette from the Marathas without violence through theTreaty of Purandar(1776),[81]and later through theTreaty of Salbai(1782), signed to settle the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War.[82]

Ships inBombay Harbour(c. 1731). Bombay emerged as a significant trading town during the mid-18th century.From 1782 onwards, the city was reshaped with large-scale civil engineering projects aimed at merging all the seven islands into a single amalgamated mass. This project, known asHornby Vellard, was completed by 1784.[15]In 1817, the British East India Company underMountstuart ElphinstonedefeatedBaji Rao II, the last of the MarathaPeshwain theBattle of Khadki.[83]Following his defeat, almost the whole of the Deccan came under British suzerainty, and was incorporated into the Bombay Presidency. The success of the British campaign in the Deccan marked the liberation of Bombay from all attacks by native powers.[84]By 1845, the seven islands coalesced into a single landmass by the Hornby Vellard project via large scaleland reclamation.[16][85]On 16 April 1853, India's first passenger railway line was established, connecting Bombay to the neighbouring town ofThane.[86]During theAmerican Civil War(18611865), the city became the world's chief cotton-trading market, resulting in a boom in the economy that subsequently enhanced the city's stature.[87]The opening of theSuez Canalin 1869 transformed Bombay into one of the largest seaports on theArabian Sea.[88]In September 1896, Bombay was hit by abubonic plague epidemicwhere the death toll was estimated at 1,900 people per week.[89]About 850,000 people fled Bombay and the textile industry was adversely affected.[90]As the capital of theBombay Presidency, the city witnessed theIndian independence movement, with theQuit India Movementin 1942 andThe Royal Indian Navy Mutinyin 1946 being its most notable events.[91][92]Independent IndiaMain article:History of Bombay in Independent India

TheHutatma Chowkmemorial, built to honour the martyrs of theSamyukta Maharashtra movement. (Flora Fountainis on its left in the background.)After India's independence in 1947, the territory of theBombay Presidencyretained by India was restructured intoBombay State. The area of Bombay State increased, after several erstwhile princely states that joined the Indian union were integrated into the state. Subsequently, the city became the capital of Bombay State.[93]On April 1950, Municipal limits of Bombay were expanded by merging theBombay Suburban DistrictandBombay Cityto form the Greater Bombay Municipal Corporation.[94]TheSamyukta Maharashtra movementto create a separate Maharashtra state including Bombay was at its height in the 1950s. In theLok Sabhadiscussions in 1955, theCongress partydemanded that the city be constituted as an autonomous city-state.[95]TheStates ReorganisationCommittee recommended a bilingual state for MaharashtraGujaratwith Bombay as its capital in its 1955 report.Bombay Citizens' Committee, an advocacy group of leadingGujaratiindustrialists lobbied for Bombay's independent status.[96]Following protests during the movement in which 105 people were killed by police, Bombay State was reorganised on linguistic lines on 1 May 1960.[97]Gujarati-speaking areas of Bombay State were partitioned into the state of Gujarat.[98]Maharashtra State with Bombay as its capital was formed with the merger ofMarathi-speaking areas of Bombay State, eight districts fromCentral Provinces and Berar, five districts fromHyderabad State, and numerous princely states enclosed between them.[99]As a memorial to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Flora Fountain was renamed asHutatma Chowk(Martyr's Square), and a memorial was erected.[100]The following decades saw massive expansion of the city and its suburbs. In the late 1960s,Nariman PointandCuffe Paradewere reclaimed and developed.[101]TheBombay Metropolitan Region Development Authority(BMRDA) was established on 26 January 1975 by theGovernment of Maharashtraas an apex body for planning and co-ordination of development activities in theBombay metropolitan region.[102]In August 1979, a sister township ofNew Bombaywas founded by theCity and Industrial Development Corporation(CIDCO) across Thane andRaigad districtsto help the dispersal and control of Bombay's population. The textile industry in Bombay largely disappeared after the widespread 1982Great Bombay Textile Strike, in which nearly 250,000 workers in more than 50 textile mills went on strike.[103]Mumbai's defunct cotton mills have since become the focus ofintense redevelopment.TheJawaharlal Nehru Port, which currently handles 5560% of India's containerised cargo, was commissioned on 26 May 1989 atNhava Shevawith a view to de-congestBombay Harbourand to serve as a hub port for the city.[104]The geographical limits of Greater Bombay were coextensive with municipal limits of Greater Bombay. On 1 October 1990, the Greater Bombay district was bifurcated to form two revenue districts namely, Bombay City and Bombay Suburban, though they were administered by same Municipal Administration.[105]The past two decades have seen an increase in violence in the hitherto largely peaceful city. Following the demolition of theBabri MasjidinAyodhya, the city was rocked by theHindu-Muslim riots of 199293in which more than 1,000people were killed. On 12 March 1993,a series of 13 co-ordinated bombingsat several city landmarks by Islamic extremists and theBombay underworldresulted in 257 deaths and over 700 injuries.[106]In 2006, 209 people were killed and over 700 injured whenseven bombs explodedon the city'scommuter trains.[107]In 2008, a series often coordinated attacksby armed terrorists for three days resulted in 173 deaths, 308 injuries, and severe damage to several heritage landmarks and prestigious hotels.[108]The blasts that occurred at the Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar, and Dadar on13 July 2011were the latest in the series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai.[109]Today, Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and has evolved into a global financial hub.[110]For several decades it has been the home of India's main financial services, and a focus for both infrastructure development and private investment.[111]From being an ancient fishing community and a colonial centre of trade, Mumbai has become South Asia's largest city and home of the world's most prolific film industry.[112]GeographyMain articles:Geography of Mumbai,South Mumbai,Western Suburbs (Mumbai),Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai)andList of neighbourhoods in Mumbai

Mumbai consists of two revenue districts

Mumbai metropolitan region,Landsat 5satellite image, 2011-01-30Mumbai consists of two distinct regions:Mumbai City districtandMumbai Suburban district, which form two separate revenue districts of Maharashtra.[113]The city district region is also commonly referred to as theIsland CityorSouth Mumbai.[19]The total area of Mumbai is 603.4km2(233 sq mi).[114]Of this, the island city spans 67.79km2(26 sq mi), while the suburban district spans 370km2(143 sq mi), together accounting for 437.71km2(169 sq mi) under the administration ofMunicipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai(MCGM). The remaining area belongs to Defence, Mumbai Port Trust, Atomic Energy Commission and Borivali National Park, which are out of the jurisdiction of the BMC.[115]Mumbai lies at the mouth of theUlhas Riveron the western coast of India, in the coastal region known as theKonkan. It sits onSalsette Island, partially shared with theThane district.[116]Mumbai is bounded by theArabian Seato the west.[117]Many parts of the city lie just above sea level, with elevations ranging from 10m (33ft) to 15m (49ft);[118]the city has an average elevation of 14m (46ft).[119]Northern Mumbai (Salsette) is hilly,[120]and the highest point in the city is 450 m (1,476ft) at Salsette in thePowaiKanheriranges.[121]Sanjay Gandhi National Park(Borivali National Park) is located partly in theMumbai suburban district, and partly in the Thane district, and it extends over an area of 103.09km2(39.80 sq mi).[122]Apart from theBhatsa Dam, there are six major lakes that supply water to the city:Vihar,Lower Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna,Tulsi, Tansa andPowai. Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake are located inBorivili National Park, within the city's limits. The supply from Powai lake, also within the city limits, is used only for agricultural and industrial purposes.[123]Three small rivers, theDahisar River,Poinsar (or Poisar)andOhiwara (or Oshiwara)originate within the park, while the pollutedMithi Riveroriginates from Tulsi Lake and gathers water overflowing from Vihar and Powai Lakes.[124]The coastline of the city is indented with numerouscreeksand bays, stretching fromThane creekon the eastern to Madh Marve on the western front.[125]The eastern coast of Salsette Island is covered with largemangroveswamps, rich in biodiversity, while the western coast is mostly sandy and rocky.[126]Soil cover in the city region is predominantly sandy due to its proximity to the sea. In the suburbs, the soil cover is largely alluvial and loamy.[127]The underlying rock of the region is composed of blackDeccanbasalt flows, and their acidic andbasicvariants dating back to the lateCretaceousand earlyEoceneeras.[128]Mumbai sits on aseismically active zoneowing to the presence of 23 fault lines in the vicinity.[129]The area is classified as aSeismic Zone III region,[130]which means an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.5 on the Richter-scale may be expected.[131]Climate

Average temperature and precipitation in MumbaiMain article:Climate of MumbaiMumbai has atropical climate, specifically atropical wet and dry climate(Aw) under theKppen climate classification, with seven months of dryness and peak of rains in July.[132]The cooler season from December to February is followed by the summer season from March to June. The period from June to about the end of September constitutes the south-west monsoon season, and October and November form the post-monsoon season.[133]Between June and September, thesouth west monsoonrains lash the city. Pre-monsoon showers are received in May. Occasionally, north-east monsoon showers occur in October and November. The maximum annual rainfall ever recorded was 3,452mm (136in) for 1954.[134]Thehighest rainfallrecorded in a single day was 944mm (37in) on26 July 2005.[135]The average total annual rainfall is 2,146.6mm (85in) for the Island City, and 2,457mm (97in) for the suburbs.[134]The average annual temperature is 27.2C (81F), and the average annualprecipitationis 2,167mm (85in).[136]In the Island City, the average maximum temperature is 31.2C (88F), while the average minimum temperature is 23.7C (75F). In the suburbs, the daily mean maximum temperature range from 29.1C (84F) to 33.3C (92F), while the daily mean minimum temperature ranges from 16.3C (61F) to 26.2C (79F).[134]The record high is 40.2C (104F) on 28 March 1982,[137]and the record low is 7.4C (45F) on 27 January 1962.[138]

[hide]Climate data for Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport)

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear

Record high C (F)37.1(98.8)39.6(103.3)41.7(107.1)42.2(108)41.0(105.8)37.1(98.8)34.8(94.6)33.5(92.3)36.4(97.5)37.9(100.2)37.4(99.3)39.8(103.6)42.2(108)

Average highC (F)30.7(87.3)31.2(88.2)32.5(90.5)33.0(91.4)33.3(91.9)32.1(89.8)30.0(86)29.6(85.3)30.4(86.7)33.2(91.8)33.5(92.3)32.0(89.6)31.8(89.2)

Average lowC (F)16.8(62.2)17.8(64)21.0(69.8)23.9(75)26.3(79.3)26.0(78.8)24.9(76.8)24.7(76.5)24.3(75.7)23.4(74.1)20.9(69.6)18.6(65.5)22.4(72.3)

Record low C (F)7.4(45.3)8.5(47.3)13.8(56.8)16.9(62.4)20.2(68.4)19.8(67.6)21.2(70.2)19.4(66.9)20.7(69.3)16.7(62.1)13.3(55.9)10.6(51.1)7.4(45.3)

Rainfall mm (inches)0.6(0.024)1.3(0.051)0.2(0.008)0.7(0.028)12.5(0.492)523.1(20.594)799.7(31.484)529.7(20.854)312.3(12.295)55.8(2.197)16.8(0.661)5.3(0.209)2,258(88.898)

Avg.rainy days0.10.10.00.10.714.523.221.414.43.01.00.478.9

%humidity69676971708086868378716975

Mean monthlysunshine hours269.5257.6274.3283.7296.2148.673.475.9165.1240.2245.8253.22,583.5

Source #1: India Meteorological Department (Period 19611990, record high and low up to 2010)[139][140]

Source #2: NOAA (humidity, sun 19711990)[141]

EconomyMain article:Economy of Mumbai

TheBombay Stock Exchangeis the oldest stock exchange in Asia.Mumbai is India's largest city (by population) and is the financial and commercial capital of the country as it generates 6.16% of the total GDP.[19][110][142]It serves as an economic hub of India, contributing 10% of factory employment, 25% of industrial output, 33% ofincome taxcollections, 60% ofcustoms dutycollections, 20% of centralexcise taxcollections, 40% of India'sforeign tradeand4000crore(US$630million) incorporate taxes.[143]Along with the rest of India, Mumbai has witnessed an economic boom since the liberalisation of 1991, the finance boom in the mid-nineties and the IT, export, services and outsourcing boom in 2000s.[144]Although Mumbai had prominently figured as the hub of economic activity of India in the 1990s, theMumbai Metropolitan Regionis presently witnessing a reduction in its contribution to India's GDP.[145]As of 2008, Mumbai's GDP is $209 billion,[146]and its per-capita (PPP) income in 2009 was486,000(US$7,600),[10][147]which is almost three times the national average.[85]Its nominal per capita income is125,000(US$2,000),[148](US$2,094). Many of India's numerous conglomerates (includingLarsen and Toubro,State Bank of India(SBI),Life Insurance Corporation of India(LIC),Tata Group,GodrejandReliance),[110]and five of theFortune Global 500companies are based in Mumbai.[149]This is facilitated by the presence of theReserve Bank of India(RBI), theBombay Stock Exchange(BSE), theNational Stock Exchange of India(NSE), and financial sector regulators such as theSecurities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI).[145]Until the 1970s, Mumbai owed its prosperity largely to textile mills and the seaport, but the local economy has since then diversified to includefinance,engineering, diamond-polishing,healthcareand information technology.[150]The key sectors contributing to the city's economy are: finance, gems & jewellery, leather processing, IT and ITES, textiles, and entertainment.Nariman PointandBandra Kurla Complex(BKC) are Mumbai's major financial centres.[145]Despite competition fromBangalore,HyderabadandPune, Mumbai has carved a niche for itself in the information technology industry. TheSantacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone(SEEPZ) and the International Infotech Park (Navi Mumbai) offer excellent facilities to IT companies.[151]State and central government employees make up a large percentage of the city's workforce. Mumbai also has a large unskilled and semi-skilled self-employed population, who primarily earn their livelihood as hawkers, taxi drivers, mechanics and other suchblue collarprofessions. The port and shipping industry is well established, withMumbai Portbeing one of the oldest and most significant ports in India.[152]Dharavi, in central Mumbai, has an increasingly large recycling industry, processing recyclable waste from other parts of the city; the district has an estimated 15,000 single-room factories.[153]Mumbai has been ranked sixth among top ten global cities on the billionaire count,[154]48th on theWorldwide Centres of Commerce Index2008,[155]seventh in the list of "Top Ten Cities for Billionaires" byForbesmagazine (April 2008),[156]and first in terms of those billionaires' average wealth.[157]As of 2008, the Globalization and World Cities Study Group (GaWC) has ranked Mumbai as an "Alpha world city", third in its categories ofGlobal cities.[158]Mumbai is the third most expensive office market in the world, and was ranked among the fastest cities in the country for business startup in 2009.[159]