"An interactive, three-dimensional map, that depicts spatial distribution of economic activity, could help tap India's growth potential better.

That was the idea behind the open source, 3D map developed by a team of researchers from the Mumbai-based IDFC Institute, working along with Urban Expansion Observatory at the Mahatma Education Society and Valectus. In order to overcome the constraints of administrative data, the map makes use of satellite data (specifically night time lights), population estimates etc, Kshitij Batra, Junior Fellow at IDFC Institute told BloombergQuint.

A glance at the map in its current form highlights several trends. In states such as Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, economic activity is concentrated in a few urban centres. That's in contrast to West Bengal and Maharashtra where “there is a more uniform spatial distribution”, Batra said. The region between Rajasthan to Odisha shows lower economic activity, compared to the rest of the country.

IDFC Institute hopes that this data can be used to inform decisions around city planning and regional investments in the future."

To see former Junior Fellow Kshitij Batra's interview and read the full story, click here.