The Limits of the Megacity Conceptualizing Mumbai simply as a " megacity" or, as the United Nations calls it, a " large urban agglomeration ," is inadequate . Rather, it is a hub in a larger urban system. Seeing Mumbai from the point of view of the entire Konkan region (the Arabian Sea coast along the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra , and Goa, in western India) helps us understand how Mumbai 's realm stretches all the way to small towns and villages, and how important the city 's connections with those places are for Mumbai. Communication and transportation systems are making it easier than ever for people to "belong" to several places at once. A person can be rooted in his or her village of origin without sacrificing the social mobility offered by larger city centers. Nowadays, even those migrants who end up staying in the city usually maintain strong connections with their hometowns.