Shanghai plans to somehow cap its population at 25 million by 2035

Can it be done? Should it be done?

Shanghai has big plans for the future, including keeping the city’s population under 25 million — someway, somehow.

According to a general plan for the city’s development, the number of permanent residents will be capped at that figure by 2035 in an effort aimed at becoming an “excellent global city” while avoiding the so-called “big city disease” — namely: environmental pollution, traffic congestion, and a shortage of public services.

That target of 25 million has already been established for years. In fact, just last year, Shanghai’s mayor announced that the city’s population would be capped at that number by 2020.

However, the obvious problem is that there happens to be far more than 25 million people in the city at present. By the end 2015, temporary resident permit and hukou holders in Shanghai numbered 24.15 million, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. Yet, it’s believed that if unregistered migrant workers are included, the city’s total population is more like 30 million. Meaning that officials will likely have to resort to some extreme measures to meet their target.

Meanwhile, Beijing — which has announced a target of capping its population at 23 million — appears to be getting a head start on its goal this winter by evicting tens of thousands of migrant workers from their homes in a so-called “safety campaign” against buildings that have become fire hazards.

Will more Chinese megacities like Shanghai soon follow suit?