Why coastal cities were favoured by the colonial rulers?

Cities played an important role in the economic system of the empires. Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are the coastal cities which were favoured the most. Following were the reasons –

• All the main products were exported from here and manufactured goods were imported at a cheap price.

• The cities under the colonial rule served as a linkage between the economic centre in British and borders in colonised India.

• Cities were the symbol of a distinct εξαμπλεοφγλοβαλχαπιταλισμ. For example – Bombay under the colonial rule was planned and re-developed so that three-quarters of raw cotton transported through the city. Likewise, Jute was exported from Calcutta to Dundee and coffee, sugar, indigo dyes and cotton was exported from Madras to Britain.