Asansol

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Asansol
আসানসোল
आसनसोल
Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration
Asansol cityscape Clockwise from top: Asansol Junction Railway Station, City Skyline, IISCO Steel Plant, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol Engineering College, Asansol Indoor Stadium, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Prasar Bharati Doordarshan Kendra Asansol
Asansol cityscape Clockwise from top: Asansol Junction Railway Station, City Skyline, IISCO Steel Plant, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol Engineering College, Asansol Indoor Stadium, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Eastern Coalfields Limited, Prasar Bharati Doordarshan Kendra Asansol
Nickname(s): "The City of Brotherhood"
Country India
State West Bengal
District Paschim Bardhaman
Government
 • Type Civic Administration
 • Body Asansol Municipal Corporation
 • Mayor Kumar Jitendra Tewari —TMC
 • Commissioner of Police Laxmi Narayan Meena
Area
 • Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration 326.48 km2 (126.05 sq mi)
Elevation 97 m (318 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration 11,56,387
 • Density 3,500/km2 (9,200/sq mi)
 • Urban 12,43,008
Demonym(s) Asansolians / Asansolites/ Asansolbashi
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 713 3xx
Telephone code 0341
Vehicle registration WB 37 / WB 38 / WB 44 (WB 44A, WB 44B, WB 44C, WB 44D)
Sex ratio 1.08[1] ♂/♀
Literacy 84.82[1]%
Lok Sabha constituency Asansol (MP — Babul Supriyo — BJP)
Vidhan Sabha constituencies Asansol Uttar (Vidhan Sabha constituency) (MLA — Moloy Ghatak —TMC

Asansol Dakshin (MLA —Tapas Banerjee —TMC

Pandaveswar (MLA — Kumar Jitendra Tewari —TMC

Raniganj (MLA — Runu Dutta —CPI(M)

Jamuria (MLA  — Jahanara Khan —CPI(M)

Kulti (MLA —Ujjal Chatterjee —TMC

Barabani (MLA —Bidhan Upadhyay —TMC
Website asansolmunicipalcorporation.org

Asansol is in Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the second largest city in West Bengal after Kolkata[2] and the district headquarters of Paschim Bardhaman district. It is the 39th largest urban agglomeration in India.[3] According to a 2010 report released by the International Institute for Environment and Development, a UK-based policy research non-governmental body, Asansol was ranked 11th among Indian cities. and 42nd in the world in its list of 100 fastest-growing cities.[4]

Asansol is classed as a Y-category city for calculation of HRA (House Rent Allowance) for public servants, making it a Tier-II city.[5]

Etymology

"Asan" a species of tree which generally grows thirty meters tall, are found on the banks of Damodar River. "Sol" on the other hand refers to land. The name "Asansol" is a combination of these two words "Asan" and "Sol". Asansol is a city on the banks of Damodar and its land is rich in minerals.[6][7]

History

File:14th Century Stone Temple - Garui, Asansol.jpg
14th Century Stone Temple - Garui, Asansol

The region saw an initial settlement of the Dravidian and the Australoid. Notable Jain activities were exercised around two thousand five hundred years ago in this region which is apparent from the Jain temples are present in Pareshnath hill in neighbouring state Jharkhand. Further, presence of Jain temple at the banks of Barakar River in Begunia and neighbouring Bankura district also confirms this theory. It is believed that Mahavira Vardhamana who was the last Tirthankar of Jain religion used to live and work here. There is a Jain temple present in Asansol, devoted to Vasupujya, the twelfth Tirthankara.[8]

Subsequently, the region was believed to have been a part of the kingdom of Vishnupur where the Malla dynasty ruled for approximately a thousand years till the emergence of the British. This theory is backed by the presence of Vishnupur style temple present at Chhotodighari village in Asansol.[9]

Geography

Asansol is a cosmopolitan city located on the lower Chota Nagpur Plateau, which occupies most of Jharkhand, between the Damodar and Ajay rivers. Another river, the Barakar, joins the Damodar near Dishergarh. A small rivulet, Nunia, flows past Asansol.

While Dhanbad district in Jharkhand lies on the western side, Durgapur subdivision lies on the eastern side. To the south, across the Damodar river are the Purulia and Bankura districts. To the north are Dumka and Birbhum districts. Dhanbad district is a major coal mining area and has close links with Asansol; both lie in the Damodar valley.

Police stations

Asansol North police station has jurisdiction over Raniganj CD Block and parts of Asansol Municipal Corporation. The area covered is 49 km2 and the population covered is 410,000 (2001).[10][11]

Asansol South police station has jurisdiction over parts of Asansol municipal corporation. The area covered is 69 km2 and the population covered is 475,439 (2001).[10][11]

Asansol Women PS covers both Asansol and Durgapur subdivisions.[10][11]

Raniganj, Jamuria, Hirapur and Kulti police stations also serve parts of Asansol municipal corporation area.[10][11]

According to the Kolkata Gazette notification of 3 June 2015, the municipal areas of Kulti, Raniganj and Jamuria were included within the jurisdiction of Asansol Municipal Corporation.[12]

Administration

Asansol is administered by the Asansol Municipal Corporation. In 1850, a union committee was formed to look after the civic needs of Asansol. The municipality was approved in 1885 but started functioning effectively in 1896. It was upgraded to the status of a corporation in 1994.[13] Since 2011 it has had its own Police Commissionerate.[14] In 2015, Kulti, Jamuria and Raniganj Municipalities were dissolved and now these areas are administered by the Asansol Municipal Corporation. Thus the proper city limits of Asansol includes the old Asansol Area, including Burnpur, as well as other prominent locations like Raniganj, Chinakuri, Mithani, Barakar, Kulti, Dishergarh, Neamatpur, Sitarampur and Jamuria. Asansol Municipal Corporation has 106 wards.[15]

Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) was established in April 1980 by the merger of the Asansol Planning Organisation and the Durgapur Development Authority. Jurisdiction of ADDA covers the areas administered by Asansol Municipal Corporation, the Jamuria Panchayet Samiti, the Community Development Blocks of Andal, Pandabeswar and Durgapur-Faridpur, Durgapur Municipal Corporation and a small part of Kanksa Community Development Block.[16]

  • The ADDA office - Asansol.jpg

    The ADDA Building - Asansol. (The temporary office of the District Magistrate)

  • Asansol Municipal Corporation Main Building - Asansol.jpg

    Asansol Municipal Corporation Main Building - Asansol

Climate

Asansol has hot and dry summers and cold chilly winters. In summers temperatures soar above 40 C with dry hot air blowing known as 'loo' while in winter temperatures go below 10 C. Monsoon lasts from August to September. The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Aw" (Tropical Savanna Climate).[17]

Climate data for Asansol, India
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 26
(78)		 28
(82)		 34
(94)		 39
(102)		 39
(102)		 37
(98)		 32
(90)		 32
(89)		 32
(90)		 32
(89)		 29
(84)		 26
(79)		 32
(90)
Average low °C (°F) 12
(53)		 14
(57)		 19
(66)		 23
(74)		 26
(78)		 26
(79)		 26
(78)		 26
(78)		 25
(77)		 22
(71)		 16
(60)		 12
(53)		 21
(69)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18
(0.7)		 33
(1.3)		 20
(0.8)		 20
(0.8)		 74
(2.9)		 241
(9.5)		 348
(13.7)		 338
(13.3)		 211
(8.3)		 109
(4.3)		 15
(0.6)		 5
(0.2)		 1,430
(56.3)
Source: Weatherbase[18]

Transport

Road

The Grand Trunk Road (NH 19 - old numbering NH 2) runs across the subdivision and NH 14 (old numbering NH 60) connects Asansol with Odisha. NH 19 has been broadened as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and now allows two-lane traffic in both directions. A highway bypass avoids the areas of Ushagram, Murgasol, Asansol Bazar, Chelidanga, BNR, Gopalpur, Neamatpur, Kulti and Barakar. Some of the other important roads of the city are namely Vivekananda Avenue, Burnpur Road and S.B Gorai Road.

The South Bengal State Transport Corporation operates daily bus services to Kolkata and numerous other destinations, such as Malda, Siliguri, Midnapur, Bankura, Siuri, Purulia, Burdwan, Kalna, Habra, Barackpore, Digha, Bolpur, Kirnahar and Berhampore. The North Bengal State Transport Corporation also runs services to and from the city. There are also many private bus operators, Taxis, Radio Taxis like Ola Cabs etc. are working locally and interstate routes.

  • Old G.T Road passing through Asansol.jpg

    Old G.T Road passing through Asansol

  • Vivekananda Avenue (erstwhile Sen Raleigh Road) - Asansol.jpg

    An elegant traffic island at Housing More - Asansol

  • Burnpur Road - Asansol.jpg

    Burnpur Road - Asansol

  • Vivekananda Avenue - Asansol.jpg

    Vivekananda Avenue (erstwhile Sen-Raleigh Road) - Asansol

Railway

File:Asansol Railway Station New.jpg
Asansol Junction Railway Station

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Main article: Asansol railway station

From its earliest days, Asansol has been the hub of railway transport in the region. The Asansol Railway Division is currently a part of the Eastern Railway Zone. The city serves as the headquarters of the eponymous division and spans a distance of 493 kilometres (306 mi), spread across West Bengal and Jharkhand. It includes important stations such as Andal, Raniganj and Durgapur.[19]

The railway track from Kolkata to Delhi passes through the subdivision and bifurcates into the main line and the grand chord line at Sitarampur railway junction, a little to the west of Asansol railway junction. Another railway track links Asansol with Adra and then to Jamshedpur via Purulia and Kharagpur via Bankura. A branch line connects Andal with Sainthia on the Sahibganj Loop.

Almost all the trains linking Kolkata with north India also connect with Asansol. As a result, Asansol enjoys superb connectivity with cities like New Delhi, Jammu, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore , Patna, Ranchi and Dhanbad on the one hand and commands a fairly good traffic movement towards the western cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Surat and southern cities like Bhubaneshwar, Visakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum. It is also connected with Guwahati in the north-east region.[20]

Air

Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal is the nearest domestic airport. It commenced operations in May 2015 and is roughly 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Asansol's City Bus Terminus. The nearest international airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum in Kolkata.

There is also a private aerodrome located at Burnpur Riverside Area. At present this Aerodrome is operated by IISCO. Recently Airport Authority of India gave nod to start commercial flights for six routes in West Bengal; Burnpur being one of them is hopeful to receive its first commercial flight by the last quarter of 2017.[21]

Economy

The economy of Asansol is primarily dependent on its steel, coal, railways and last but not the least trade and commerce .

Steel

IISCO Panoramic View, Asansol
Modernised ISP

The IISCO (Indian Iron and Steel Company Ltd) steel-making plant at Kulti was the first such facility in India. It became well-known during the 1960s and 1970s, with its company shares being traded on the London Stock Exchange. However, a decade later the company became loss-making until it was revived in 2006 when it merged with the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL). Modernisation at IISCO Steel Plant has helped the city develop at a very rapid pace. The plant's capacity will be raised from 0.4 MT to 2.5 MT of saleable steel, using what will be the biggest blast furnace in the country.[22]As of 2015, the investment for modernization was the single largest investment in West Bengal till then.[23]

Coal

Eastern Coalfields, which has its headquarters in Sanctoria near Dishergarh, has a significant presence in the area due to the huge deposits of high quality coal. However, most of the coalfields and surrounding residential colonies are located away from the main city. Nearby areas like Ranigunj, Chinakuri and Jamuria are of particular importance for coal blocks. As of 2012, the total coal reserve in the ECL command area up to 600 metre depth was 49.17 billion tonnes.[24][25]

Railways

Railways also is a big contributor to the economy of Asansol. Railways was the first employer in the city and they are credited with developing the city in the late 19th century. Asansol is one of the four divisions of Eastern Railway Zone and among the major revenue generating divisions in Indian Railways.[26]

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works at Chittaranjan is one of the largest locomotive manufacturing units in the world. Production began there on 26 January 1950, the same day that India became a republic. Currently it produces the WAP-4, WAP-5, WAP-7, WAG 7 and WAG 9 locomotives.[27]

Other business ventures

Other industries include Dishergarh Power Supply, Damodar Valley Corporation, Burn Standard Co. which is now a subsidiary of Eastern Railways, Hindustan Cables Limited and cement factories like Burnpur Cement.[28]

Education

Among the many educational institutions are:

  • Kazi Nazrul University.jpg

    Kazi Nazrul University - Asansol

  • Asansol Engineering College.jpg

    Asansol Engineering College - Asansol

  • Gupta College of Technological Sciences.jpg

    Gupta College of Technological Sciences - Asansol

  • College-500x363.png

    Banwarilal Bhalotia College - Asansol

  • Bidhan Chandra College - Asansol.jpg

    Bidhan Chandra College - Asansol

  • Asansol Girls' College - Asansol.jpg

    Asansol Girls' College - Asansol

  • Trivenidevi Bhalotia College - Raniganj, Asansol.jpg

    Trivenidevi Bhalotia College - Raniganj, Asansol

  • Raniganj Girls' College - Raniganj, Asansol.jpg

    Raniganj Girls' College - Raniganj, Asansol

  • Kulti College - Kulti, Asansol.jpg

    Kulti College - Kulti, Asansol

Coaching Institutes

Asansol is a hub of various good Coaching Institutes that provide coaching for CAT, CLAT, Banking and SSC Exams, etc. Some of them are:

  • Career Launcher [1]
  • Rice Education
  • Mahendras

Libraries

There are several public libraries, including the District Library.[30]

Media

Prasar Bharati has a High Power Transmitter Station at Asansol which broadcasts Doordarshan National / Bangla and Doordarshan News Channel. Transmissions are not only received by the city but also neighbouring places. Other than national channels, several local channels are available through cable TV networks, such as Vision 24, Drishti Channel, ATV, and ISP Channel.

Asansol currently has three FM radio stations: All India Radio, 92.7 BIG FM and 93.5 RED FM.

Sports facilities

  • The Polo Ground has been a landmark in Asansol for a long time. The ground got its name from the sport of polo which was played here during British rule. Asansol Indoor Stadium is on the same site and has a capacity of 500 spectators. The stadium, which is notable for having the largest shell concrete roof in the district,[31] has two badminton courts and an interchangeable volleyball court. Adjacent to this is Asansol Stadium, where both district and subdivision level football and cricket matches are played.
  • The Burnpur Football Stadium is a centre of extensive sport activities. Players groomed in the SAIL Football Academy at Burnpur have represented SAIL in the Kolkata IFA and 1st Division League matches.
  • Kazi Nazrul Islam Krirangan is being developed as an international standard stadium at the former Sen Raleigh Football Ground.
  • Asansol Stadium (Polo Ground)- 01.jpg

    Asansol Stadium (Polo Ground)

  • Asansol Sports Complex.JPG

    Asansol Sports Complex

  • Divisional Railway Stadium or Loco Ground- 03.jpg

    Divisional Railway Stadium or Loco Ground

Places to visit in Asansol

  • Sacred Heart Church, Asansol 01.jpg

    Sacred Heart Church - Asansol

  • Kalyaneshwari Temple - Asansol

  • Ghagar Buri Temple, Asansol.jpg

    Ghagar Buri Chandi Temple - Asansol

  • Begunia Temples Barakar.jpg

    Begunia Temples - Barakar, Asansol

  • Baba Chandrachur Temple - Asansol.jpg

    Baba Chandrachur Temple - Asansol

  • JTM, Brunpur.jpg

    Jagannath Temple - Burnpur, Asansol

  • Town Puja - Burnpur, Asansol.jpg

    Town Puja Complex - Burnpur, Asansol

  • Saint Anthony's Church - Burnpur, Asansol.jpg

    Saint Anthony's Church - Burnpur, Asansol

  • Vivekananda Institute or Durand Institute, Asansol- 01.jpg

    Vivekananda Institute (Durand Institute) - Asansol

  • Rabindra Bhawan, Asansol.jpg

    Rabindra Bhawan - Asansol

  • Burnpur Nehru Park 1.jpg

    Burnpur Nehru Park - Riverside, Asansol

  • Indian National Army Martyrs Memorial - Asansol.jpg

    Indian National Army Memorial - Asansol

  • Maithon Dam

  • Galaxy Mall - Burnpur, Asansol.jpg

    Galaxy Mall - Burnpur, Asansol

  • Sentrum Mall, Shristinagar, Asansol.jpg

    Sentrum Mall, Shristinagar, Asansol

  • Panorama Resort and Water Park - Asansol.jpg

    Panorama Resort and Water Park - Asansol

Notable people

See also

Notes

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Further reading

  • History of The Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. by Dr. N.R.Srinivasan
  • Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk-lore of Bardhaman District) in Bengali by Akkari Chattopadhyay

External links

Template:Paschim Bardhaman District

Template:Paschim Bardhaman topics

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ https://www.worldwidejournals.com/indian-journal-of-applied-research-(IJAR)/file.php?val=April_2014_1397472586_7b339_169.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Indian%20Laurel.html
  8. ↑ http://www.indiaunveiled.in/location/asansol
  9. ↑ http://www.asansolmunicipalcorporation.org/amrut/amrut%20news.pdf
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ https://www.wbdma.gov.in/circulars/249-135-ma_2015-2016.pdf
  16. ↑ http://addaonline.in/adda-at-a-glance/
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ [2] Archived 23 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/centres-nod-opens-up-6-new-routes-on-bengal-flight-map/articleshow/57950783.cms
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/
  25. ↑ https://www.coalindia.in/en-us/company/history.aspx
  26. ↑ http://www.irfca.org/~mrinal/asansol.html
  27. ↑ http://www.clw.indianrailways.gov.in/
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ http://wikimapia.org/13317316/Asansol-Sports-Complex
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