Haldia

Haldia Haldia
City
Population  (2001)
• Total	170,695
Website	purbamedinipur.gov.in/

Haldia (Bengali: হলদিয়া) is a city and a municipality in Purba Medinipur in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a major seaport and industrial Belt located approximately 50 kilometres southwest of Calcutta near the mouth of the Hooghly River, one of the distributaries of the Ganges. The population in 2001 was 170,695.

Haldia is being developed as a major trade port for Calcutta(Kolkata), intended mainly for bulk cargoes. The industrial city has several major factories, including South Asian Petrochemicals Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Exide, Shaw Wallace, Tata Chemicals, Haldia Petrochemicals and Hindustan Lever, in addition to various light industries. The port has attracted Major International Petrochemicals Companies, like Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Mitsubishi Chemicals has the Second Largest Terephthalic Acid Producing Plant in Haldia. A large number of companies are also being set up now, Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI), primarily being ancillary industries to the Haldia Petrochemicals.It also have the best initial learing centre (ILP)of TCS (tata consultancy services) in india which provide training to top guns of tcs.

The Haldia Petrochemicals is the second largest project of such kind in India.

The Haldia Township is bordered by the Haldi River an offshoot of the Ganges River. The riverside in Haldia is a favorite destination for residents and one can see people strolling down the riverside during the evenings. A catamaran service direct from Kolkata to Haldia was in service. It was later withdrawn due to its high price and decreasing number of passengers.

Haldia is also a base of Indian Coast Guard. There is a hoverport to house two of the six hovercrafts belonging to the Indian Coast Guard.

Geography

Haldia is located at 22.03°N 88.06°E / 22.03; 88.06. It has an average elevation of 8 metres (26 ft).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Haldia had a population of 170,695. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. In Haldia, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Climate

Haldia
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     10     22 8     15     24 12     20     29 16     250     35 19     205     40 24     415     36 27     427     35 26     540     33 25     105     31 24     10     29 22     6     27 15     5     25 15 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Weather Underground
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.4     72 46     0.6     75 54     0.8     84 61     9.8     95 66     8.1     104 75     16     97 81     17     95 79     21     91 77     4.1     88 75     0.4     84 72     0.2     81 59     0.2     77 59 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Haldia has a typical moderate climate with winter temperatures ranging from a low of around 7 degrees Celsius to a high of 22 degrees Celsius. Winters are chilly and is when the residents hold the Haldia Utsav festival. Summers can be very hot and humid. Usual summer temperatures in May, the hottest month range from a low of 24 degrees to highs around 42 degrees. Rainfall is heavy during monsoons, and the rainy months are between May and September.

Transportation

Haldia is connected to Kolkata by both bus and train. Recent efforts have seen introduction of new air-conditioned buses which takes less than three hours from the place to Kolkata. In terms of local transport cars, bikes and specially bicycles are the most common means. Local Transport is active from 6 AM to 8.30 PM. Jeeps operated by private parties are the main means of Transport within the Haldia and the adjoining localities. Each Jeep has a capacity of 10 persons but is known to carry around 40+2 persons(including people on the roof and the side stands) at a time. Vans and buses are also available but is sporadic.

By Road:
1. Haldia Municipality Transport Service (Daily A.C. bus Service). Journey Time: 3.5 hrs -4 hrs, Distance: 122 km.
Kolkata Departure: 07:00 AM, 04:45 PM. Contact Numbers (KOL): 9331815444, 9903419264, 9231553659, 9331119797.
Haldia Departure: 07:00 AM, 04:45 PM. Contact Numbers (HAL): 03224-641839, 9474973479, 9774000949.
Fare: Rs. 120.00 (Please check and confirm fare and timings before travelling)
2. Kolkata - Amtala - Roychak - Kukrahati - Haldia. Journey Time: 3.5 hrs, Distance : 85 km
Kolkata - Roychak : Bus No - RT210, Frequency : Every 15 min to 30 min, Journey Time: 2 hrs, Fare: Rs. 24.00.
Roychak - Kukrahati : By Water Vessel of Haldia Municipality, Frequency : Every 15/30 mins, Journey Time: 15 mins, Fare : Rs. 8.50.
Kukrahati - Haldia : Private Bus, Mini Bus or Municipality Bus, Frequency : Every 15 min to 30 min, Journey Time: 40 mins to 1 hrs, Fare: Rs. 18.00.Also by (Kukrahati-Balughata-Haldia): Mini Bus,"freq-10 min to 25 min, Journey Time:35 mins to 45 mins, Fare Rs. 14.00.

By Train:
1. Howrah - Mecheda - Haldia Journey Time: 3.5 hrs, Distance : 135 km
Howrah - Mechada : By Mecheda, Panskura, Kharagpur or Medinipur Local train, Fare : About Rs. 13.00.
Mecheda - Haldia : By Private or State or Municipality Bus. Journey Time: Max 1.5 hrs, Frequency : Every 15 min to 30 min, Fare : About Rs. 25.00
Mecheda - Haldia(Via Tamluk) : By Private or State or Municipality Bus. Journey Time: 2.5 hrs, Frequency : Every 10 min to 15 min, Fare : About Rs. 35.00

2. Howrah - Haldia.
Howrah - Haldia : By Haldia Local Train, Journey Time: 3 hrs 20 mins, Frequency : Morning(6:10 a.m) & Evening(5:20 p.m.), Fare : About Rs. 21.00.Also by Haldia-Panskura local(9:55a.m) Fare Rs 11.00.

3. Sealdah - diamond Harbour-Kukrahati-Haldia: By sealdah diamond harbour (Fare: Rs. 14)-> vessel (fare: Rs.11)-> Bus (fare: Rs.10-Rs.14) Total time: Max 3 hrs. 45 mins

Education

The main schools are St. Xavier's High School (WBBSE), The Assembly of God Church School (ICSE & ISC), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (CBSE) Haldia Govt. Spon. Vivekanada Vidyabhaban (WBBSE), Vivekananda mission (ICSE), Poura Path Bhavan (WBBSE), Mother Teresa Lion's School, Durgachak (CBSE), and Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Colleges include, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia Law College and Haldia Paramedical College, Global Institute of Science and Technology, Haldia Institute of Dental Science & Research, Haldia Institute of Maritime Studies and Research and 2 hotel management colleges.

A 750-bed, air-conditioned hospital and medical college named Dr B C ROY Hospital is being developed.

Haldia also has an Institute that comes under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India whose name is CIPET i.e. "Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology" that caters to the need of Plastic and Polymer Industries in view of Plastics Processing, Testing, Mould making, Tool room etc. There are different courses available with CIPET, both Long Term and Short Term with affiliation and orientation obtained from different Industries.

Sports

The township has lot of open space and so one can see a lot of sporting activities, the primarily being soccer and cricket. The schools have really large playgrounds and enthusiasm among both elders and juniors are palpable during weekend matches. Haldia is going to get Bengal's second "International Cricket Stadium" after "Eden Garden". Here for development of football two big association has been operating named IFA (Indian Football Association) and TFA (Tata Football Academy).

A new project called Haldia International Sports City is under construction. It is first of its kind in India. Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, a subsidiary of Srei Capital is the developer. It is expected to be completed in 5 years.

Haldia Township

Haldia Township is divided into more than 24 clusters and most of these have quarter arrangements for employees of different companies mainly PSUs.It is situated near the junture of the Ganges and Haldi rivers. It is a beautiful residential locality with markets, schools like St. Xavier's, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Assembly of God church, Vivekananda Mission, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Buds.

Shopping malls and Entertainment Zones like City Centre are also present, and Newer proposal of IT-SEZ is also on process.

The Casurina Coastline which are a good picnic spots during Winters, esp Cristmas and New Year.

Along with all these Haldia is the Eastern Command Headquarters of the Indian Coast Guards.

Durgachak

This place is heart of Haldia. Working families, business men stay here. Schools, stores for shopping, offices, banks, government offices, hotels all are located here. People of this area are cool and simple. Four most happening places in Durgachak are - CPT Market, Super Market, New Market, Manjushree. Big Bazar is situated in Akash Ganga Mall, Regent Millennium Tower,Computer Solutions.