Asansol

Asansol
City
Rabindra Bhaban, Asansol on Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Burdwan
Government
• Commissioner of Police (CP)	Ajay Kumar Nand, IPS (Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate)
• Mayor	Tapas Banerjee — AITC (Asansol Municipal Corporation)
Area
• City	127.3 km2 (49.2 sq mi)
Elevation	97 m (318 ft)
Population  (2011)
• City	564,491
• Density	4,434/km2 (11,480/sq mi)
• Metro	1,243,008
Languages
• Official	Bengali,
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	713 301–713 305, 713 325, 713 339–713 341(city); 713 321–713 324, 713 326–713 338, 713 342–713 3xx (suburbs)
Telephone code	0341
Vehicle registration	WB 37 / WB 38 / WB 44
Sex ratio	1.08 ♂/♀
Literacy	84.82%
Lok Sabha constituency	Asansol (MP — Bangsha Gopal Chaudhuri — CPI(M))
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Asansol Uttar (MLA — Malay Ghatak — AITC), Asansol Dakshin (MLA — Tapas Banerjee — AITC)
Website	asansolmunicipalcorporation.org

Asansol is a coal mining and industrial metropolis and one of the busiest commercial centres in India. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata and the 19th largest urban agglomeration in India . Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of India and very soon Asansol will be carved out of Burdwan district and will become an individual district with district headquarter at Asansol city. The link is http://www.asianage.com/kolkata/malay-names-new-district-carved-out-burdwan-168. It has a large workforce, moderately high per capita income, educational establishments, good transport connections, several housing complexes, and land suitable for industry, institutions, transport and commerce. Its hinterland is Bankura and Purulia districts and North Bengal, linked to parts of Orissa and Jharkhand states. According to a report released by International Institute for Environment and Development, a UK-based policy research non-governmental body, Asansol is among the 11 Indian cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities in the world with a rank of 42. The name Asansol is derived from two different names, Asan tree (a species of tree found on the of river Damodar) and Sol-Bhumi/Sol-land (the land rich in minerals).

Overview

The stretch from Andal to Barakar covering Raniganj, Jamuria, Asansol, Burnpur, Neamatpur, Kulti and Barakar, composed of about 40 kilometres along Grand Trunk Road forms one urban agglomeration, all of which falls within Asansol subdivision area. The gaps between the contiguous urban centres are filled with collieries and small settlements. The Chittaranjan – Rupnarayanpur urban centre are also closely linked. For the purposes of planning the entire stretch from Panagarh to Barakar is overseen by the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA).

Being the central city of the coal belt, Asansol is heavily industrialised though many of the industries have fallen on hard times in the recent years, leading to its transformation into a trading town that utilises its position as the transport centre. The largest employers in the area are Eastern Coalfields (a subsidiary of Coal India Limited) and IISCO Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited. Other major industries are Chittaranjan Locomotive , Hindustan Cables Ltd., Disergarh Power Supply, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Burn Standard, Reckitt and Coleman, couple of cement plants such as Burnpur Cement, Asansol Cement,Lafarge Cement India Pvt. Ltd., iCore Cement and refractory units such as Kabita Refractories.

Map

Clock Tower, Asansol

Geography

Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of West Bengal. While most of Bengal is flat alluvial plain Asansol subdivision lies on exposed Gondwana rocks and consists mostly of undulating laterite soil. It forms the lower Chota Nagpur plateau, which occupies most of Jharkhand. It is located between two mighty rivers, Damodar and Ajay. Another river, Barakar, joins the Damodar near Dishergarh. A small rivulet, Nunia, flows past Asansol. While Dhanbad district lies on the western side, Durgapur sub division of Bardhman district 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 across the Barakar river in Jharkhand is also a major mining area and has close links with Asansol. Both lie in the Damodar valley.

History

Coal and railways

In 1774, Suetonius Heatly and John Sumner of the British East India Company realised that local people were using coal in the region of which Asansol is a part. Their early explorations and mining operations were carried out in a haphazard manner and demand was limited. Regular mining operations started in 1820, led by an agency house, Alexander and Co. In 1835, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore bought over the collieries and Carr and Tagore Co. led the field. For the entire 19th century and a major part of the 20th century, Ranigunj coalfields in the Asansol region was the major producer of coal in the country.

At the behest of William Princep, Carr and Tagore Co. joined hands with Gilmore Hombray and Co. in 1843 to form Bengal Coal Co., which opened up the coal mining activities. Their headquarters was at Sanctoria. Other mining companies included Birbhum Coal Co., Equitable Coal Co., Madhu Roy and Prasanna Dutta Co., Bird and Co., South Barakar Coal Co., Andrew Yule and Company Ltd. and Balmer Lawrie.

The discovery of coal brought in the railways. In India, the first operational railway track was between Mumbai and Thane in 1853. In the eastern sector, the first train ran from Howrah to Hughli in 1854. It was officially opened in 1855 up to Ranigunj (194 km). It was extended through the Sahibganj loop up to Varanasi in 1862 and to Delhi in 1866. The line to Mumbai via Allahabad was opened in 1870. The present main line via Patna was opened in 1871. The Grand Chord via Gaya came in 1906. The Howrah-Bardhaman chord was opened in 1917.

Asansol became an important centre of railway activity, and the railway settlements grew with the growth of the locomotive shops. It also brought in the European and Anglo-Indian communities, who were to play a pivotal role in the life of Asansol. Durand Institute (now renamed Swami Vivekananda Institute), reputed to be the oldest railway institute in Asia, was a major centre of European and Anglo-Indian activity. There is an imposing structure of tall column (memorial tower)in front of Durand Institute commemorating the memories of the supreme sacrifice of those European soldiers and commanders who laid down their lives in the First World War (1914–1918).It is as good as a landmark of Asansol, reminder of the European legacy of the place and it is so high that it is easily visible from the railway station. While Asansol emerged as an important centre of East Indian Railway, ultimately becoming the divisional headquarters in 1925, Adra emerged as a major centre of Bengal Nagpur Railway. It is now the headquarter of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Asansol, the post previously designated as Divisional Superintendent (DS).

Development of industries

The extensive growth of railways in the country led to the development of the iron and steel industry. In 1870, James Erskine set up the Bengal Iron Works, also known as Barakar Iron Works. Some sources attribute the development to Hoare Miller and Co. of Kolkata. It is possible that James Erskine was an employee of that company. The first blast furnace using coal instead of charcoal went into production at Kulti in 1875. In those days, the place was more easily identified as Kendwa. Kulti was a smaller village than Kendwa. It utilised low-grade iron ore available locally.

In 1901 the country’s first iron ore mine was developed at Pansiraburu in Singhbhum district (then in Bengal, now in Jharkhand), as part of Manoharpur Ore Mines and linked to Kulti. In 1904, Kulti is credited with having produced steel from open hearth furnaces. However, with stiff competition from imported material, the steelmaking facilities were closed down. The ownership of the pioneering plant changed hands many times. The farsighted control of the plant by Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee, who had founded Martin and Co. with Sir Acquin Martin, kept it going.

IISCO Steel Plant Burnpur

Burn and Co promoted The Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. in 1918. G.H. Fairhurst is credited with having founded the plant at Burnpur (then better known as Hirapur). Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee and T. Leslie Martin were also associated with it. Sir Biren Mookerjee joined a little later and played a major role in the development of the plant. Iron production started at Burnpur in 1922. Kulti Works of Bengal Iron was merged with IISCO in 1936. Steel Corporation of Bengal (SCOB) set up the steelmaking facilities at Burnpur in 1939. SCOB was merged with IISCO in 1952 and Martin Burn was then the managing agent of the company. Indian Standard Wagon (ISW) (later renamed Burn Standard) set up its wagon factory at Burnpur.

Another major development of the colonial culture was the establishment of clubs. The British are credited with the formation of such clubs as Asansol Club, Burnpur Club, Kulti Club and Dishergarh Club. In the early days, these clubs did not admit Indians, who had their own organisations such as Hirapur Indian Association (later renamed Bharati Bhaban). Subsequently, Indians gained admission into the British clubs.

The growth and development of trade unions was a corollary of industrial development. Labour wages were low but the conditions of the rural areas were so pitiable that the area witnessed considerable influx of population not only from the neighbouring districts but also from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (then the United Provinces). The countryside was weighed down by excessive land revenue and lack of development. Famines were a regular feature.Coal theft is common practice in this region.

Independence and industrialisation

The independence of the country in 1947 ushered in the next major economic change. Damodar Valley Corporation, the first multipurpose river valley project in the country, had a major presence at the edge of the area with dams at Maithon and Panchet (at both places the river forms the border with Jharkhand). The artificial lakes behind the dams have added considerably to the natural beauty of the area and are centres of picnicking.

With the nationalisation of the railways East Indian Railway became Eastern Railway and Bengal Nagpur Railway became South Eastern Railway. Asansol became divisional head quarters of Eastern Railway. Andal has the largest marshalling yard in Asia. The diesel locomotiveo shed at Andal can accommodate 101 locomotives and the electric locomotive shed at Asansol can accommodate 118 locomotives.

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) was the first locomotive workshop in India, named after the freedom fighter, leader and statesman Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. It initially produced steam locomotives. The production activity started on 26 January 1950 the day when India became a Republic. The first steam locomotive Deshbandhu was dedicated to the nation by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. With the roll out of first CLW built WAG-9 electric locomotive Navyug on 14 November 1998, India joined the five countries which can manufacture electric locomotives with 3-phase technology. In 2006, CLW produced Dr Silver, a 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) three-phase locomotive with remote diagnostic system. Until 31 March 2006 CLW has produced 3380 electric locomotives.

Sen Raleigh Industries started production in their cycle factory at Kanyapur, near Asansol, in 1949. Pilkington set up a glass factory in Asansol. The Jaykay group established an aluminium plant at Jaykaynagar, near Asansol. The Dhakeswari textile mill was set up at Suryanagar on the banks of the Damodar. Bengal Paper Mill was established at Ballabhpur, Ranigunj. Hindustan Cables Ltd. set up their plant at Rupnarayanpur.

The Sen-Raleigh cycle factory was located in the outskirts called Kanyapur. Later the company was taken over by government and renamed to CCIL. Models from the factory included Raleigh, Humber, Balaka, Rudge, Arjun and Swathi. Another major industry was Hindustan Pilkington Glass with a factory located in a prime area of the city.

A steel plant was set up in neighbouring Durgapur and the plant at Burnpur was expanded. There also was considerable expansion of townships and other facilities. Nehru Park (formerly Lahmeyer Park) was built utilising the natural contour of the terrain on the banks of the Damodar. The airstrip at Burnpur can handle small aircraft. Along with the expansion of the steel plant at Burnpur the outdated open top blast furnaces of Kulti were closed and the Kulti Works emerged as the pioneer and later as the largest producer of spun pipes in the country. It also produced foundry products.

Economy

Modernization of ISP is in full swing.

The city's economy is based on the rail, coal and steel industries. Situated in the Damodar River valley, the city has evolved and expanded over time to a population of one million, ranking it 23rd in India. It is located about 200 km from Kolkata. Asansol is the 42nd Fastest growing city in the world and 10th in the India.

Industrial decline and revival

Technological obsolescence proved to be a bane for the Asansol industrial belt. As the British industrialists left, the Indian trading community, which took over the British-owned industries and mines, failed to handle the situation properly, leading to labour trouble and industrial decline. The government the IISCO Steel Plant of SAIL, the area is looking up again.

Coal country

Asansol is in the heart of the coal country. Ranigunj coalfields cover an area of 1530 km². Although it is spread over four districts of West Bengal – Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia – and a part of Dhanbad district (Jharia coalfields are also in that district) of Jharkhand, the heart of Ranigunj Coalfields lies in the Asansol region. Pandaveswar, Kajora, Jhanjra Bankola, Kenda, Sonepur, Kunustoria, Satgram,Ningha, Sripur, Sodepur and Salanpur are the major coal areas around Asansol. Kasta Coalfields, north of the Ajay river in Birbhum district, Mejia and Parbelia, across the Damodar in Bankura and Purulia district respectively, and Mugma, across the Barakar river in Dhanbad district, are adjacent to Asansol. Only small patches intrude into Durgapur subdivision. Sitarampur boasts of the first Mines Rescue Station, Directorate of Mines Safety and explosive manufacturing unit now defunct but the former two still in operation.

The region sits on seams of coal. Reserves of coal in West Bengal (mostly in Asansol) are estimated to be 22.62 billion tonnes. ECL has 107 operating mines, a majority of them in Asansol. Superior quality non-coking coal is mined in the region. With around two centuries of coal mining in the region, most of the coal in the upper seams have been exhausted and underground mining has been extending to deeper seams. However, substantial volumes of coal are available in the pillars and walls of coal left behind to support the roofs of underground mines. Coal remaining in the surface seams can be mined by open cast methods.

The use of heavy duty earth-moving equipment has led to the development of large open cast mines. ECL’s total coal production of 27.25 million tonnes in 2004–05, is expected to rise to 46 million tonnes by 2011–12. Out of this 32.84 million tonnes is expected to be from the open cast mines. The annual production of Sonepur Bazari open cast project, a major project in the area, is proposed to be raised from the level of 3 million tonnes in 2004–05 to 8 million tonnes by 2011–12.

Underground coal mining brings with it the problem of subsidence. By law, when coal is taken out from an underground mine it is to be filled in with sand. However, the laws were not there in earlier days and even when it was there, private mine owners had violated this for decades and left behind big gaps beneath the surface. At places, the surface is subsiding and creating havoc in the area.

In 1952, 12 people were killed in a roof collapse in Dhemo Main colliery. In 1954, 63 people were killed in Newton Chikli, near Ranigunj, as a result of inundation. In 1956, 28 people were killed in Baro Dhemo colliery because of inundation. In 1958, 175 people were killed at Chinakuri because of explosion of fire damp. In 1994, 55 people were killed in New Kenda, near Jamuria, as a result of fire/suffocation by gases.

The Baro Dhemo colliery accident, where a large number of people were rescued the mine was inundated with water, provided the inspiration for a theatrical production in Bengali, Angar (1959), directed by Utpal Dutta. The lighting effects by Tapash Sen, which recreated the flooding of a mine on the stage at Kolkata, were notable.

The Head Quarters of the Eastern Coalfields Limited (a subsidiary of Coal India Limited) is situated at Sanctoria which is just 20 kilometres from Asansol.

Administration

Bardhaman became a major administrative centre for the Muslim rulers and the subdivision was a part of the Muslim kingdoms in the region. It later became a part of the Bardhaman Raj functioning under the Mughals. When Mir Kassem, then Nawab of Sube Bangala, ceded Bardhaman along with Medinipur and Chittagong to East India Company in 1760 (three years after the Battle of Plassey), it was the beginning of an eventful chapter for the region. Till that time the area was a wilderness of forest and jungle, dotted at long intervals with tiny settlements. The countryside was ravaged and plundered by outlaws.

Today, Asansol is a corporation 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 has been upgraded to the status of a corporation in 1996. Since 2011 it has had its own Police Commissionerate.

Transport

Road

A Modernized Bus Stop in Asansol, inaugurated by Hon. Mayor Sri Tapas Banerjee on 2 August 2010

The Grand Trunk Road (NH 2) runs across the subdivision. The highway has been broadened as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and now allows two lane traffic each way. A bypass enables highway traffic to avoid the congested areas of Asansol, Neamatpur, Kulti and Barakar. Asansol is connected to Kolkata by road with daily Volvo buses as well as non-ac government buses run by the South Bengal State Transport Corporation which ply at half-an-hour interval duration and this 224 km distance is taking 4 to 4.5 hours approximately. The South Bengal State Transport Corporation also plies buses in various other routes such as Malda, Siliguri, Midnapur, Bankura, Burdwan, Kalna,Habra,Barackpore,Digha,Berhampore etc. Also there are many Private Operators which ply express and Super Fast as well as Deluxe Buses to various other towns of the State as well as Outside the State to places such as Dhanbad, Bokaro Steel City, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Giridih, Hazaribag etc. Government Bus Service operators also includes the North Bengal State Transport Corporation which plies buses to towns of North Bengal such as Malda, Raiganj, Siliguri, Coochbihar etc. NH-60 connects Asansol with Orissa via. Raniganj- Mejia-Gangajalghati-Bankura-Bishnupur-Salboni-Kharagpur-Belda-Dantan-Jaleswar.

Railway

Adra Asansol MEMU Train (South Eastern Railway)

Main article: Asansol Junction

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. 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 Sahibgunj loop. Almost all of the trains linking Kolkata with north India connect Asansol with Kolkata as well as with north India. The Howrah – Indore Shipra Express and the Howrah-Gwalior-Agra Cant. Chambal Express are the trains that connects the city to Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jhansi and other central Indian cities. Other trains like Asansol-Mumbai express, Asansol-Ahmedabad Express, connects Asansol with couple of other major cities of India. Asansol-Tata Express, Asansol-Gorakhpur Express and Asansol-Gonda Express are the three new trains introduced in 2011 Rail Budget.

Air

An aerodrome is located at Burnpur in Asansol. Another airport will be operational by 2013 at Andal, about 20 km from the heart of Asansol city.

Media and Public Services

Doordarshan Kendra Asansol Broadcasting Tower

Bengali language newspapers like Anandabazar Patrika, Bartaman, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, and Ganashakti are widely circulated in Asansol. Popular English language newspapers available in Asansol include The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Statesman, The Telegraph and Asian Age, the most popular ones being The Times of India and The Telegraph. Some major periodicals are Desh, Sananda, Unish Kuri, Anandalok and Anandamela.

In addition to All India Radio, Asansol also has two private FM radio stations: Big FM 92.7 and Red FM 93.5.

Asansol receives almost all the television channels that are received by the rest of the country. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan, cable television also serves most of the homes in and around the city. Local news broadcasts, sporting events, and concerts are broadcast live or delayed via cable to many households. DTH services both by Government and private companies are also available like Tata Sky, Dish TV, Digital TV – Airtel, Digital TV – Reliance.

The city is serviced by major cell phone companies and 3G networks are in place.

Internet is available in the city and adjoining areas and served through broadband services. The DataOne broadband services are provided mainly by BSNL, and both dial-up and mobile broadband facilities are also operational.

Asansol has numerous banks, with branches of almost all major nationalized banks and also some private sector businesses.

Demographics

The 2011 census of India provides the following demographic information.

Municipal Area

• Total Population: 564,491
• Male: 293,748
• Female: 270,743
• Sex Ratio: 922 (F/M)
• Literacy Rate: 84.82%
• Male Literacy Rate: 89.52%
• Female Literacy Rate: 79.73%
• Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 908
• Child (0-6) Population: 56,014 (9.92%)

Urban Agglomeration

• Total Population: 1,243,008
• Male: 647,831
• Female: 595,177
• Sex Ratio: 919 (F/M)
• Literacy Rate: 80.00%
• Male Literacy Rate: 86.31%
• Female Literacy Rate: 73.13%
• Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 920
• Child (0-6) Population: 132,560 (10.66%)

Language

A Bihari woman performing Bengali rituals during Durga Puja

Chhath Puja is being performed by Biharis but Bengalis are present there too

Although Asansol is predominantly a Bengali speaking city today, Asansol has mixed population of Bengali, Hindi and Urdu speaking people, English is the language of business communication and once widely spoken. After the railway works came, there was a substantial British and Anglo-Indian population. English medium schools started to impart education in English from as early as 1877. The first Christian Brother School in India St. Patrick's School was started in 1891. The students from this and other English medium schools provided the elite work force that was needed to operate the British Indian Railways, the British Indian Army, the Indian Civil Services and the coal mines.

Post independence, most of the Anglo-Indian community migrated to Canada and Australia. The community living in Asansol now is multicultural as there are a large number of Biharis,Punjabis, Marwaris, Gujaratis, Muslims and other non Bengalis.There is no Indian festival that is not celebrated in Asansol and the people of all communities take part in them with equal fervour.

Culture

Swami Vivekananda Statue near Asansol Engineering College

Statue of Rabindranath Tagore at B.N.R. More

The two cultural hubs are Rabindra Bhavan in Asansol and Bharati Bhawan at Burnpur. Another cultural center of Asansol City is Sarat Mancha, located at Asansol Police Lines.

Education

District Library Asansol

Asansol is an educational hub, acting as the educational centre for the coal belt from Dhanbad to Ranigunj.

Some of the schools are Asansol Ramakrishna Mission, Dhadka NCL Vidyamandir,Joharmull Jalan Institution[One of the oldest school in Asansol], Asansol Arunoday High School, Chelidanga High School, Domohani Kelejora High School, Umarani Gorai Mahilakalyan, Manimala Girls, Eastern Railways High School, St. Joseph's High School, St. Mary Goretti Girls' High School, Dyanand Anglo Vedic Higher Secondary School, St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School, St. Vincent's High and Technical School, Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School, Loreto Convent, Assembly of God Church School, and Chelidanga High School. There are a few schools run by IISCo authority, including Burnpur Boys High School, Burnpur Girls School, Burnpur Riverside School, and Chhotodighari Vidyapith.

There are three general degree colleges - Banwarilal Bhalotia College, Asansol, Bidhan Chandra College and Asansol Girls' College. Asansol Engineering College offers undergraduate courses in its eponymous field., while Gupta College of Technological Sciences is Pharmacy College offers pharmacy-related courses.

Banwarilal Bhalotia College

The two polytechnic colleges are Asansol Polytechnic and Kanyapur Polytechnic, while Bengal Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital is situated in Ismile, Asansol.

West Bengal State Council of Vocational Education & Training provides vocational training through the two polytechnics and the Kanyapur Industrial Training Centre. ASHM is the only Hotel Management college in Asansol, it offers couple of other management courses along with Hotel Management.

Developments

Asansol is the only Mission City in West Bengal after Kolkata under JnNURM Development Scheme

Development in Asansol is carried out by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority. ADDA promotes industrial estates, housing schemes, urban infrastructure development for industrialisation of this region, to provide solutions to industries and entrepreneurs. Its projects include roads, bridges, drainage, transport, water supply, irrigation. It develops schools, colleges and amusement parks.

• Galaxy Mall

Srijan Developers along with Avani Group have built a shopping mall at Burnpur Road opposite Chitra Cinema in the heart of the city. Major retail outlets trade from it. The total area of Galaxy is three lakh square feet having six levels including basement, lower ground, ground, and the total investment in developing the property is close to Rs.80 crore. The Big Bazaar store opened on 8 December 2010.

See also

• List of cities in West Bengal

Notes

• 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

• Official site of Bardhaman District
• Template:Wikitravel
• Latest Updated and photos of Asansol