Ichapore

Ichapore
Town
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code	91 33
Website	north24parganas.nic.in

Ichapore (also written as Ichapur) (Bengali: ইছাপুর) is a town, near the River Ganges, in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. This town is famous for two ordnance factories, viz. the Ishapore Rifle Factory (RFI) and the Metal and Steel Factory (MSF). The town has a population of around 100,000 and is densely populated.

Overview

This town is also referred to as Ishapore with anglicized spelling. The majority of the population in Ichapore are Bengalis and they speak Bengali as their native language. The town is connected to Kolkata and nearby cities by railroad as well as paved highway. The distance between Ichapur and Sealdah Railway Stations is approximately 32 km. The various neighbourhoods in Ishapore are known as Maniktala, Anandamath, Nawabganj, Northland, Eastland, Kanthadhar and Badamtala.

Nawabganj, by the river, has one of the oldest residential buildings of the city. As the name implies, the Nawabs (local Kings) had their residence in this area. There are still relics from the old days in this part of the city. In the adjoining Park area, Cannons from the 18th. Century can still be found. A stroll by the river in Nawabganj is very pleasant and is a popular destination for young couples. One of the most popular fair in this area is Jhulan Mela that takes place in Nawabganj during the month of August–September. This tradition is more than hundred years old and draws thousands of people and businesses to this fair. Rows of businesses set up their stalls along the main road of Nawabganj. The fair ends on the day of Janmashthami. Nawabganj is also the place where traditional Durga idols are immersed in the river Ganges on Dashami ending Durga Puja celebration.

There are numerous schools which caters to the need of the residents - Rifle Factory High School, Anandamath Vidyapith, Northland High School and Sridhar Banshidhar High School, two exclusively Girl's schools and two Kendriya Vidyalayas (under CBSE board). There are trade schools run by the ordnance factories. Some neighbourhoods like Anandamath and Nawabganj run their own public libraries.

Most part of the city is urbane in nature. There are quite a few dining places suitable for family as well as young adult population. Abhiruchi is one of the most popular food joint in Ichapur. Another popular place is Sonar Tori Situated near Chowmatha. This is a Restruant-cum-Bar, though most customers are here for drink. Hotels are few in numbers though guest houses are available for business visitors. As for place of worships, there are few Hindu Temples, one Mosque (Muslim) and one Gurudawara (Shikh). The nearest Christian Church is in Barrackpur.

The two Ordnance factories, the lifeline of the city, have been a model of "corporate responsibility" for over a hundred years. They provide excellent amenities for their workers including quality housing and extensive recreational facilities. The Metal and Steel Factory (MSF) is a unique facility that supplies metallic parts to other Ordnance factories throughout the nation. The Rifle Factory (RFI) makes rifles and guns for the Defense sector and for recreational purposes. Weapons tested and later produced here for the Indian Army included the Vickers-Berthier light machine gun, turned down by the British Army in favour of the Bren gun on cost grounds. The largest production was of the Indian version (in various guises and marks) of the Lee Enfield rifle. The recent model from the stable of Ishapore Rifle Factory is famous INSAS which is the mainstay in Indian Army as well as other security forces of India.

Geography

Ichapore is located at 22.81°N 88.37°E / 22.81; 88.37. It has an average elevation of 12 m (39 ft).

Banks and Financial Houses

There are few Banks and financial houses that serve the people living in Ishapore and nearby areas. While State Bank of India is the busiest of all, other banks like Allahabad Bank, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank also have their presence here. SBI Branch opposite Northland Bazar, PNB near Badamtala and Axis Bank in Kanthadhar & Store Bazar have ATM facilities. Allahabad Bank at Kanthadhar and Canara Bank near Badamtala are also easily accessible. The Private institutions do business mainly in the investment area.

Healthcare

The Two Ordnance Factories jointly operate a hospital (both in-patient and out-patient care) as well as few dispensaries. Basic care and surgical services are available here. The Hospital is well staffed and well maintained. Patients requiring advanced treatments are referred to hospitals in Barrackpore or Kolkata. There are also numerous Doctors in private practice and medicine stores spread throughout the city.The North Barrackpore Municipality Hospital situated at G.B Mondal Road offers basic care and surgical services for the patient.Some great doctors giving their care to the patients such as Dr. Samaresh Majumder (Dental), Dr. Abir Roy (General), Dr. Goutam Nayak (General), Dr. Santanu Roy (General), Dr. Pranab Roy (General).

North 24 Parganas district has been identified as one of the areas where ground water is affected by arsenic contamination.

Transport

Ichapur is well connected to the nearby city Kolkata by various means of transportation. The most common transport link is through the Sealdah-Ranaghat Line of the suburban railway system which is also the efficient of all.Frequency of each sub urban train is of 5–10 minutes depending on the time of the day. The railway station provides basic amenities to the commuters such as Drinking water, Washroom and overhead sheds.It is also well connected to other cities by roadways and frequent buses and autorickshaws are available for commuters.Cycle rickshaws are also in numbers to cover shorter distances. Though there are shortages of hired cabs but that hardly effects the transport communications.There is a petrol pump near maniktala to serve the vehicles plying on GB Mondal road which is the main arterary of transport. A newly built highway has been set up on the eastern front of the town which connects the town to the Airport on one end and another major town Kalyani on the other.

Culture and Festivals

Almost 80% of the population consists of Bengalis, most of them from East Pakistan(now Bangladesh) who had crossed the border during partition. Local Bengalis are also found in numbers. Being a place with two huge factories, people from various parts of the country also came and got settled here. While majority of migrants are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, a decent number of people can be found from other parts of the country too. Though the population is diversified in nature but still there are no instance of communal violence. People are very hospitable and live in peace and harmony. As majority of the city population belong to Hindu faith, Durga Puja is the most visible of all festivals. Other notable festivals are Diwali/Kalipuja,Jagaddhatri Puja, Saraswati Puja, Dol jatra/Holi, Rakhi, Eid and Christmas.

External links

• IIM Ichapur Chapter
• Metal & Steel factory