Ongole
Ongole
ఒంగోలు | |
|---|---|
 Ongole Railway Station | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Coastal Andhra |
| District | Prakasam |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal council |
| • Body | Ongole Municipal Corporation |
| • MP | Y.V.Subba reddy. |
| • MLA | Damacharla Janardhana Rao |
| Area | |
| • City | 25.00 km2 (9.65 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Population (2012)[3] | |
| • City | 204,746 |
| • Rank | 17th |
| • Density | 8,200/km2 (21,000/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 207,000 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 523 xxx |
| Telephone code | (+91)8592 |
| Vehicle registration | AP–27 xx xxxx |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Ongole |
| Assembly constituency | Ongole |
| Website | Ongole Municipal corporation |
Ongole is a city in Prakasam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is one of the 13 municipal corporations in the state and the headquarters of Prakasam district. It is also the mandal headquarters of Ongole mandal.[4] The city is the 13th largest in the state by means of population. Ongole is known for its Ongole cattle, a breed of oxen.[5] This is one of the major Zebu cattle breeds in the world.
Etymology
Prakasam district was formerly called Ongole district and later, renamed to Prakasam in order to pay homage to the great patriot Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu.
History
The town's history dates from 230 BCE with the era of the Mauryas and Sathavahanas who ruled most of what is now present-day Andhra Pradesh. A few inscriptions dating to the Satavahana period have been found in the village China Ganjam, near Ongole. After the Satavahanas, this place came into the limelight again during the Kakatiya dynasty, when the nearby towns of Motupalli and Voda Revu served as major seaports. Ongole is also mentioned in the inscriptions of the Pallava rulers of the 3rd and 4th Century A.D. The City was also ruled by Krishna Deva Raya. The last dynasty to rule the Ongole region before the British was the Mandapati Dynasty(Zamindars). According to the historical inscriptions available at Sri Raja Rajeswara Swami Temple in Ongole City was constructed by Cholas. Kaasi Visweswara Swami temple, Chenna Keswva Swami Temple and Veeranjaneya Swami temple were built in early 17th century by King Vankayalapati mantri and Army Chief.
Geography
Ongole is located in the eastern portion of the Prakasam District at 15°30′N 80°03′E / 15.5°N 80.05°E.[6] It has an average elevation of 10 m (33 ft)AMSL. With the initiative of Mr. Ravuri Ling Reddy Ex Sarpanch, Pernamitta, Ongole has the all season water resource 'Enugula Bavi' which serves water needs of 40,000 people any time.[7]
Climate
- Winter: December To February
- Summer: March to June
- South West Monsoons – July to September
- North East Monsoons – October to November
Rain storms and cyclones are common in the region during the rainy season, which starts with the monsoons in early June. The cyclones could occur any time of the year, but commonly between August and November.
Demographics
As of 2011[update] Census of India, the city had a population of 202,826. The population constitutes 101,728 males and 101,098 females&a sex ratio of 994 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 940 per 1000.[8] 18,673 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 9,651 are boys and 9,022 are girls&a ratio of 935 per 1000. The average literacy rate stands at 83.57% (male 89.41%; female 77.73%) with 153,888 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.[3][9] The Urban agglomeration had a population of 206,419, of which males constitute 103,541, females constitute 102,878&a sex ratio of 994 females per 1000 males and 19,126 are in the age group of 0–6 years. There are a total of 156,217 literates with an average literacy rate of 83.41%. The urban agglomeration population was increased to 2.70 lakh (in 2014) to that of 206,419 (in 2011).[1][3]
Governance
Civic administration
Ongole Municipal Corporation is the civic body that oversees the needs of the city of Ongole. The area of the city limit is from 25.00 km2. The agglomerated villages that were merged into Ongole corporation are : Cheruvukommupalem,Throvagunta, Muktinuthalapadu, Dsarajupalli, Koppolu, Narasapuram Agraharam, Pellur, Pernamitta, Vengamukkapalem.[1]
Politics
Ongole is a part of Ongole (Assembly constituency), representing Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Damacharla Janardhana Rao is the present MLA of the constituency from Telugu Desam Party.[10] The constituency is a part of Ongole (Lok Sabha constituency) which was won by Y.V.Subba Reddy of YSR Congress Party.[11][12]
Economy
Agriculture is the primary industry of Ongole, and is one of the major centres for tobacco trading in Andhra Pradesh.
During the 70s and 80s many small scale manufacturing enterprises dealing with shoes, paints, PVC and pharmaceuticals were prevalent but the vast majority did not survive competition from other parts of Andhra Pradesh and those out of state. The 80s and 90s saw a proliferation of hospitals and educational institutions. As the 90s progressed businesses involving granite mining, cutting and polishing companies sprang up around Ongole. Chimakurthy, which is located in close proximity to Ongole is famous for its galaxy granite which has been a great income fetcher to the Government through royalty. This particular type of granite is exported to several nations like the U.S, China, Japan etc. The Granite industry led to good employment to both local and non-local labour.
Export of oxen
Ongole breed of Oxen is famous from Ongole. Ongole bulls have gone as far as the United States, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Brazil, and Mexico. The Brahmana bull in America is an off-breed of the Ongole. An Island in Malaysia where there are many Ongole Oxen is named as Ongole Island. The population of Ongole off-breed in Brazil is said to be around several millions. The original breed of Ongole stud bulls are found in a small region around Ongole town between rivers Gundlakamma, and Musi. Ongole Cattle are the pride of India for they are unequivocally world class.
Transport
Roadways
The town is also connected by a well maintained network of roads to all major towns and cities of the state and country. The NH 5 passing through the city forms a part of the Golden Quadrilateral Project and also NH 5 forming a part of AH 45 network, a part of Asian Highway Network. APSRTC runs buses from the city to all major towns and cities in the state. NH 214A from Digammarru to Ongole, popularly called as Coastal Highway, is the shortest route from Chennai to Visakhapatnam which joins AH 45 near Ongole. Local means of transport is through nearly 6000 auto-rickshaws and 5 city buses from APSRTC and being planned to expand public transportation in next few months through JNNURM program, APSRTC by more 20 city buses.
Railways
Ongole railway station, on the Howrah-Chennai main line is well connected to other parts of the state, with 46 pairs of major trains & 6 passenger trains and nearly 120 goods trains passing through it.
Seaport
The nearest port to Ongole is the Vodarevu port at a distance of (55 km). This Port is a Greenfield Port and Government have designated the Vodarevu Port as specialized port for Ship Breaking Industry. The Government is planning to develop this Port under private sector.
Airport
Vijayawada Airport (VGA/VOBZ) is the nearest airport.AirCosta, Jet Airways, Spicejet and Air India operates regular flights from Hyderabad, Bangalore, New Delhi via Hyderabad and Chennai to Gannavaram. It is about 150 km from Ongole. A new greenfield airport site was approved for Ongole in February 2014.[13]
Education
There is a medical college in the city named as Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)[14] Some of the famous educational institutes include QIS College of Engineering and Technology,QIS Institute of Technology, [15] RISE Groups of Institutions,[16] Prakasam Engineering College,[17] Pace Institute of Technology & Science[18]
See also
- List of cities in Andhra Pradesh by population
- List of cities in Andhra Pradesh by area
- List of municipal corporations in Andhra Pradesh
References
- ^ a b c d "About Ongole". Ongole Municipal Corporation. 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Elevation". mapcoordinates.net. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Andhra Pradesh (India): Districts, Cities, Towns and Outgrowth Wards - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". citypopulation.de. Cite error: The named reference "population" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Prakasam District Mandals" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 157, 178. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ "Breeds of Livestock - Ongole Cattle". Ansi.okstate.edu. 2001-07-16. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Ongole, India". fallingrain.com.
- ^ "Yenugula Bavi is as sweet as ever". 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Sex Ratio". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "MLA". AP State Portal. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "DELIMITATION OF PARLIAMENTARY AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES ORDER, 2008" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 22,31. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "MPs". AP State Portal. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "Ongole Airport Site Approved". Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "RIMS College - ONGOLE". Rimsongole.org. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ^ "QIS College of Engineering & Technology :: Ongole". Qiscet.edu.in. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
- ^ "Welcome to RISE groups of institutions". Risegroup.edu.in. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
- ^ "Prakasam Engineering College". Prakasamec.com. 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
- ^ PACE. "PACE Institute of Technology And Science| Engineering College". Paceengineeringcollege.com. Retrieved 2014-03-04.