Khardaha

Khardaha is a city and a municipality[2] of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is close to Kolkata and also a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

Khardaha
City
B.T. Road in Khardaha
B.T. Road in Khardaha
Khardaha is located in West Bengal
Khardaha
Khardaha
Location in West Bengal, India
Khardaha is located in India
Khardaha
Khardaha
Khardaha (India)
Coordinates: 22.72°N 88.38°E / 22.72; 88.38
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictNorth 24 Parganas
RegionGreater Kolkata
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyKhardaha Municipality
 • Former ChairmanKajal Sinha [1]
Area
 • Total6.87 km2 (2.65 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total108,496
 • Density16,000/km2 (41,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
700115, 700116, 700112, 700117, 700118
Telephone code+91 33
Vehicle registrationWB
Lok Sabha constituencyDum Dum
Vidhan Sabha constituencyKhardaha
Websitekhardahmunicipality.in

History

Initially Khardah was a part of South Barrackpore and West Barrackpore municipalities established in 1877. South Barrackpore Municipality was renamed Khardah Municipality in 1920.[3]

Geography
🌍
Cities and towns in the southern portion of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town,
N: neighbourhood/ administrative location
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Khardaha is located at 22.72°N 88.38°E / 22.72; 88.38.[4] It has an average elevation of 15 m (49 ft). It has a railway station on the Sealdah-Ranaghat section, sandwiched between Sodepur and Sukchar (to the south) and Titagarh (to the north). The railway station divides the town into two parts - the eastern part is known as Rahara, while the western part is known as Khardaha.

Khardaha is bounded by Titagarh to the north, Patulia and Bandipur to the east, Panihati to the south and the Hooghly River to the west.[5]

96% of the population of Barrackpore subdivision (partly presented in the map alongside, all places marked in the map are linked in the full screen map) lives in urban areas. In 2011, it had a density of population of 10,967 per km2. The subdivision has 16 municipalities and 24 census towns.[6]

Demographics

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1921 5,486—    
1931 6,018+9.7%
1941 9,568+59.0%
1951 18,524+93.6%
1961 28,362+53.1%
1971 36,679+29.3%
1981 50,202+36.9%
1991 88,358+76.0%
2001 122,133+38.2%
2011 108,496−11.2%
Source: Census of India[7]

As per the 2011 Census of India, Khardaha had a total population of 108,496, of which 54,879 (51%) were male and 53,617 (49%) were female. 7,332 were under 6 years old. The total number of literates in Khardaha was 95,469 (94.37% of the population over 6 years).[8]

As of the 2001 India census,[9] Khardaha had a population of 116,252. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Khardaha had an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 83% and female literacy was 79%. 8% of the population was under 6 years old.

Kolkata Urban Agglomeration

The following Municipalities, Census Towns and other locations in Barrackpore subdivision were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in the 2011 census: Kanchrapara (M), Jetia (CT), Halisahar (M), Balibhara (CT), Naihati (M), Bhatpara (M), Kaugachhi (CT), Garshyamnagar (CT), Garulia (M), Ichhapur Defence Estate (CT), North Barrackpur (M), Barrackpur Cantonment (CB), Barrackpore (M), Jafarpur (CT), Ruiya (CT), Titagarh (M), Khardaha (M), Bandipur (CT), Panihati (M), Muragachha (CT) New Barrackpore (M), Chandpur (CT), Talbandha (CT), Patulia (CT), Kamarhati (M), Baranagar (M), South Dumdum (M), North Dumdum (M), Dum Dum (M), Noapara (CT), Babanpur (CT), Teghari (CT), Nanna (OG), Chakla (OG), Srotribati (OG) and Panpur (OG).[10]

Police station

Khardaha police station under Barrackpore Police Commissionerate has jurisdiction over Khardaha Municipal area and Barrackpore II CD Block.[11][12]

Infrastructure
See also: Barrackpore subdivision § Municipal towns/cities

As per the District Census Handbook 2011, Khardaha covered an area of 6.87 km2, with both open and closed drains. It had 115 medicine shops, 37 primary schools, one middle school, 13 secondary/senior secondary schools and one college for arts/science/commerce, one orphanage home, one stadium, three cinemas, three public libraries and three reading rooms. It had 6 bank branches.[13]

Economy

Industry

Major industries in Khardaha are:

  • Khardah Jute Mill was nationalised in 1980 and made a part of National Jute Manufactures Corporation Limited. It was closed in 2004 and after implementation of a revival scheme Khardah Jute Mill was reopened in 2011.[14][15] The Union Cabinet, at a meeting held on 10 October 2018, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the green signal for the closure of National Jute Manufacturers Corporation Ltd. (NJMC) along with its subsidiary Birds Jute and Exporters Ltd. (BJEL). NJMC had been incurring losses for several years and was under reference to BIFR since 1993. The Mills of NJMC which were proposed for revival, namely, Kinnison Mill at Titagarh, Khardah Mill at Khardah and RBHM Mill at Katihar were under suspension since August 2016.[16][17]
  • Electrosteel Castings Ltd. started manufacturing cast iron pipes at Khardaha in 1955, and evolved as a pioneer in ductile iron pipe manufacturing. It produces 280,000 tonnes of ductile iron pipes annually and exports over half of its production. At Khardaha it also produces ductile iron fittings (5,000 tonnes per annum) and 250,000 tonnes of pig iron annually for captive use. Umang Kejriwal and Mayank Kejriwal have been managing directors since 1979.[18][19][20]

Transport
Kolkata new proposed Metro Line 5 (Baranagar - Barrackpore)
Khardaha railway station

B.T. Road passes through Khardaha.[21]

78 is the most frequent bus in Khardaha which runs from Barrackpore Court to Esplanade. Besides many buses connect Khardaha to various neighbourhoods - 81/1 (Barasat to Rajchandrapur), C28 and S32 (Barrackpore Court to Howrah Station), S11 (Nilganj to Esplanade), E32 (Nilganj to Howrah Station) etc.

Khardaha railway station on the Sealdah-Ranaghat line is 18.5 km from Sealdah railway station.[22][21] It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system.

Commuters

Around a total of 3.2 million people from all around the city commute to Kolkata daily for work. In the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section there are 34 trains that carry commuters from 30 railway stations. In the Sealdah-Shantipur section 32 trains carry commuters from 29 stations.[23]

Education
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College

Rahara Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home High School has facilities for teaching from class 1 to 12 (Higher secondary) in both Bengali and English mediums. It is an all boys' school.[24] Khardaha also has an all boys' college which is called, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, a part of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Both graduate and post graduate courses are taught. But, only Science subjects are offered here.[25]

An all girls' school is located right by the side of Rahara Mission, called, Bhabhanath Institution for Girls.[26] Kalyannagar Vidyapeeth, another school is also located in the area. There are also two High school situated at right side, they are Shibnath High School for Boys and Priyanath Girls School for Girls. Recently another English Medium school for secondary section has been established in the name of Khardaha Indira Memorial School

Health

Khardaha Municipal hospital or Balaram sevamandir is the main Govt. funded hospital in Khardaha.[27] There are many private medical dispensaries with their own doctors and specialists scattered through town.

Culture
26 Shiva temples at Khardaha

Every year in the month of December, Khardaha municipality organizes a flower show.[28] Khardaha Sanskritik Utsav (Cultural Festival) is organized on a regular basis, where performers from all over India come to entertain people.[29] Khardaha book fair is a culturally significant event that takes place every year.[29]

Nityanandu Mahaprabhu, a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal, came and settled in a hut named Kunjabati at Khardaha.[30][31]

26 Shiva temples were built on the bank of the Ganges, in the early 19th century by Ramhari Biswas and his son, Prankrishna.[31]

David J. McCutchion describes several temples at Khardaha:[32]

  • Shyama Sundar temple (18th century?) – renovated atchala with porch on triple archway
  • Mahaprabhu temple – straight corniced navaratna structure
  • Rasmancha – low octagonal structure with 16 turrets
Rasmancha, Khardaha

Rabindranath Tagore's House but today only the entry Gate remains.

References
  1. Khardah Municipality
  2. "CENSUS OF INDIA 2001". web.cmc.net.in. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  3. "Brief history and formation of Khardah Municipality". About us. Khardah Municipality. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  4. "Khardah, India". fallingrain.com. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Barrackpore II CD Block on Page 379. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  7. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  10. "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Table 2.1. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  12. "Barrackpore Police Commissionerate". List of Police Stations with telephone numbers. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803; Statement II: Physical Aspects and Location of Towns, Pages 791-794; Statement III: Civic and other Amenities, Pages 795-796; Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 803-805 Section: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  14. "National Jute Manufactures Ltd". NJMC. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  15. "Mills under suspension of work as on 26 June 2009". Jute Commissioner, Government of India. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  16. "News Updates". PM India. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  17. "Central government gives green signal to shut National Jute Manufacturers Corporation". Apparel Resources 11 October 2018. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  18. "Electrosteel Castings Ltd". ECL. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  19. "Electrosteel Castings Ltd". ECL. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  20. "Electrosteel Castings Ltd". Zauba Corp. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  21. Google maps
  22. "31311 Sealdah-Kalyani Simanta Local". Time Table. indiarailinfo. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  23. Dey, Teesta. "The Suburban Railway Network of Kolkata: A Geographical Apprisal" (PDF). eTraverse, the Indian journal of spatial science, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  24. "Welcome - Ramakrishna Mission Rahara, India". Archived from the original on 7 March 2011.
  25. "Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara".
  26. "Rahara Bhabanath Institution for Girls, Khardaha Municipality North Twenty Four Pargana - Admissions 2019, Fee Structure".
  27. "khardah municipal hospital — Google Local".
  28. https://www.facebook.com/events/176222865909385
  29. "Khardah, Khardaha and Rahara". Archived from the original on 5 May 2018.
  30. Sen, Sukumar (1991, reprint 2007). Bangala Sahityer Itihas, Vol.I, (in Bengali), Kolkata: Ananda Publishers, ISBN 81-7066-966-9, pp.236, 321-2
  31. "26 Shiva temples, Khardaha". Trodly. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  32. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 33, 54,74, 78 . The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN 978-93-81574-65-2
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