?Durgapur West Bengal • India
Durgapur
Coordinates: 23°29′N 87°19′E / 23.48, 87.32
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 65 m (213 ft)
District(s)	Barddhaman
Population	492,996 (2001)
Mayor	Rathin Roy
Codes • Pincode • Telephone	• Durgapur PIN • +0343

Coordinates: 23°29′N 87°19′E / 23.48, 87.32 See Durgapur, Chandrapur for town of same name in Maharashtra , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links India_West_Bengal_locator_map. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Location of Mirzapur and the 82. ... The geography of India is diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, rainforests, hills, and plateaus. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... The divisions of a district. ... Bardhaman is a district in West Bengal. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 - A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall appears in Seattles Magnuson Park, placed by an anonymous... A Postal Index Number or PIN or Pincode is the post office numbering or post code system used by the Indian Postal Service (similar to the ZIP Code in the United States). ... For the past decade or so, telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... , Durgapur is a census town in Chandrapur district in the state of Maharashtra, India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA:  , English: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

Durgapur (Bengali: দুর্গাপুর) is an industrial metropolis in the state of West Bengal, India, located about 160 km from Kolkata. It was a dream child of the great visionary Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of the state. The well laid out industrial township was designed by Joseph Allen Stein and Benjamin Polk^[1] It is home to the largest industrial unit in the state, Durgapur Steel Plant, one of the integrated steel plants of Steel Authority of India Limited. Alloy Steel Plant of SAIL is also located here. There are a number of power plants, chemical and engineering industries. Some metallurgical units have come up in recent years. Durgapur is the second largest city of West Bengal after Calcutta. Bengali or Bangla (IPA: ) is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit, Pāli and Sanskrit languages. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... A young B.C.Roy Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (July 1, 1882 – July 1, 1962) [1] was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, India. ... Durgapur Steel Plant is one of the integrated steel plants of Steel Authority of India Limited, located in Durgapur, in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. ... company_name = Steel Authority of India Limited| company_type = PSU foundation = 1954| location = India| key_people = S. K. Roongta (Chairman)| industry = Steel| Headquarter = New Delhi, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is the second largest steel maker in India. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ...

Dr. B.C.Roy at Durgapur

Children enjoy a ride in Troika Park at Durgapur City Centre

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1799x1199, 322 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1799x1199, 322 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 303 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 303 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ...

Geography

Durgapur is located at 23.48° N 87.32° E.^[2] It has an average elevation of 65 metres (213 feet). The metre (American English:meter) is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Durgapur is situated on the bank of river Damodar, just before it enters the alluvial plains of Bengal. The topography is undulating. The coal-bearing area of the Ranigunj coalfields lies just beyond Durgapur, although some parts intrude in to the area. The area was deeply forested till recent times, and some forests are still there, standing witness to its wild past.

Two mighty rivers border it on the north and south. The Ajay River flows past unhindered in the north but the Damodar River on the south has two obstacles in its path – an earlier anicut at Rondia and a more recent barrage at Durgapur. Two rivulets, Singaran and Tamla, flow through the area and join the Damodar. Two other rivulets in the area, Kunur and Tumuni, join the Ajay. Damodar River rises from the Chota Nagpur plateau of the Jharkhand state of India. ...

Durgapur subdivision is surrounded by Asansol subdivision on the west, Bardhaman sadar subdivision on the east, Bankura district across the Damodar in the south, and Birbhum district across the Ajay to the north. , Asansol (Bengali: ), a coal-mining-industrial centre, is the second largest city [1] in West Bengal, after Kolkata. ... , Bankura (Bengali: ) is a city and a municipality in Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. ... Birbhum is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. ...

The Grand Trunk Road (NH2) virtually bifurcates the area. It has now been widened as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. Another wide road takes off from Darjeeling Morh near Panagarh for North Bengal. It also links Santiniketan to the Grand Trunk Road. The Durgapur Expressway, linking Dankuni with Memari on Grand Trunk Road, now allows fast communication between Kolkata and Durgapur. A road over the Durgapur barrage links Durgapur with Bankura and beyond in South Bengal. The Grand Trunk Road (abbreviated to GT Road in common usage) is one of South Asias oldest and longest major roads. ... Map showing the Golden Quadrilateral and other National Highways The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is the largest express highway project in India launched under the rule of Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former prime minister of India. ...

The Kolkata-Delhi railway track passes through Durgapur. Andal has a link with Sainthia on the Sahibgunj loop line.

There are airstrips at Panagarh and Durgapur, the former with the Indian Air Force and latter with SAIL. Panagarh (Bengali: ) is a small town in India, located in Kanksa police station of Durgapur subdivision in Bardhaman District of West Bengal. ...

Daily news transmitted live from Durgapur Steel Television Centre

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1418x941, 249 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1418x941, 249 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ...

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^GRIndia Durgapur had a population of 492,996. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Durgapur has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 69%. In Durgapur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 - A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall appears in Seattles Magnuson Park, placed by an anonymous... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ...

History

Mighty emperors reigned in this region over the centuries but it is difficult to pinpoint as to who exactly held sway over the area at different points of time. Historians talk of this region being a part of the Maurya and Gupta empires, the empire of Harsha Vardhan and the Mughals. Being a geographical border region, it could have been on either side of the virtually unmarked and flexible borders of the mighty empires. Moreover, the infertile soil with deep impenetrable forests and wild animals was probably not a very inviting proposal for any emperor on the look out for wealth and treasures. Even when coal mining made forays into the adjoining Asansol-Ranigunj area from the late eighteenth century, and factory chimneys reared their heads in the sky somewhat later, Durgapur remained an impenetrable jungle that few dared to trespass into. A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in ancient India. ... “Unlawful entry” redirects here. ...

In the mid nineteenth century, the railway track traversed the Durgapur area but even fairly recent pre-independence travellers describe Durgapur as a small station, with dim kerosene lanterns burning at night, where only a few passenger trains stopped. It was local chieftains such as Bhabani Pathak and Ichhai Ghosh, who were the heroes of the jungle-territory, and probably held many a great emperor at bay. Many of them must have passed through the area on the look out for wealth in the famed granaries of Bengal further east but probably never found the place attractive enough to show their prowess.

It is unlikely that Bhabani Pathak of Durgapur was the same person linked with Devi Choudhurani, made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Their area of activity was around Rangpur, now in Bangladesh. Although barges used to carry coal down the Damodar in those days and the river was more navigable than now, the area was never a watery haven as some areas of east or north Bengal were. However, legends have more impact on people than the hard realities of history. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (Chattopadhyay in the original Bengali; Chatterjee as spelt by the British) was an Indian poet and author, most famous as the composer of Vande Mataram. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ...

The area was part of the Bardhaman Raj, who ruled on the basis of a firman from the Mughal emperor. Mir Kassem, then Nawab of Sube Bangala, ceded Bardhaman along with Medinipur and Chittagong to the East India Company in 1760 (three years after the Battle of Plassey), and the Bardhaman Raj continued to function under British tutelage. Bardhaman Raj (also known as Burdwan Raj) flourished from 1657 to 1955 – for almost 300 years, first under the Mughals and then under the British. ... The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents. ... , Bardhaman (also Barddhaman; Bengali: বর্ধমান Bôrdhoman), is a city of West Bengal state in eastern India. ... Medinipur (also written as Midnapore) is a city with a population of c. ... This article is about Chittagong as a city in Bangladesh. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ...

However, there are some interesting historical points. Archeological excavations at Birbhanpur, on the bank of the Damodar, have revealed a number of stone implements. These are dated to be around 5,000 BC. Many of these are hunting implements used by pre-historic hunters. Earlier, some of the excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi, on the banks of the Ajay, just beyond Durgapur but in Bardhaman district, revealed traces of a civilisation possibly linked with the Indus Valley Civilisation. These are important historical finds and are yet to be fully explored. Damodar River in India Damodar (name of Krishna) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Indus Valley Civilization existed along the Indus River and the Vedic Sarasvati River in present-day Pakistan. ...

Industrialisation

Jawaharlal Nehru with school children at Durgapur

It all started with the dreamer first Prime Minister of independent India,Jawaharlal Nehru. His dream of transforming the backward agricultural country into an industrially advanced nation was picked up in West Bengal by Dr. B.C.Roy. At the earlier stages for the selection of a proper site for a new industrial township, Jnananjan Niyogi, a great business organizer and planner, was involved. Modernist American architect Joseph Allen Stein, invited to head the newly formed Department of Architecture and Planning at the Bengal Engineering College in Calcutta, plunged into a major project as soon as he reached India in 1952- the designing of Durgapur city along with Benjamin Polk, another American architect already living in Calcutta at that time. Thereafter it was the task of local leaders such as Ananda Gopal Mukherjee and bureaucrats such as K.K.Sen to get Durgapur going. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2399x1799, 362 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2399x1799, 362 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindi: , IPA: , from Persian Javâher-e Laal, meaning Red Jewel) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964) was a political leader of the Indian National Congress, a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and the first Prime Minister of Independent India. ... Jnananjan Niyogi was a freedom fighter and social reformer. ...

Prior to independence, only one small refractory plant of the Martin Burn group was located at Durgapur, the abandoned chimney of which is still visible near the station. Damodar Valley Corporation constructed Durgapur Barrage in 1955. The Damodar Valley Corporation, popularly known as DVC, is the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India. ...

There was a massive follow up – Durgapur Steel Plant (commissioned 1960), Alloy Steels Plant (commissioned 1965), Durgapur Projects Ltd. (established 1961), Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation, ACC-Vickers Babcock (later ACC-Babcock and now Alstom Power Boilers), Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation, Philips Carbon Black Ltd., Sankey Wheels (a unit of GKW), Bharat Ophathalmic Glass Ltd, Durgapur Cement Ltd. (now Birla Cement) (established 1975), Graphite India Ltd. (established 1967), Durgapur Chemicals and many others. A great new industrial city was bubbling with enthusiasm.

Durgapur Steel Plant was a showpiece of Indo-British cooperation in independent India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, came for inauguration of the first blast furnace. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was a regular visitor. He called these plants temples of new India. Many senior leaders and important foreign leaders visited Durgapur to see and to cheer. Displaying a rare gesture of solidarity, Queen Elizabeth came on a state visit. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (December 3, 1884–February 28, 1963) was the first President of India. ...

Queen Elizabeth at Durgapur

As the numerous chimneys merrily belched out smoke – black, white and reddish brown – as pollution control norms were still some way off (for the past few years all the 65 chimneys of Durgapur Steel Plant are pollution free), the townships grew and prospered. Regional Engineering College (established 1960) (now renamed National Institute of Technology) and Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (established 1958) added to the stature of the new township. Schools, hospitals, parks, and playgrounds – all came up. It was new life in new India. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1799x1199, 331 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1799x1199, 331 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... National Institute of Technology The National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India (formerly Regional Engineering College, Durgapur), was established under an Act of Parliament in 1960 as one of the eight such colleges aimed to function as a pace-setter for engineering education in the country and to foster national integration. ...

Republic Day celebrations at Nehru Stadium, Durgapur

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1455x921, 416 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1455x921, 416 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ...

The decline and revival

As the British industrialists left India after independence many of the industrial empires they left behind were taken over by the Indian business community, who were mainly traders. With technological obsolescence the industries fell on bad times, labour unrest started and finally engulfed the state of West Bengal in the late sixties. Even the new industries in Durgapur were affected by the militancy and in no time, most of the industries in Durgapur were in shambles. The word militant can refer to any individual engaged in warfare, a fight, combat, or generally serving as a soldier. ...

That continued for some years but the result was that many of the sick industries were on the verge of closure. It was evident that some of the industries were technically unsound; as for example, Durgapur Steel Plant was technologically obsolete and needed huge investment for modernization. The political chaos submerged all such concerns and no investor considered the region safe for any major investment. When unemployment started pinching, the left was settled comfortably in power. There was rethinking about revival of industries in West Bengal. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Durgapur Steel Plant

The late eighties witnessed a turn around in the fortunes of SAIL, with Durgapur Steel Plant being one of the plants to be modernized at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crore. However, The plant continued to make huge operating losses and by mid-nineties even rumours of a slow death of the plant along with the city was making the rounds. Fortunately, DSP management with public support of the trade unions was able to turn around the dire situation with thousands of job cuts through voluntary retirement schemes and modernizing efforts. Now Durgapur Steel Plant is operating at above its rated capacity and earning profits after deduction of substantial amount of interest and depreciation resulting from the massive investment in modernisation. The plant is undergoing further expansion and is all set for a momentous future. A number of other industries, as for example Alstom Power Boilers (erstwhile ACC-Babcock Ltd), Philips Carbon Black Ltd. and Graphite India Ltd., had been doing well. Alloy Steels Plant has also turned the corner. Therefore, Durgapur presents a dual picture of growth and hope on one side and collapse on the other. The darker side covers such units as MAMC, Bharat Ophthalmic and Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1492x1158, 514 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1492x1158, 514 KB) Pic courtesy DSP PR Source: Pic taken by the Public Relations department of Durgapur Steel Plant. ...

Recent Changes in Durgapur

2002 onwards, Durgapur has been witnessing radical changes, with rapid development in different segments. The changes are with respect to infrastructure as well as industrial growth for steel (direct reduced iron), metal, cement industries & knowledge based industries. The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ...

Durgapur during the last five years got more than 8 engineering and technology, management as well as professional study colleges (under graduate level).Housing co-operatives and flats, shopping malls, multiplex, science and energy park, Software Technology park (STPI), Hotels and stadiums have also come up. Recently a shopping mall by ADDA, named Suhatta is opened by Chief Minister Budhadeb Bhattacharya. He has done 7 inugaruation that day including a Polytechnic college and Hotel GINGER. A typical AMC Theatres multiplex. ...

Adhunik DRI Plant at Durgapur - Angadpur Industrial Area

During the years 2001-2007 Durgapur saw the setting up of 10 to 15 middle/ large scale industrial investment in iron and steel manufacturing sector including value added products like Wire Rod, TMT bar (Thermo Mechanical Treatment) for construction, Iron Casting powder etc. The prominent investors are Balaji Group, SPS group, Adhunik Group of Industries, Neo Metaic, Stolberg India, Super Smelters Ltd, Shyam Steel, Ultratec Cement etc. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1520 pixel, file size: 684 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of DRI Plant Adhunik Group of Industries posted by: Soumen Bhattacharyya Adhunik Group of Industries Durgapur -713215 on:11th March 2007 for... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1520 pixel, file size: 684 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of DRI Plant Adhunik Group of Industries posted by: Soumen Bhattacharyya Adhunik Group of Industries Durgapur -713215 on:11th March 2007 for...

Some other important changes are Regional Engineering College being upgarded to National Institute of Technology - the first Deemed University in Durgapur, 'SRIJONI'- a public hall equipped with technically advanced systems (audio & video).

Administrative changes

Durgapur is a new industrial city. It was just not there prior to independence. Therefore, the administrative set up for the city came up in stages. Once the British settled down to ruling the country in the nineteenth century, they started effecting administrative changes. In 1837 when Bankura district was formed, Durgapur area was part of it. In 1847, Ranigunj subdivision was formed with three police stations – Ranigunj, Kanksa and Neamatpur - and it was made a part of Bardhaman district. In 1906 the subdivisional headquarters was shifted to Asansol and the subdivision renamed accordingly. In 1910, the police stations in Asansol subdivision were Asansol, Ranigunj, Kanksa, Faridpur and Barakar. On 14 April 1968, Durgapur subdivision was carved out of Asansol subdivision.

Durgapur being an industrial city, the civic amenities of different company/ plant townships are taken care by the respective company/ plant authorities. However, there are civil localities such as the area around the railway station (what was the original Durgapur), the City Centre, Bidhannagar, Benachitty, Muchipara and so on, which need civic facilities. In 1962, Durgapur Notified Area Authority was formed for the purpose. It was upgraded to a municipal corporation on 7 October 1996 and the company/ plant townships included in it, although civic amenities continue to be provided by the respective companies/ plants.

Politics

Durgapur has two assembly seats - Durgapur I and Durgapur II.

Mrinal Banerjee of CPI (M) won the Durgapur I seat in 2006, 2001, and 1996 defeating INC candidates Banshi Badan Karmakar, Chandra Sekhar Banerjee and Mrigendranath Pal respectively. Dilip Mazumdar of CPI (M) won the seat in 1991, 1987, 1982 and 1977.^[3]

In 2006 assembly elections, Biprendu Kumar Chakraborty of CPI (M) won the Durgapur II seat defeating his nearest rival Apurba Mukherjee of AITC. Apurba Mukherjee had won the seat in 2001 defeating Debabrata Banerjee of CPI (M). In 1996, Debabrata Banerjee had won the seat defeating Malay Kanti Dutta of INC. In 1991, Tarun Chatterjee of CPI (M) had won the seat defeating Asit Chattaraj of INC. Tarun Chatterjee won it in 1987 defeating Narayan Hazara Chowdhury of INC. In 1982, Tarun Chaterjee defeated Baren Roy of INC. Tarun Chatterjee defeated Ajit Banerjee of INC in 1977.^[4]

During the period 1962 and 1967, there was a single Durgapur seat. Additionally, there was a Faridpur seat from 1967 to 1972. Faridpur is a town adjacent to Durgapur in Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. ...

Ananda Gopal Mukherjee of INC won the Durgapur seat in 1972.^[5] Dilip Mazumdar of CPI (M) in 1971, 1969 and 1967.^[6][7][8] Ananda Gopal Mukherjee of INC won the seat in 1962.^[9] Prior to that there was no constituency named Durgapur. In 1957, there was the Ondal constituency with two members and in 1952 Ausgram constituency had two members. Ondal is a census town in Barddhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. ... Ausgram is a town, a police station and a community development block in the Sadar Subdivision of Bardhaman District in West Bengal, India. ...

Sunil Khan won in the Durgapur (Lok Sabha constituency) (reserved for SC) in the 2004 general elections.^[10] Durgapur parliamentary constituency in West Bengal, seat reserved for SC - Results Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments [2]: Durgapur I Durgapur II Kanksa Galsi Sonamukhi Barjora Gangajalghati ^ Election Commission Lok Sabha election results 1977-2006 ^ General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary...

Despite what election results may show, opposition to the CPI(M) and the Left is considerable. In the recent trade union elections of the DSP, the Congress affiliated union INTUC grabbed 44% of the votes compared to 48% of the CPI(M) affiliated CITU. Other unions, mostly leftist failed to get even 10% of the votes. As a result only INTUC & CITU have acquired the rights to negotiate with the DSP management.

Although, in Durgapur Steel City proper, the Left Front controls the Municipal Corporation and has been re-elected again with 37 out of the 43 seats. The influence of the Congress, Trinamool (the anti-left parties) was displayed in the 2001 assembly elections where the Trinamool candidate won in the Durgapur-2 seat. The Trinamool and the Congress, besides the union members, retain significant support in the affluent villages in the outskirts of Durgapur besides the GT Road and in well-off neighborhoods such as the Bidhan Nagar and City Centre.

Educational scenery

Durgapur is a classy place for school level education. A large number of excellent educational institutions exist in the city. The DSP operated high schools are stuffed with respected and highly skilled teachers and decent infrastructure.

With the rise of private, English medium schools administered by Catholic missionary groups and Protestant churches, the schooling scenery has acquired a different image. Prominent schools include St. Xavier's, St. Peter's, Carmel (Steel) and Carmel (MAMC), DAV Model, Hemsheela, St. Michael's, AG Church and Bidhan Chandra Institution. DSP run schools like the B-Zone Multipurpose Girls High (GMPS), B-Zone Boys, A-Zone Boys and the now defunct PC Road Girls High are among the most respected in the city and suburbs.

Often regarded as the best school in Durgapur, it still maintains its charm and have produced one of the best alumni of all times excelling in every sphere of life throught out the world. Kudos to its administration under Fr Wautier and Fr Gilson and its highly educated teachers for making St Xavier's Durgapur one of the burning gold in flame (that is their logo on the students' shirts). To mention a few, Sir Roy, Sir Nandi, Mrs Bhowmick, Mrs Nita Banerjee, Mrs D Banerjee, Sir Patrick Moore, Mrs D Roy, Mrs Mascerhans, Sir Biswas (PT), Sir Lawrence Bendict, Sir Parameswaran, Mrs Dorothy, Mrs Parameswaran et al who have contributed to the excellence. Special mention must be made about entry level teachers who have worked hard to introduce, basically infants, to school atmosphere - Miss Philomena, Mrs Gauri Dasgupta, Mrs Yvonne Moore, Ms D'Costa, Mrs MacLean, Mrs Temple, Ms Chatlier. The aesthetic sense was induced into the students by Mr Osta. The wonderful vernacular teachers were Mrs Uma Mukherjee for Bengali, Mrs Sethi, Mrs Shastri and Mrs Sharma for Hindi. The list is as endless as their priceless efforts for each student

Situated in one of the poshest areas of the city, Mirabai Road, St. Peter's formerly known as Benachity High is the oldest city private school run by the Protestant denominated Church of North India. The school is widely regarded as one of the finest and most progressive.

DAV Model is known for its infrastructure, which includes a multi-purpose gym, an auditorium, a well stocked library and laboratories. Of late, schools like Hemsheela Model have shown meteoric rise in the competitive educational scene.

That said, St.Xavier's, St. Peter's, Carmel High school and the up-and-coming Hemsheela Model remain one of the most popular schools of the region. The downtrodding St.Xavier's, however, remains the school most favored by the pandering, shallow so-called "educated" gentry for their children.

College level education was once qualitatively inferior and limited for a city like Durgapur. However, engineering colleges like BC Roy Engineering,Durgapur Institute Of Advanced Technology And Management which is better known as DIATM, Bengal Engineering among others have been set up in and around Durgapur which has created a well-oiled educational industry. NIT, Durgapur, previously RE College is a premier institution and pride of the city. The Government College and the Women's College are not highly regarded in the mirror of public perception.

Nearby

• Bhabani Pathak’s Tilla – near city Centre. It earlier had a tunnel system leading to the Damodar River but now that is closed. People can visit the Tilla only.
• Rahreswar Shib Mandir – 800 years old temple complex on the Muchipara-Shibpur road.
• Ichhai Ghosh’s garh (fort) – now in ruins - and the Shyamarupa temple.
• Santiniketan – location of Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva Bharati is about 60 km frm Durgapur
• Vishnupur – the famous terracota temple town and home to major art and craft is about 70 km from Durgapur. The Bankura horse, symbol of Indian handicrafts is produced at Panchmura, near Vishnupur. It is also the home of the Baluchari sari, initially woven with Ramayana and Mahabharata motifs but now modernised.
• Joydeb-Kendubillo – temple and birthplace of Sanskrit poet Joydeb, on the banks of the Ajay river, is about 30 km from Durgapur. Makar sankranti mela with bauls (religious singers with a detached philosophy and spontaneity of their own) participating is held in mid January.
• Bakreswar – hot spring and temple is about 60 km from Durgapur
• Churulia - here the famous poet - Kazi Nazrul Islam was born. He is considered the national poet of Bangladesh. The village is about 60 km from Durgapur, and contains a museum with his works and a memorial for him. See Asansol map for location.

Damodar River rises from the Chota Nagpur plateau of the Jharkhand state of India. ... Nazrul playing a flute, Chittagong, 1926 Kazi Nazrul Islam (Bangla: কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম) (b. ... , Asansol (Bengali: ), a coal-mining-industrial centre, is the second largest city [1] in West Bengal, after Kolkata. ...

Note

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Durgapur
3. ^ Election Commission of India State assembly results 1977-2006.
4. ^ Election Commission of India State assembly results 1977-2006.
5. ^ Assembly elections 1972
6. ^ Assembly elections 1971
7. ^ Assembly elections 1969
8. ^ Assembly elections 1967
9. ^ Assembly elections 1962
10. ^ Election Commission Lok Sabha election results 1977-2006

References

• Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti' (History and Folk-lore of Bardhaman District) in Bengali by Akkari Chattopadhyay
• Uttaran and other publications of DSP PR.
• Websites of different companies operating in Durgapur

External links

• Bardhaman district official site
• SAIL - Durgapur Steel Plant
• SAIL - Alloy Steels Plant
• Durgapur Projects Ltd.
• Damodar Valley Corporation
• Birla Cement
• Philips Carbon Black
• Graphite India Ltd.
• Central Mechanical Research Institute
• National Institute of Technology, Durgapur
• Alstom Power Boilers
• Durgapur Chemicals
• About ADDA
• For local news
• For the hard requirements of daily life
• Britannica

See also

For travel details see – Durgapur travel guide from Wikitravel Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...