The name came from the wordHaor—Bengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate.[citation needed] The word itself was rather used in eastern part ofBengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).[14]
The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom ofBhurshut.Venetian explorerCesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place calledButtor in his journal circa 1578.[15] As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably theHoogli river) and perhaps a commercial port.[15] This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood ofBator.[15] Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetryManasamangal written byBipradas Pipilai in 1495.[16]
In 1713, the Bengal Council of theBritish East India Company, on the accession of the EmperorFarrukhsiyar, grandson ofAurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank ofHooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank.[17] The list of villages appeared in the Consultation Book of the Council dated 4 May 1714. The five villages on the west bank on Hooghly river were: 'Salica' (Salkia), 'Harirah' (Howrah), 'Cassundeah' (Kasundia), 'Ramkrishnopoor' (Ramkrishnapur) and 'Battar' (Bator): all identifiable with localities of modern-day Howrah city.[18] The deputation was successful except for these five villages.[18] By 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the twozamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.[18]
On 11 October 1760, as a result of theBattle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty withMir Qasim, theNawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district.[19] In 1787 the Hooghly district was formed and in 1819 the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it.[20] The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.[21]
Howrah is 2nd most populated city in West Bengal (behind Kolkata).[23][24] As of 2011[update] Indian census, Howrah had a population of1,077,075 with households.[8][note 1][25]
In the 1896 census ofBritish India, Howrah had a population of 84,069, which grew to 157,594 in the 1901 census.[26][27] This rapid growth was due to abundance of job opportunities, which resulted in a 100% increase in male population during this period, whereas the female population grew only by 60%.[26]
Howrah Municipal Corporation is responsible for the administration of Howrah. The tenure of the last board of HMC had ended back on 10 December 2018. From then onwards the corporation has been run by unelected board of administrators selected by the West Bengal government.[31] TheHowrah City Police is responsible for law enforcement in the city.
Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah byFrancis Frith (1850s-1870s)
Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.[32] From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city.[33] During 1882–83,Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah.[26]Babu Mahendranath Roy was the first Indian elected chairperson of theHowrah Municipal corporation, many subsequent projects were undertaken by him for the development of the city.[34] As per theHowrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation in 1984.[35] The corporation area was divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor.[36] The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area.[36] In 2015, the Bally Municipality was re-amalgamated into Howrah Municipal Corporation, through Corporation vide notification no. 428/MA/O/C-4/IM-36/2014 dated 26 June 2015, which increased the total number of wards to 66.[5][37]
Howrah also hosts the temporary administrative office of the state ofWest Bengal. The office of the Chief Minister of state had been traditionally posted at theWriters' Building, however owing to renovation of the building, the administration has been occupying theNabanna building.[38]
Although it is one of the largest cities in the state, Howrah witnessed urbanisation in an unplanned manner.[citation needed] As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, heavy population growth, and pollution.[39]
The city contains a few unlicensed and unregulated residential areas or slums. The name of the novelCity of Joy, which has been often the name theKolkata metropolis been called, is actually based on one such Howrah slum.[40] However, recently, work has been done on broadening the National Highways and several local roads.[citation needed] These activities are expected to help in improvement of traffic conditions. Of late, Howrah has seen a lot of new industrial proposals like the Kona Truck Terminus,[41]Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.[citation needed]. The West Bengal Government has also planned a major renovation of the city to match the city's urban facilities with its neighbouring city Kolkata.[42] The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is the statutory planning and development authority for Howrah, as the city lies within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA).
Often termed asSheffield of the East,[43] Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry.[43] In 1823, BishopReginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders".[44] There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah station[45] However these businesses are declining in the 21st century.[43] There are many foundries inLiluah area.[citation needed]
Burn Standard Company, a major company in heavy engineering industry, has its oldest manufacturing unit located in Howrah.[46]Ramkrishna Forgings one of the largest forging company in India has one of its plant located atLiluah in Howrah. The Howrah plant ofShalimar Paints (established in 1902) was the first large-scale paint manufacturing plant to be set up not only in India but in entire South East Asia.[47] The city houses one of the major manufacturing units ofTarsons Products.[48]
Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, road links to National Highways, as well as itstransport connections to Kolkata. Apart from the bridges connecting the cities, there are also ferry services between various jetties.
Howrah railway station (more commonly referred to as Howrah Station) is the major railway station serving Howrah, Kolkata and the neighbouring districts. It is the busiest rail station in India, along with being the largest railway station in terms of number of platform (24). It was established in 1854 when a railway line was constructed connecting the city to the coalfields ofBardhaman. Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: theEastern Railway and theSouth Eastern Railway, and it is connected to most of the major cities of India. From Howrah both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway operates connecting various stations of the districts of Howrah,Hooghly, Bardhaman,East Midnapore andWest Midnapore. Within Howrah city itself, there are twelve more stations, the most prominents beingSantragachi andShalimar.
Howrah is served by theGreen Line with Salt Lake in Kolkata via a tunnel under River Hooghly. The Metro line connects Howrah to Esplanade as well which will act as interchange where commuters can change sides to travel on the North-South line.On the Howrah side, the 2 Stations will be atHowrah Station andHowrah Maidan. These stations are open for public. The Metro currently connects Howrah Maidan Station on one side to Saltlake sector V Station on the other; Howrah, Esplanade & Sealdah stations lying in between. People can also interchange at Esplanade station to reach Airport or other blue line metro station's.
The total road length in Howrah is approximately 300 km (190 miles).[49] Howrah hosts a branch of theGrand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration.[50] The road starts at theAcharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden[51] and connects to the main road nearChandannagar.[50] Howrah also connects the metropolitan region to the national highways –NH 16 andNH 19, which are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via theKona Expressway.
TheSailen Manna Stadium, also known as the Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium, is a multi-use stadium that hosts sporting events forassociation football.Dumurjala Sports City is a multi-purpose sports complex at Dumurjala. Howrah Rifle Club is a sports shooting stadium located at Kadamtala.
^Census data of Howrah can be difficult to compare as the city is sometimes grouped together with theKolkata and other settlements as theKolkata metropolitan area. Further care needs to be taken to distinguish Howrah town from Howrah district. It is also worth noting that Bally Municipality was re-incorporated into Howrah in 2015
^Note that Howrah town census area was not stable until 1981
^"Howrah Municipal Corporation". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived fromthe original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved29 December 2008.
^"Other Municipal Corporation Acts". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived fromthe original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved29 December 2008.
^ab"About us page". Howrah Municipal Corporation. Archived fromthe original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved29 December 2008.
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