Dhanbad is the second-most populated city in the Indian state ofJharkhand[7] afterJamshedpur[8] and a major financial hub of Jharkhand. In terms of economy, Dhanbad has the largest economy in the state of and is often referred to as the 'economic capital of Jharkhand'.[9] Dhanbad is also an emerging center for manufacturing industries. TheDhanbad district is known for its cultural heritage and has few tourist attractions, making it a well-rounded destination.[10] Dhanbad ranks as the39th largest city in India and is the33rd largest million-plus urban agglomeration in India. TheDhanbad railway division generates the highest revenue[11] in India. Dhanbad shares its land borders with thePaschim Bardhaman district and thePurulia district ofWest Bengal andBokaro,[12] and theGiridih andJamtara districts ofJharkhand. The city is called the 'Coal Capital of India' for housing one of the largest coal mines in the country.[13] The prestigious instituteIndian School of Mines (nowIIT Dhanbad) is situated in Dhanbad.[14] Apart from coal, it has also grown in information technology.[15]
Dhanbad is the 96th fastest growing city in the world, according to theCity Mayors Foundation.[16] It is the 56th cleanest city of India, according to the 2019Swachh Survekshan cleanliness survey.[17] It showed a great change in the city which was considered the dirtiest city in the 2018 Swachh Survekshan.[18]Dhanbad Municipal Corporation works for increasing green cover in the city.[19]
Among the rail divisions of Indian Railway, Dhanbad Rail Division is the largest revenue generator.[15] Dhanbad is ranked as the top city in India with the highest4G mobile phone network availability in India by a survey ofOpensignal.[20]
Dhanbad's economy revolves primarily around coal mining and related industries. It is home to severalcoal mines, including some of the largest in India. This extensive coal reserve has led to the establishment of various industries such as steel plants, power plants, and coal washeries, contributing significantly to the region's economic prosperity. Dhanbad is suffering from a century old undergroundcoal seam fire and that continues to burn relentlessly, causing land subsidence, landslides and severe environmental and health impacts.[citation needed]
Dr. Ambedkar talking to people as the Labour Minister in the Viceroy's Executive Council at coal mines, Dhanbad
The present district used to be a part ofManbhum region and was occupied by Mundari tribals in the wilderness of South undividedBihar. In the seventh century A.D. some information is available from the account of the travels ofHieun Tsang. These accounts narrate the existence of a powerful kingdom which comprised the district and adjoining areas, ruled bySasanka.[21] Manbhum was one of the districts of theEast India during theBritish Raj.
The region has thick forests, with rich mineral resources, and had a mixed demographic profile with people from different religious andsocial groups, includingadivasis, particularly theSantals and theMundas before the city was established.[22] After thePartition of India, the district became a part ofBihar state, and upon re-organization of the Indian states in the mid-1950s, the district became a part of theWest Bengal.Purulia district was carved out of the district of Manbhum.[22]
In the Settlement Report for Manbhum (1928) it was stated that no rock inscriptions, copper plates or old coins were discovered and not a single document of copper plate or palm leaf was found, during the Survey and Settlement operations. The oldest authentic documents produced were all on paper and barely even a hundred years old.[23] Dhanbad city was in Manbhum district from 1928 up to 1956.[23] However, on 24 October 1956, Dhanbad district was carved out of Manbhum district with Dhanbad as District headquarter[24] on the recommendation of theStates Reorganization Commission vide notification 1911.
This was done under the commitment and leadership of journalist, Satish Chandra. In the year 2006, Dhanbad celebrated 50 years of being an independent district and city. From 1956 to 14 November 2000, it was under Bihar. At present, it is inJharkhand, after the creation of the state on 15 November 2000.[25] The discovery of rich deposits of coal in the region caused the city to flourish financially, but also bought notorious coal-mafia and gang wars[26] which continues to this day with areas of city likeWasseypur being most affected by the conflict.[26]
Dhanbad has an average elevation of 227 m (745 ft). Its geographical length (extending from north to south) is 15 miles (24 km) and the breadth (stretching across east to West) is 10 miles (16 km). It shares its boundaries withWest Bengal in the eastern and southern part,Giridih andDumka in the North andBokaro District in the west. Dhanbad comes under theChota Nagpur Plateau.
TheDamodar is a major river of theChota Nagpur Plateau. It rises inPalamu and flows eastward between the plateaus ofRanchi andHazaribag. It is joined by the Bokaro, the Konar and theBarakar rivers.[27] TheDamodar enters Dhanbad district at its confluence with theJamuria, a stream which marks the western boundary of Dhanbad withHazaribagh District. Further east, the Damodar is joined by the Katri River which rises in the foothills below Parasnath and traverses through the coal-field area.[28] TheBarakar, which forms the northern boundary of the district, traverses about 77 km. It flows in south westerly direction up toDurgapur and then south till it joins the Damodar nearChirkunda.
Dhanbad features a climate that is transitional between ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen:Cwa) and atropical wet and dry climate (Aw).[29] Summer starts from the first week of March and ends in mid-July. The peak temperature in summer can reach 48 °C. Dhanbad also receives heavy rainfall. In winter, the minimum temperature remains around 8 °C with a maximum of 25 °C.
As of 2011[update]census, Dhanbad City had a population of 1,162,472.[5] Males (614,722) constitute 53% of the population and females (547,750) 47%. It has asex ratio of 891. Dhanbad has an average literacy rate of 79.47%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 86.14% and female literacy is 71.96%. 10.57% of the population is under 5 years of age.[5]
Dhanbad has one of the oldest and largest markets in the region and is also a centre of large scale industries. It is known for itscoal mines and industrial establishments; the city is surrounded by about 112 coal mines[33] with a total production of 27.5 million tonnes and an annual income of 700 crore rupees through coal business. There are a number of coal washeries there.
Dhanbad city and district is considered aBJP stronghold with majority of its MPs MLA's being of the party since the 1990s. Chandra Shekhar Agrawal of BJP is the mayor; otherwise known as the first citizen, ofDhanbad Municipal Corporation. He won by the margin of 42,525 votes.[47][48][49]
Double-decker train standing on the platform of Dhanbad railway stationCoal Train in Dhanbad yard
Dhanbad Rail Division comes underEast Central Railway zone.Grand Chord rail-line passes through Dhanbad junction, it connectsHowrah andNew Delhi. CIC rail line starts from Dhanbad and ends atSingrauli inMadhya Pradesh. There is one more rail line passing through the district, it starts atKharagpur and ends atGomoh, this rail line comes underSouth Eastern Railway. Dhanbad is connected with almost all states through rail network. Each and every train through this has a stop at Dhanbad. Even Sealdah Duronto has a stoppage atDhanbad. Other important railway stations in Dhanbad city extremities are Bhaga Junction, Bhuli, Dokra Halt and Pradhankunta Junction.
On 1 October 2011, India's firstACdouble-decker train was flagged off to connectHowrah and Dhanbad. With this India joins the league of Europe and North America that run multi-deck trains. As of October 2011, the train runs daily except Sunday, departing from Howrah at 8:30 am to arrive at Dhanbad at 12:45 pm, and on return trip it departs Dhanbad at 6:30 pm to arrive at Howrah at 10:40 pm. It has a maximum permissible speed of 110 kilometres (68 mi)/hr with stops atBardhaman,Durgapur,Asansol,Barakar andKumardhubi on both legs of the route. This new AC design has several features namelystainless steel body, high-speedEurofima design bogies with air springs and other safety-features.[55][56][57]
Dhanbad Airport is used for private small aircraft and helicopters, currently there is no public air-link at the airport. The nearest public airports to Dhanbad are:
Cricket is the most popular sport in Dhanbad, followed byFootball. Dhanbad is one of the centres where34th National Games[60] was organised. Cricket Stadiums at present are atTata Steel Stadium Digwadih, Nehru Stadium Jealgora and Railway Stadium whereRanji Trophy matches are organised.[61] Women's International Cricket were also played atRailway Stadium.Football matches of national level were played atRailway Stadium but now it is converted into Cricket Stadium by the Railway management.[62] Dhanbad officially became the second town in the state to boast a cricket stadium with floodlights, with the inauguration of floodlights at Tata Digwadih Stadium.[63]
Doordarshan relay station is present in Dhanbad near Koyla Nagar. There are some local news channels in the city such as,Antarkatha which are creative media houses which broadcast on local cable on Dhanbad,Jharia,Bokaro,Chatra,Hazaribag,Koderma, Ramgarh etc.[citation needed]
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