Durgapur | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Ruhr of India | |
  Durgapur  Durgapur  Durgapur | |
| Coordinates:23°33′N87°19′E / 23.550°N 87.317°E /23.550; 87.317 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | Paschim Bardhaman |
| Established | Late 1950s |
| Founded by | Bidhan Chandra Roy (former Chief Minister of West Bengal) |
| Named after | Durgacharan Chattopadhyay |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | |
| • Mayor | Anindita Mukherjee |
| • Legislature | |
| • Executive | Officers
|
| • Judiciary | |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 154.20 km2 (59.54 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 771.28 km2 (297.79 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 4th in West Bengal |
| Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
| • Rank | 4th in West Bengal |
| • Urban | 726,000 |
| • Metro | 1,209,372 |
| Demonym(s) | Durgapurbashi, Durgapurians |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Bengali[3][4] |
| • Additional official | English[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 713201–713217 |
| Telephone code | +91 0343 |
| Vehicle registration | WB-39 /WB-40 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Bardhaman–Durgapur |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Durgapur Purba Durgapur Paschim |
| Climate | Aw |
| Transit | Highway:NH-19 Grand Trunk Road AH1 Railway:DGR Airport:Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport |
| City Development Authority | Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) |
| Website | durgapurmunicipalcorporation |
Durgapur (Bengali pronunciation:[durgapur]), is an industrial hub and aplanned urban agglomeration in theIndianstate ofWest Bengal.[5] It stands on the northern bank of theDamodar river and is located inPaschim Bardhaman district.[6][7] Durgapur is a major centre for producingsteel and manufacturingtrain wheels in India.[8][9] Over the past few years[which?], this city has also been developed as a hub for theIT industry in India.[10] The city was planned by Bidhan Chandra Roy,Joseph Allen Stein andBenjamin Polk in 1955.[11] Durgapur is the only city in eastern India to have an operationaldry dock. Durgapur has been nicknamed the 'Ruhr of India'.[12]
Stone hunting equipment used by hunters from the prehistoric period has been excavated from Durgapur which shows that the human settlement of thr Durgapur area dates back to around 5000 BC.[13] The Damodar-Ajay River Valley witnessed the growth of settled life simultaneously during theHarappa-Mohenjo Daro civilization.[14]
Around 1765, Gopinath Chattopadhyay secured a lease for a portion of Jangalmahal (now part of Durgapur) from the Maharaja of Bardhaman.[14] This area later became known as Gopinathpur Mouja. Gopinath worked to transform this dense forest into a habitable area. His descendant, Durgacharan Chattopadhyay, continued the effort and established a new colony in the present Sagarbhanga region of Durgapur. In 1793, he erected a Kali temple, followed by a Shiva temple in 1803. The Zamindar house in Sagarbhanga stands as a testament to Durgacharan’s substantial contributions.
In 1855, when the East India Company laid the railway line between Bardhaman and Andal, the station was named Durgapur, a tribute to Durgacharan’s efforts by the local community. This marked the formalization of the name ‘Durgapur,’ gaining significance as a railway hub in the country.[14]
As the colonial era unfolded, Durgapur became a strategic outpost along theGrand Trunk Road. British administrative records narrate the city’s transformation from a hamlet to a bustling settlement.
Following India’s independence in 1947, Durgapur underwent a remarkable metamorphosis under the visionary leadership ofBidhan Chandra Roy, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal. The city was chosen as the site for the second integrated steel plant in India, setting the stage for rapid industrialization and urbanization.
Durgapur is located at23°33′N87°19′E / 23.55°N 87.32°E /23.55; 87.32. It has an average elevation of 65 metres (213 ft).
Durgapur is in thePaschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, on the bank of theDamodar River, just before it enters the alluvial plains of Bengal. Thetopography is undulating. The coal-bearing area of theRaniganj coalfields lies just beyond Durgapur; some parts intrude into the area. The area was deeply forested until the end of 20th century and some streaks of the indigenoussal andMahua forests can still be seen scantily.
Durgapur has been ranked 35th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.[15]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Durgapur | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Durgapur experiences a somewhat transitional climate between the tropical wet and dry climate of Kolkata and the more humid subtropical climate further north. Summers are extremely hot and dry, lasting from March to the middle of June, with average daily temperatures exceeding 45 °C. They are followed by the monsoon season with heavy precipitation and somewhat lower temperatures. Durgapur receives most of its annual rainfall of around 1,320 mm during this season. The monsoon is followed by a cold, dry winter from November to January. Temperatures are cold, with average daily temperatures dropping near 9 °C. There is a short autumn at the end of October and a short spring in February, both of which have relatively moderate temperatures of around 20 °C. Due to the heavy rainfall it has received in recent years, for almost five months of heavy rainfall every year, locals often refer to the city as "Chhota Cherapunji" (named after the main city ofCherapunji).
Aurobindo Police Station, located in Durgapur Steel Township, opposite to Office of Commissioner of Police (Asansol-Durgapur) has jurisdiction over parts ofAndal CD Block. The area covered is 87 km2 and the population covered is 292,841. It has following investigation centres under it.[16][17]
| Investigation Centre | Address |
|---|---|
| B-Zone Investigation Centre | Marconi Avenue, B-Zone |
| City Centre Investigation Centre | Bengal Ambuja, City Centre |
| Faridpur Investigation Centre | Near Gandhi More |
| Waria Investigation Centre | Near DSP Main Gate, Waria |
| DTPS Investigation Centre | Old Colony, DVC-DTPS |
Coke Oven police station, located near the Durgapur Railway Station, has jurisdiction over parts of the Durgapur municipal corporation. The area covered is 49 km2 and the population covered is 136,181.
Durgapur Women PS has jurisdiction over the Durgapur Subdivision
New Township police station, located in MAMC township, has jurisdiction over parts of the Durgapur municipal corporation and theFaridpur Durgapur CD Block. The area covered is 23 km2, and the population covered is 160,411. It has a police Outpost located in Bidhannagar under its jurisdiction.[16][17]
In the 2011 census, Durgapur Urban Agglomeration had a population of 566,937 out of which 294,349 were male and 272,588 were female. The 0–6 year population was 50,512. Effective literacy rate of the population was 87.70.[18] Durgapur Municipal Corporation included and 3census towns:Bamunara,Arra, and partlyAndal.[19]
In the 2011 census, Durgapur Municipal Corporation had a population of 581,409 out of which 301,700 were male and 279,709 were female. The 0–6 year population was 51,930. Effective literacy rate of the population was 87.84.[20]
According to Census of India 2011, Hinduism is the predominant religion in this city, followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and others. Out of the 5,66,517 people living in Durgapur (Municipal Corporation); 5,19,122 are Hindus (91.63%), 35,923 are Muslims (6.34%), 1889 are Christians (0.36%), 2346 are Sikhs (0.44%), 513 are Buddhists, 382 are Jains, 906 are other religions, and 5436 (1.04%) did not state their religion.[21]
At the time of the 2011 census, 82.99% of the population spokeBengali, 11.15%Hindi, 1.84%Santali, and 1.03%Urdu as their first language.[22]
Durgapur is the biggest industrial hub of West Bengal and was planned as an integrated industrial city. It is the most developed city in West Bengal in terms of technology, infrastructure, and economy next to Kolkata and contributes a substantial amount to the economy of the state of West Bengal. It lies on the banks ofDamodar River and near to the coalfields of Raniganj. Durgapur was a dream of former prime minister of India,Jawaharlal Nehru and chief minister of West Bengal,Bidhan Chandra Roy.[23] The 1948-foundedDamodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is essential to the growth of the area.[24] The first project in Durgapur was Damodar Valley Corporation'sDurgapur Barrage which attracted many public sector units.Durgapur Steel Plant was the first PSU established in the region in 1955 with the help of U.K which was later undertaken bySAIL. Later, an alloy plant was established by Hindustan Steel Ltd. in 1965 which was also acquired by SAIL. From 1951 to 2019, industrial units in the region grew from 46 to 430, with engineering units rising from 18 to 66 and basic metal units booming from 2 to 122.[24] The area's economic strength is driven by its rich coal deposits, excellent transportation, and skilled labor force, making it a key economic hub in West Bengal and Eastern India.
Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation (MAMC) was established in 1964 with the help and support fromUSSR (now closed but reviving with J.V of Bharat Earth Movers,Coal India & DVC).[25] Hindustan Fertilisers Corporation (HFC) was a major PSU which produced fertilizer but got closed down (now RCF showed interest to reopen it).[26] Bharat Opthlamic Glass Limited (BOGL) was established in 1972 used to manufacture electronic valves and other electronic components. Its closure was approved in 2006.
Durgapur Chemicals Limited (DCL) was set up by the Government of West Bengal in 1963 to boost the chemical needs of the state. DCL started its journey in 1968 and was involved in commercial production ofPhenol,phthalic anhydride,monochloro benzene,pentachloro Phenol,caustic soda,chlorine andhydrochloric acid.[citation needed] Although not closed, but the Government of West Bengal decided to disinvest in DCL in 2016 as it had increasingly become a sick industry.[citation needed]
Durgapur Projects Limited (DPL) was the firstthermal power station in the city. It was commissioned by theGovernment of West Bengal in 1960. It has eight production units of which only two are currently operational. The whole city of Durgapur and the surrounding areas get electricity supply from DPL. It is currently owned byWest Bengal Power Development Corporation.[citation needed]
Major Indian and international MNCs have their production facilities in Durgapur which includesGE Power India Limited (formerly ACC Babcock Limited which was later taken over byAlstom),Scania andKomatsu (in partnership withLarsen & Toubro),Philips Carbon Black, Sankey Wheels (a unit of GKW),Birla Cement (earlier Durgapur Cement Ltd.), Graphite India Limited, etc.
Durgapur is also an emerging IT and real estate hub. The Government of West Bengal's Webel IT Park houses some of well known as well as startup software companies generating employment opportunities for the youth of the region. It is set to develop many proposed residential areas like DLF's Durgapur Township.[27] Companies likeTata Consultancy Services (a major Indian multinational IT company) etc. have their branch office and back office respectively in the city.[citation needed]
Durgapur has a well-defined hierarchical road system comprising approximately 1,780 km of roads, categorized as arterial, sub-arterial, and collector roads.[28]
These are generally 7-meter-wide roads serving local traffic within neighborhoods.
Planned areas such as the DSP Township, SEPCO, MAMC, and Bidhan Nagar follow grid or modular patterns with wide roads and proper junctions. In contrast, unplanned areas like Benachity, Bhiringi, Fuljhore, and Palashdiha exhibit organically developed and often narrower road layouts with limited connectivity and lower right-of-way.[28]
The study reports that arterial roads in the planned areas have wider right-of-way (up to 50 m) compared to unplanned areas (as narrow as 15 m). Roads in industrial areas are generally 2-lane undivided roads with inadequate width for the volume of heavy vehicles.[28]
Durgapur is a gateway to the districts ofBankura,Birbhum (Bolpur,Rampurhat,Suri), andPurulia.NH 19 (old numbering: NH 2) passes through the city jurisdiction andSH 9 originates from Muchipara in the city.NH 14 (old numbering NH 60) passes through the north-western suburb ofPandabeswar and finally passes throughRaniganj and heads away towardsOdisha. It is one of the few cities that has anAsian Highway (AH) passing directly through the city jurisdiction. TheAH1 linksJapan withTurkey, throughKorea,China,Vietnam,Cambodia,Thailand,Myanmar,India,Bangladesh,Pakistan,Afghanistan, andIran.
Durgapur has three bus termini at Durgapur Railway Station, Prantika (Prantika-I and II), and City Center. Within the city, private mini-buses operate from Durgapur Rly. Station to Prantika, via City Centre, Muchipara and various other routes within the city. Muchipara is an important bus stop in Durgapur, from which all buses are available.
Intra City Routes within the city are as follows:
| Route Name | Origin & Destination | Areas Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 8B | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Sagarbhanga, Muchipara, Bidhannagar, Fuljhore, Sepco (Only bus stop) |
| 8A | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Birbhanpur, Angadpur, DTPS, Faridpur, Benachity. |
| A - Zone | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Gamon Bus stop, Garrage, DPL bus stop, 1st AB bus stop, City Centre, DSP Township. |
| B - Zone | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Gamon Bus stop, Garrage, DPL bus stop, 1st AB bus stop, City Centre, Kabiguru, SEPCO Township, IQ - City, DSP Township. |
| 54 - Feet | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Gamon Bus stop, Garrage, DPL bus stop, 1st AB bus stop, City Centre, Gandhi More, 54 Feet Area. |
| MAMC | Durgapur Railway Station - Prantika | [29]Gamon Bus stop, Garrage, DPL bus stop, MAMC Township, Mamra, Sepco (Only bus stop). |
| Ichhapur, Ukhra | Prantika - Ichhapur. Prantika - Ukhra. | [29]Dhandabag, Ichhapur, Ukhra. |
| Bijra | Prantika - Bijra | [29]Bijra. |
Auto-rickshaws ply between City Center, Benachity, William Kery, Chandidas, Mamra, Bidhannagar, Railway Station, and other parts of the city in a number of routes. They also act as Feeder Routes to ensure last Mile connectivity. Pre-paid taxis are available in the city from railway stations. Additionally, online cab services likeOla,Uber, etc., and bike taxi services likeRapido are available within the city.
Only one bus is available for the Kalyani-Bansberia route and it departs from Prantika-II Bus Terminus at 4:40 am and fromKalyani at 10 am every day.
Various private and government buses ranging from sleepers to premium Volvos are available from City Center Bus Terminus and Station Bus Terminus forKolkata,Asansol,Barddhaman,Barakar,Bhubaneswar,Digha, and other nearby cities. Durgapur is the headquarters ofSBSTC which provides government bus services to Kolkata, Haldia, Digha, and Bankura, from Durgapur and Asansol. Private buses are available for Asansol, Barakar, Bardhaman, Bolpur, Bishnupur, Chittaranjan, Deoghar, Digha, Illambazar, Jhargram, Kalna, Katwa, Kharagpur, Krishnanagar, Medinipur, Nabadwip, Nalhati, Purulia, Rampurhat, Siuri, Tatanagar, and Tarakeswar, among others.
The city is home to a domestic airport, theKazi Nazrul Islam Airport. It is India's first private-sector Greenfield airport. It is located at a place called Andal which is roughly 15 kilometres from Durgapur's City Center Bus Terminus.[30] And an old DSP Airport at Bijra near IQ city.
An air force station atPanagarh (Military Airfield), belonging to the Indian Air Force, is used as a base for aC-130J Hercules squadron.[31]
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The administrative setup came in stages. In 1837, when Bankura district was formed, the Durgapur area was part of it. In 1847, the Raniganj subdivision was formed with three police stations – Raniganj, Kanksa, and Neamatpur – and it was made a part of the Bardhaman district. In 1906, the subdivisional headquarters was shifted to Burdwan, and the subdivision renamed accordingly. In 1910, the police stations in Asansol subdivision were Asansol, Ranigunj, Kanksa, Faridpur, and Barakar. On 14 April 1968, theDurgapur subdivision was carved out of Asansol subdivision. In 2011, theAsansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) was formed by the state government.
Durgapur is home toNational Institute of Technology, Durgapur,[32] an autonomous institution in eastern India ofnational importance. It is one of the 31N.I.T.s in the country.N.I.T. Durgapur is one of the eight old Regional Engineering Colleges established in 1956.
Durgapur Government College is a premier government degree college not only in the home district of Paschim Barddhaman but also in the neighbouring districts of Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum. It was established on 15 September 1970, and was affiliated to theUniversity of Burdwan, which later got affiliated toKazi Nazrul University.
TheCentral Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (also known as CSIR-CMERI Durgapur or CMERI Durgapur) is a publicengineeringresearch and development institution in Durgapur,West Bengal, India. It is a constituent laboratory of the IndianCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).[33] The institute is dedicated to work in themechanical and allied engineering disciplines.[34]
TheNational Power Training Institute (Also known as NPTI(ER) and formerly known as PETS, Durgapur) is an institute under Ministry of Power, Government of India which offers postgraduate education in the field of power plants. This institute is also associated with several industrial bodies for imparting training to plant personnel.[35]
Dr. B.C. Roy Engineering College,Bengal College of Engineering and Technology,Sanaka Education Trusts Group of Institutions,NSHM Knowledge Campus,Durgapur Institute of Advanced Technology and Management and The Aryabhatta Institute of Engineering & Management are private engineering colleges which offer (B.Tech) in engineering and other degrees, includingBBA,BCA,B.Pharm, and others. They are affiliated toMaulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT).Durgapur Women's College andMichael Madhusudan Memorial College are general degree colleges affiliated toKazi Nazrul University.
Netaji Subhas Open University is a state open university for imparting distance education. It is modelled on theOpen University,UK and theIGNOU, and offers courses in different disciplines of graduate and post-graduate courses.
IQ City Medical College andGouri Devi Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital are two colleges which offer (MBBS) medical degree and paramedical courses. They are affiliated toWest Bengal University of Health Sciences. Durgapur Paramedical College is another college which offers both a diploma and degree in paramedical courses.
Durgapur houses a large number of government aided and public schools in addition to twoKendriya Vidyalaya andJawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (under the Government of India). Notable private schools include: theSt. Xavier's School andGuru Tegh Bahadur Public School.
Durgapur has several electronic media houses: Express News, DSTV (owned by DSP), India Hood Durgapur, Durgapur Darpan,Anandabazar Patrika is published from Ghutgoria, near Durgapur, in Bankura District. Samay Sanket is another newspaper published from Durgapur. Durgapur does not have any F.M. stations, however,All India Radio 100.3 FM, 92.7 Big FM, 93.5 Red FM, and Radio Mirchi 95 FM have stations atAsansol,[36] and serve both Asansol and Durgapur.
.jpg)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)IIEST20202 was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).IIEST20203 was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Durgapur travel guide from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to Durgapur | |
|---|---|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
