Howrah
{{About|the city in West Bengal, India|its namesake district|Howrah district|other uses}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Howrah
| native_name = {{nativename|bn|Haōṛa}}
| native_name_lang = bn
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Metropolis
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 275
| image_style =
| perrow = 1/2/2/2/1
| image1= Howrah bridge at night.jpg
| caption1 = The Howrah Bridge
|image2 =
Howrah Railway Station 02.jpg
|caption2= Howrah Junction railway station
|caption4= AJCB Indian Botanical Garden at Shibpur
|image4=AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden - Howrah 2018-04-01 2353.JPG
|image3=Campus Road - Bengal Engineering and Science University - Sibpur - Howrah 2013-06-08 9317.JPG
|caption3 = Inside IIEST Shibpur campus
|image5 =BelurMath kolkata.jpg
|caption5 =Belur Math
|image6 = Sabuj Sathi Krirangan - Howrah Indoor Stadium - Dumurjala - Howrah 2023-05-27 7780.jpg
|caption6 = Howrah Indoor Stadium at Dumurjala Sports City
|image7= Unitech - Gateway Cluster 1 - Residential Complex - Santragachi - Howrah 2014-04-06 0611.JPG
|caption7= Apartments in Santragachi
}}
| pushpin_map = India Kolkata#India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kolkata##Location in West Bengal##Location in India
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| coordinates = {{Coord|22|34|48|N|88|19|46|E|region:IN-WB|display=inline,title}}
| nickname = Sheffield of India{{cite book |last1=Bengal (India) |first1=West |title=West Bengal District Gazetteers: Calcutta and Howrah |year=1972 |publisher=State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers |page=202 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z8FFAQAAIAAJ&q=howrah+sheffield+w+of+india |language=en |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040559/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/West_Bengal_District_Gazetteers_Calcutta/z8FFAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=howrah+sheffield+w+of+india&dq=howrah+sheffield+w+of+india&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Shri Ram |title=Sheffield of India dying an untimely death |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/sheffield-of-india-dying-an-untimely-death/articleshow/336158732.cms |access-date=19 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=20 September 2001 |language=en |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011172707/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Sheffield-of-India-dying-an-untimely-death/articleshow/336158732.cms |url-status=live }}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = Division
| subdivision_type3 = District
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Emblem of West Bengal (Banglarmukh) before 2018.png}} West Bengal
| subdivision_name2 = Presidency
| subdivision_name3 = Howrah
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal Corporation
| governing_body = Howrah Municipal Corporation
| leader_party = TMC
| leader_title1 = Police commissioner
| leader_name1 = C Sudhakar, IPS{{cite news |title=Kolkata, Howrah, Salt Lake get new police commissioners ahead of assembly polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kolkata-howrah-salt-lake-get-new-police-commissioners-ahead-of-assembly-polls-101612628287021.html |access-date=1 March 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=6 February 2021 |language=en |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208084443/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kolkata-howrah-salt-lake-get-new-police-commissioners-ahead-of-assembly-polls-101612628287021.html |url-status=live }}
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = {{cite web |title=Howrah Corporation |url=https://www.myhmc.in/about-hmc/ |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110150339/https://www.myhmc.in/about-hmc/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=HMC |url=https://www.hmcgov.in/hmcweb/pdf/Mission%20and%20Vision.pdf}}{{cite news |title=Bally Municipality |url=http://www.ballymunicipality.org/1.php?page_id=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114655/http://www.ballymunicipality.org/1.php?page_id=2 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}
| area_total_km2 = 63.55
| area_rank =
| area_metro_km2 = 450.65
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 12
| population_total = 1077075
| population_metro = 2811344
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |title=Bally 2011 census |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226125913/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally |url-status=live }}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Bengali{{cite web |title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |website=Nclm.nic.in |publisher=Ministry of Minority Affairs |access-date=28 August 2019 |page=85 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017}}{{cite web |title=Fact and Figures |url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy |website=Wb.gov.in |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-date=14 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614062657/https://wb.gov.in/404-page.aspx?aspxerrorpath=%2Fportal%2Fweb%2Fguest%2F404-page.aspx |url-status=live }}
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = English
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 711101 to 711114, 711201 to 711204 and 711302 and 711409
| area_code = +91 33
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| iso_code =
| registration_plate = WB-11 to WB-14
| blank1_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = Howrah
| blank2_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = Howrah Uttar, Bally, Howrah Madhya, Howrah Dakshin, Shibpur
| website = {{URL|www.myhmc.in}}
}}
Howrah ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|aʊ|r|ə}}; {{IPA|bn|ˈɦao̯ɽa|lang}}; alternatively spelled as Haora) is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively Howrah lies within Howrah district and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision; it is also part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Howrah is an important industrial and transportation hub, and is also a gateway to Kolkata (and the rest of West Bengal) via Howrah railway station and Howrah Bridge.
Etymology
The name came from the word Haor—Bengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} The word itself was rather used in eastern part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).
History
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 of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578. As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli river) and perhaps a commercial port. This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood of Bator. Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.
In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=22}} 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. The deputation was successful except for these five villages. By 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.
On 11 October 1760, as a result of the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty with Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=25}} In 1787 the Hooghly district was formed and in 1819 the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=26}} The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=27}}
Demographics
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Howrah (2011){{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11396/download/14509/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|width=
|bars=
{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|82.72}}
{{bar percent|Islam|green|15.25}}
{{bar percent|Jainism|pink|0.75}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|1.28}}
}}
Howrah is 2nd most populated city in West Bengal (behind Kolkata).{{cite web |title=Haora City Population 2024 {{!}} Literacy and Hindu Muslim Population |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/246-haora.html |website=www.census2011.co.in |access-date=12 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Asansol City Population 2024 {{!}} Literacy and Hindu Muslim Population |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/200-asansol.html |website=www.census2011.co.in |access-date=12 June 2024}} {{As of|2011}} Indian census, Howrah had a population of {{#statements:population}} with {{#statements:number of households}} households.Census data of Howrah can be difficult to compare as the city is sometimes grouped together with the Kolkata and other settlements as the Kolkata 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{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814065726/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally |archive-date=14 August 2019 |url-status=live |title=Bally | India City, Shopping Hub, Tourist Spot | Britannica }}
In the 1896 census of British India, Howrah had a population of {{formatnum:84069}}, which grew to {{formatnum:157594}} in the 1901 census. 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%.
class="wikitable sortable"
|+Howrah town population by yearNote that Howrah town census area was not stable until 1981 | ||||
Year | Population | % increase | Males | Females |
---|---|---|---|---|
1896 | {{formatnum:84069}} | |||
1901 | {{formatnum:157594}} | 99,904 | 57,690 | |
1911 | {{formatnum:179006}} | 13.59 | 114,566 | 64,440 |
1921 | {{formatnum:195301}} | 9.10 | 128,472 | 66,829 |
1931 | {{formatnum:224873}} | 15.14 | 145,120 | 79,753 |
1941 | {{formatnum:379292}} | 68.67 | 246,959 | 132,333 |
1951 | {{formatnum:433630}} | 14.33 | 268,412 | 165,218 |
1961 | {{formatnum:532692}} | 22.84 | 325,493 | 207,199 |
1971 | {{formatnum:737877}} | 38.52 | 439,457 | 298,420 |
1981 | {{formatnum:744429}} | 0.89 | 421,636 | 322,793 |
1991 | {{formatnum:950435}} | 27.67 | 528,396 | 422,039 |
2001 | {{formatnum:1007532}} | 6.01 | 547,068 | 460,464 |
2011 | {{formatnum:1077075}} | 6.90 | {{formatnum:561220}} | {{formatnum:515855}} |
Geography
=Climate=
Howrah has a Tropical wet-and-dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). The summers here have a good deal of rainfall, while the winters have very little. The temperature averages 26.3 °C. Precipitation averages 1744 mm.{{Cite web |url=https://en.climate-data.org/location/969448/ |title=Howrah climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Howrah weather averages - Climate-Data.org |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015114554/https://en.climate-data.org/location/969448/ |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=live}}
Howrah has been ranked 40th best "National Clean Air City" (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India.{{Cite web |date=7 September 2024 |title=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024 |url=https://prana.cpcb.gov.in/ncapServices/robust/fetchFilesFromDrive/Swachh_Vayu_Survekshan_2024_Result.pdf |website=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024}}
{{Weather box
|location=Howrah, 1981–2010
|metric first=Yes
|single line=Yes
|Jan high C=25.8
|Feb high C=29.2
|Mar high C=33.5
|Apr high C=35.3
|May high C=35.3
|Jun high C=33.8
|Jul high C=32.4
|Aug high C=32.2
|Sep high C=32.4
|Oct high C=32.2
|Nov high C=30.1
|Dec high C=27.0
|year high C=31.6
|Jan low C=14.1
|Feb low C=17.8
|Mar low C=22.4
|Apr low C=25.3
|May low C=26.4
|Jun low C=26.8
|Jul low C=26.5
|Aug low C=26.4
|Sep low C=26.0
|Oct low C=24.1
|Nov low C=19.7
|Dec low C=15.2
|year low C=22.6
|Jan precipitation mm=10.4
|Feb precipitation mm=20.9
|Mar precipitation mm=35.2
|Apr precipitation mm=58.9
|May precipitation mm=133.1
|Jun precipitation mm=300.6
|Jul precipitation mm=396.0
|Aug precipitation mm=344.5
|Sep precipitation mm=318.0
|Oct precipitation mm=180.5
|Nov precipitation mm=35.1
|Dec precipitation mm=3.2
|year precipitation mm=
|Jan rain days=1.1
|Feb rain days=1.7
|Mar rain days=2.2
|Apr rain days=3.4
|May rain days=7.0
|Jun rain days=12.8
|Jul rain days=17.7
|Aug rain days=16.9
|Sep rain days=13.9
|Oct rain days=7.4
|Nov rain days=1.3
|Dec rain days=0.5
|source 1=India Meteorological Department{{cite web |url=https://city.imd.gov.in/citywx/localwx.php |title=Howrah climate 1981-2010 |access-date=17 October 2020}}
}}
Civic administration
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.{{cite news |title=Calcutta High Court orders Bengal government to immediately hold Howrah Municipal polls |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/calcutta-high-court-orders-bengal-government-to-immediately-hold-howrah-municipal-polls-1502949334.html |access-date=6 September 2021 |work=The Statesman |date=29 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905215825/https://www.thestatesman.com/india/calcutta-high-court-orders-bengal-government-to-immediately-hold-howrah-municipal-polls-1502949334.html |url-status=live }} The Howrah City Police is responsible for law enforcement in the city.
=History=
File:Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah by Francis Frith (1).jpg (1850s-1870s)]]
Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.{{cite web |url=http://wbdma.gov.in/htm/DIS%5CMUNI_COR_Howrah.htm |title=Howrah Municipal Corporation |publisher=Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal |access-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317203441/http://www.wbdma.gov.in/HTM/DIS/MUNI_COR_Howrah.htm |archive-date=17 March 2012}} From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city.{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=28}} During 1882–83, Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah. As per the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation in 1984.{{cite web |url=http://www.wbdma.gov.in/htm/MUNI_Legislation_OtherMunicipalCorporationActs.htm |title=Other Municipal Corporation Acts |publisher=Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal |access-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810200753/http://wbdma.gov.in/htm/MUNI_Legislation_OtherMunicipalCorporationActs.htm |archive-date=10 August 2009}} The corporation area was divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor. The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area. 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.{{cite news |title=HMC sets up 'Mayor's Cop' to monitor civic amenities |journal=Millennium Post |url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/hmc-sets-up-mayors-cop-to-monitor-civic-amenities-118977 |first=Pritesh |last=Basu |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115092225/http://www.millenniumpost.in/hmc-sets-up-mayors-cop-to-monitor-civic-amenities-118977 |url-status=live }}
=Other administrative offices=
Howrah also hosts the temporary administrative office of the state of West Bengal. The office of the Chief Minister of state had been traditionally posted at the Writers' Building, however owing to renovation of the building, the administration has been occupying the Nabanna building.{{cite news |title=Kolkata's iconic Writer's Building gets ready for a facelift |url=http://www.theweekendleader.com/Culture/2014/london-dreams.html |publisher=The Weekend Leader |date=4 October 2014 |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819163201/http://www.theweekendleader.com/Culture/2014/london-dreams.html |url-status=live }}
Development and growth
Even though it is one of the largest cities in the state, Howrah witnessed urbanisation in an unplanned manner.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion and pollution.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ |title=Howrah, a Study in Urbanization |last=Mukherjee |first=Alok Kumar |year=1992 |publisher=Chatterjee Publishers |isbn=9788185089089 |language=en |access-date=2 June 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040539/https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
The city contains a few unlicensed and unregulated residential areas or slums. The name of the novel City of Joy, which has been often the name the Kolkata metropolis been called, is actually based on one such slum of Howrah.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-city-of-joy-an-ocean-of-human-misery-1189306.html |access-date=22 September 2019 |title=Review of the book 'City of Joy', authored by Dominique Lapierre |website=Independent.co.uk |date=5 December 1998 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922110513/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-city-of-joy-an-ocean-of-human-misery-1189306.html |url-status=live }}
However, recently, work has been done on broadening the National Highways and several local roads.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} 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,{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/kona-truck-terminal-in-limbo/cid/938760 |title=KONA TRUCK TERMINAL IN LIMBO |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en |access-date=8 November 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108164748/https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/kona-truck-terminal-in-limbo/cid/938760 |url-status=live }} Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}. 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.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/howrah-to-become-a-mega-city/articleshow/38260786.cms |title=Howrah to become a mega city |newspaper=The Times of India |date=12 July 2014 |language=en |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907073316/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/howrah-to-become-a-mega-city/articleshow/38260786.cms |url-status=live }}
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is the statutory planning and development authority for Howrah, as the city lies within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA).
Economy
Often termed as Sheffield of the East, Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry. In 1823, Bishop Reginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders".{{Harvnb|O'Malley|Chakravarti|1909|p=165}} There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah stationMark Holmström, p.137 However these businesses are declining in the 21st century. There are many foundries in Liluah area.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
Burn Standard Company, a major company in heavy engineering industry, has its oldest manufacturing unit located in Howrah.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbunl.com/co_burn.html |title=Group Companies: Burn Standard Co. Ltd. |publisher=Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited |access-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225160816/http://www.bbunl.com/co_burn.html |archive-date=25 December 2008 }} Ramkrishna Forgings one of the largest forging company in India has one of its plant located at Liluah in Howrah. The Howrah plant of Shalimar 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.shalimarpaints.com/about_fac.html |title=Shalimar Paints:About us – Manufacturing Facilities |access-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115152538/http://www.shalimarpaints.com/about_fac.html |archive-date=15 January 2009 }} The city houses one of the major manufacturing units of Tarsons Products.{{Cite web |title=Tarsons Products: Diversified portfolio & strong distribution network to facilitate its growth across geographies |url=https://mintgenie.livemint.com/news/markets/tarsons-products-diversified-portfolio-strong-distribution-network-to-facilitate-its-growth-across-geographies-151673427995452 |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=Mintgenie |language=en}} The jute industry suffered during the Partition of Bengal (1947), when the larger jute production area became part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The foundry industry saw a decline in demand due to growth in steel industry.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
Transport
Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, road links to National Highways, as well as its transport connections to Kolkata. Apart from the bridges connecting the cities, there are also ferry services between various jetties.
=Rail=
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 second busiest rail station in India, along with being the largest railway station in terms of number of platform. It was established in 1854 when a railway line was constructed connecting the city to the coalfields of Bardhaman. Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South 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 and West Midnapore. Within Howrah city itself, there are twelve more stations, the most prominents being Santragachi and Shalimar.
=Metro rail=
{{see also|Green Line (Kolkata Metro)}}
Howrah is served by the Green 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 at Howrah Station and Howrah Maidan. These stations are open for public. The Metro currently connects Howrah Maidan Station on one side to Esplanade Station on the other. Howrah & Mahakaran stations lying in between.The Esplanade to Sealdah section is still under construction as of 13 September 2024 estimated to be completed by 2025.
=Roads=
The total road length in Howrah is approximately {{cvt|300|km|mile}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.hmc.org.in/home/engineering.php |title=Engineering Department |publisher=Official website of the Howrah Municipality |access-date=31 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006123707/http://www.hmc.org.in/home/engineering.php |archive-date=6 October 2008 }} Howrah hosts a branch of the Grand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration. The road starts at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden{{Cite web |url=http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/PDF/Newsletter%2015(1).pdf |title=ENVIS Newsletter |access-date=20 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319212040/http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/PDF/Newsletter%2015(1).pdf |archive-date=19 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} and connects to the main road near Chandannagar. Howrah also connects the metropolitan region to the national highways – NH 16 and NH 19, which are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via the Kona Expressway.
=Bridges=
File:Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu.jpg]]
Howrah and Kolkata are separated by the Hooghly River/Ganges and connected by four bridges across the river. These are the:
- Howrah Bridge, also known as Rabindra Setu
- Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the second Hooghly Bridge
- Vivekananda Setu, also known as Bally Bridge
- Nivedita Setu, also known as Second Bally Bridge
The cantilever style Howrah Bridge and the cable-stayed Vidyasagar Setu are counted among the longest bridges in the world within their types.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aisc.org/Content/ContentGroups/Documents/NSBA5/20_NSBA_LongestSpans.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601114245/http://www.aisc.org/Content/ContentGroups/Documents/NSBA5/20_NSBA_LongestSpans.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 June 2002 |title=National Steel Bridge Alliance: World's Longest Bridge Spans |last=Durkee |first=Jackson |publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc |date=24 May 1999 |access-date=4 January 2009}}
=Other transport=
There are ferry services available, between various jetties in Howrah and Kolkata, which was introduced in the 1970s.{{cite web |url=http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/admin/newgovtpublications/upload/Chap-Chapt2.pdf |title=East-West Kolkata Metro Corridor: EIA and SIA (Chapter 2) |publisher=Government of West Bengal |access-date=21 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041100/http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/admin/newgovtpublications/upload/Chap-Chapt2.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=live }} The jetties on Howrah side are at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Shalimar, Bandhaghat, Belur Math, Bally and Nazirganj.
Howrah is also served by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located in Dumdum, Kolkata. The Airport will soon be connected to Howrah via Metro service which is presently under-construction.
Neighbourhoods
{{see also|:Category:Neighbourhoods in Howrah}}
{{OSM Location map
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| label2=Santragachi
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|mark-description2=
| label3=Belur
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| label4=Ramrajatala
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|mark-description5=
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Howrah has many various neighbourhoods, the most notable being Shibpur, Santragachi, Belur, Salkia, Ramrajatala, Liluah, Howrah Maidan and Bally.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} Shibpur hosts the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, containing the Great Banyan tree, Avani Riverside Mall is also located here and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur.{{cite web |url=https://www.iiests.ac.in/index.php/institute/iiest-institute/about |access-date=21 September 2019 |title=IIEST official website}} Santragachi has a large railway station as well as the Santragachhi Jheel, a large lake that attracts migratory birds during winter.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} Belur hosts Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Ramrajatala hosts a famous Rama Temple.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}.
Near Howrah Station is the slum of Pilkhana which was the basis of the famous book and film "City of Joy". Liluah host some of India's oldest railway factories and is also the educational Hub of Howrah.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}.
Education
{{Main|Education in Howrah}}
{{see also|List of high schools in Howrah|:Category:Education in Howrah}}
The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur is a public engineering and research institution. It is the fourth oldest engineering institution in India, and is an institute of national importance.{{cite web |title=E-Gazette published by the Ministry of Law and Justice of the Government of India regarding the National Institutes of Technology, science education and research amendment of 2014 |url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/158429.pdf |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102230458/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/158429.pdf |url-status=live }}
Howrah's schools are either run by the state government or by private institutions. The medium of instruction is Bengali, English or Hindi. Schools are affiliated to the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
Howrah Zilla School, established in 1845, is the only Governmental school in Howrah.
Howrah's first vernacular Bengali medium school, established in 1857, was Santragachi Minor School: currently the school is running as Santragachi Kedarnath Institution, Howrah.{{cite book |last=Alok Kumar Mukherjee |title=Howrah, a Study in Urbanization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ |year=1991 |page=99 |publisher=Chatterjee Publishers |isbn=9788185089089 |access-date=2 June 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040539/https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}
Sports
The Sailen Manna Stadium, also known as the Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium, is a multi-use stadium that hosts sporting events for association football. Dumurjala Sports City is a multi-purpose sports complex at Dumurjala. Howrah Rifle Club is a sports shooting stadium located at Kadamtala.
Notable people
{{Main|List of people from Howrah}}
{{See also|:Category:People from Howrah}}
Gallery
{{Commons category|Howrah}}
File:Ramakrishna Belur Math, Howrah.jpg|Belur Math, headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission
File:Great banyan tree kol.jpg|The Great Banyan tree at Shibpur Botanic Garden
File:Rampuja.jpg|Rampuja at Ramrajatala
File:Vidyasagar Setu Kolkata West Bengal.jpg|Second Hooghly Bridge (Vidyasagar Setu)
File:Howrah Bridge-Rabindra Setu.jpg|Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu)
File:Howrah Head Post Office - Howrah 050034.JPG|Howrah Head Post Office- 711101
File:Nabanna - HRBC Building - Vidyasagar Setu Toll Plaza - Howrah 2014-07-11 7378.JPG|Nabanna H.R.B.C Building
File:Howrah Municipal Corporation - Howrah 050032.JPG|Howrah Municipal Corporation Head Office
File:Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium - Howrah Maidan Area - Howrah 2013-04-28 6587.jpg|Sailen Manna Stadium (Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium)
File:Nivedita Setu as seen from Bally Bridge.jpg|Nivedita Setu as seen from Bally Bridge
File:Durga Temple - Dutta Chowdhury Family - Andul - Howrah 2012-03-25 2930.JPG|Dutta Chowdhury family's Durga mandap, Andul.
File:Indian Railways Museum in Howrah 06.jpg|Howrah Rail Museum
File:Demonical powers of the past, may be fairy-tale demons - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg|Howrah Rail Museum
File:Avani Riverside Mall Howrah1.jpg|Avani Riverside Mall, Shibpur
Footnotes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last=Bhattacherje |first=S. B. |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGVSvXuCsyUC&pg=SL1-PA273 |year=2009 |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. |isbn=978-81-207-4074-7}}
- {{cite book |last1=Gunguly |first1=C. K. |last2=Battarcharya |first2=S. K. |title=The Design Methodology and Construction Technique of 457 m Span Cable Stayed Bridge (Dead Load Composite) at Vidyasagar Setu |editor1-last=Dayaratnam |editor1-first=P |work=Cable stayed, supported, and suspension bridges |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pb67nkDk4FMC&pg=PA113 |year=2000 |publisher=Universities Press (India) |pages=113–4 |isbn=978-81-7371-271-5}}
- {{cite book |last=Holmström |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_Y8AAAAIAAJ&q=howrah+industry&pg=PA137 |title=Industry and Inequality: The Social Anthropology of Indian Labour |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1984 |isbn=0-521-26745-5 |access-date=29 December 2008}}
- {{cite book |last=Lach |first=Donald Frederick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wz23Oeg4ZdIC&q=betor+howrah&pg=PA473 |title=Asia in the Making of Europe |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=1977 |isbn=0-226-46731-7 |access-date=28 December 2008}}
- {{Cite book |last1=O'Malley |first1=L. S. S. |last2=Chakravarti |first2=Monmohan |year=1909 |title=Bengal District Gazetteers: Howrah |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55774 |publisher=Bengal Secretariat Book Depot}}
- {{cite book |last=Sen |first=Samita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-0KxZ0mji3QC&q=howrah+industry&pg=PA23 |title=Women and Labour in Late Colonial India: The Bengal Jute Industry |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1999 |isbn=0-521-45363-1 |access-date=29 December 2008}}
External links
{{Sister project links|auto=1|d=y|n=y}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080404050105/http://howrah.gov.in/Templates/Howrah%20history.htm History of Howrah from India Government Site]
- [http://www.howrah.gov.in Howrah Municipal Corporation Site]
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/station/map/1 Satellite View of Howrah]
- [https://www.traintimetable.in/delhi-allahabad-varanasi-patna-howrah.html Howrah Train Time Table]
{{Geographic location|Centre=Howrah|North=Serampore and Chandannagar|Northeast=Barrackpore and Barasat|East=Kolkata|Southeast=Rajpur Sonarpur, Baruipur and Jaynagar Majilpur|South=Maheshtala, Budge Budge and Pujali|Southwest=Uluberia|West=Ghatal|Northwest=Arambagh}}
{{Howrah}}
{{Howrah District}}
{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}
{{Kolkata neighbourhoods}}
{{Howrah topics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{West Bengal}}
Category:Cities and towns in Howrah district