Cities and towns in West Bengal
West Bengal is the state with the second highest population density in India. The state is dotted with several large and medium cities and towns. Historically, the main source of income of the people of West Bengal has been farming, and, as a consequence, the state previously had a large rural population skew. At the turn of the 20th century, however, the role of industry in West Bengal increased substantially, leading to a population move into urban areas.[1]
In 1947, when India gained independence, the erstwhile British Indian province of Bengal was divided into two parts: the eastern region formed East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971, and the western part joined India as the state of West Bengal. Scores of refugees from the eastern part came to West Bengal, leading to the start of new urban areas, and contributing to the congestion of already established cities like Kolkata.[2]
Current scenario[]
According to the 2011 Census of India, 128 cities and towns in West Bengal[a] are classified into the following categories:[7][8]
Municipal Corporation[]
Sl. No. | Name |
---|---|
1 | Asansol |
2 | Bidhannagar |
3 | Chandannagar |
4 | Durgapur |
5 | Howrah |
6 | Kolkata |
7 | Siliguri |
Municipality[]
Sl. No. | Name |
---|---|
1 | Alipurduar |
2 | Arambag |
3 | Ashoknagar Kalyangarh |
4 | Baduria |
5 | Baharampur |
6 | Baidyabati |
7 | Bally[5][6] |
8 | Balurghat |
9 | Bangaon |
10 | Bankura |
11 | Bansberia |
12 | Baranagar |
13 | Barasat |
14 | Bardhaman |
15 | Barrackpore |
16 | Baruipur |
17 | Basirhat |
18 | Beldanga |
19 | Bhadreswar |
20 | Bhatpara |
21 | Birnagar |
22 | Bishnupur |
23 | Bolpur |
24 | Budge Budge |
25 | Buniadpur |
26 | Chakdaha |
27 | Champdani |
28 | Chandrakona |
29 | Contai |
30 | Dainhat |
31 | Dalkhola |
32 | Dankuni |
33 | Darjeeling |
34 | Dhulian |
35 | Dhupguri |
36 | Diamond Harbour |
37 | Dinhata |
38 | Domkal |
39 | Dubrajpur |
40 | Dum Dum |
41 | Egra |
42 | English Bazar |
43 | Falakata[3][4] |
44 | Gangarampur |
45 | Garulia |
46 | Gayespur |
47 | Ghatal |
48 | Gobardanga |
49 | Guskara |
50 | Habra |
51 | Haldia |
52 | Haldibari |
53 | Halisahar |
54 | Haringhata |
55 | Hugli-Chuchura |
56 | Islampur |
57 | Jalpaiguri |
58 | Jangipur |
59 | Jaynagar Majilpur |
60 | Jhalda |
61 | Jhargram |
62 | Jiaganj Azimganj |
63 | Kaliaganj |
64 | Kalimpong |
65 | Kalna |
66 | Kalyani |
67 | Kamarhati |
68 | Kanchrapara |
69 | Kandi |
70 | Katwa |
71 | Kharagpur |
72 | Kharar |
73 | Khardaha |
74 | Koch Bihar |
75 | Konnagar |
76 | Krishnanagar |
77 | Kshirpai |
78 | Kurseong |
79 | Madhyamgram |
80 | Maheshtala |
81 | Mainaguri[3][4] |
82 | Mal |
83 | Mathabhanga |
84 | Mekliganj |
85 | Memari |
86 | Midnapore |
87 | Murshidabad |
88 | Nabadwip |
89 | Naihati |
90 | Nalhati |
91 | New Barrackpur |
92 | North Barrackpur |
93 | North Dumdum |
94 | Old Malda |
95 | Panskura |
96 | Panihati |
97 | Pujali |
98 | Purulia |
99 | Raghunathpur |
100 | Raiganj |
101 | Rajpur Sonarpur |
102 | Ramjibanpur |
103 | Rampurhat |
104 | Ranaghat |
105 | Rishra |
106 | Sainthia |
107 | Santipur |
108 | Serampore |
109 | Sonamukhi |
110 | South Dumdum |
111 | Suri |
112 | Taki |
113 | Tamluk |
114 | Tarakeswar |
115 | Titagarh |
116 | Tufanganj |
117 | Uluberia |
118 | Uttarpara Kotrung |
Notified Area[]
Sl. No. | Name |
---|---|
1 | Cooper's Camp |
2 | Mirik |
3 | Taherpur |
Major cities[]
Rank | Name | District | Type[9] | Population 2011[10] | Male | Female | Population below 5 yrs |
Literacy rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kolkata | Kolkata, North 24 Parganas South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly |
UA | 14,112,536 | 7,319,682 | 6,792,854 | 1,063,394 | 88.33 |
2 | Asansol | Paschim Bardhaman | UA | 1,243,008 | 647,831 | 595,177 | 132,560 | 80.00 |
3 | Siliguri | Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri | UA | 701,489 | 359,750 | 341,739 | 72,252 | 82.05 |
4 | Durgapur | Paschim Bardhaman | UA | 581,409 | 301,700 | 279,709 | 51,930 | 87.70 |
5 | Bardhaman | Purba Bardhaman | UA | 347,016 | 177,055 | 169,961 | 25,069 | 88.62 |
6 | English Bazar | Malda | UA | 324,237 | 175,073 | 149,164 | 44,186 | 81.32 |
7 | Baharampur | Murshidabad | UA | 305,609 | 156,489 | 149,120 | 23,182 | 88.38 |
8 | Habra | North 24 Parganas | UA | 304,584 | 154,861 | 149,723 | 23,023 | 91.03 |
9 | Kharagpur | Paschim Medinipur | UA | 293,719 | 150,487 | 143,232 | 25,130 | 85.61 |
10 | Shantipur | Nadia | UA | 288,718 | 147,299 | 141,419 | 24,006 | 82.67 |
11 | Dankuni | Hooghly | UA | 249,840 | 128,139 | 121,701 | 22,956 | 85.69 |
12 | Dhulian | Murshidabad | UA | 239,022 | 119,151 | 119,871 | 45,483 | 60.06 |
13 | Ranaghat | Nadia | UA | 235,583 | 119,578 | 116,005 | 18,575 | 86.10 |
14 | Haldia | Purba Medinipur | City | 200,762 | 104,852 | 95,910 | 21,122 | 89.06 |
15 | Raiganj | Uttar Dinajpur | UA | 199,758 | 104,966 | 94,792 | 22,028 | 81.71 |
16 | Krishnanagar | Nadia | UA | 181,182 | 91,583 | 89,599 | 13,663 | 88.09 |
17 | Nabadwip | Nadia | UA | 175,474 | 90,810 | 84,664 | 13,049 | 84.57 |
18 | Medinipur | Paschim Medinipur | City | 169,127 | 85,362 | 83,765 | 14,365 | 90.01 |
19 | Jalpaiguri | Jalpaiguri | UA | 169,013 | 85,226 | 83,787 | 14,522 | 86.03 |
20 | Balurghat | Dakshin Dinajpur | UA | 164,593 | 82,466 | 82,127 | 10,349 | 91.66 |
21 | Basirhat | North 24 Parganas | UA | 144,891 | 73,491 | 71,400 | 12,578 | 86.88 |
22 | Bankura | Bankura | City | 138,036 | 70,734 | 67,302 | 10,760 | 87.27 |
23 | Chakdaha | Nadia | UA | 132,855 | 67,135 | 65,720 | 9,829 | 90.95 |
24 | Darjeeling | Darjeeling | UA | 132,016 | 65,839 | 66,177 | 7,382 | 93.17 |
25 | Alipurduar | Alipurduar | UA | 127,342 | 64,898 | 62,444 | 10,545 | 89.16 |
26 | Purulia | Purulia | UA | 126,894 | 65,334 | 61,560 | 12,116 | 81.53 |
27 | Jangipur | Murshidabad | UA | 122,875 | 62,734 | 60,141 | 16,299 | 75.71 |
28 | Bangaon | North 24 Parganas | City | 110,668 | 56,416 | 54,252 | 8,452 | 90.25 |
29 | Cooch Behar | Cooch Behar | UA | 106,760 | 53,803 | 52,957 | 7,910 | 91.75 |
List of urban areas (district-wise)[]
District | Headquarters | Municipal Corporations[8] | Municipalities[8] | Census Towns[11] | Special Urban Units |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alipurduar | Alipurduar | -- | Alipurduar, Falakata | Alipurduar Railway Junction, Bholar Dabri, Chechakhata, Jaygaon, Paschim Jitpur, Sobhaganj, Uttar Kamakhyaguri, Uttar Latabari | -- |
Bankura | Bankura | -- | Bankura, Bishnupur, Sonamukhi | Barjora, Beliatore, Khatra | -- |
Birbhum | Suri | -- | Bolpur, Dubrajpur, Nalhati, Rampurhat, Sainthia, Suri | Ahmadpur | -- |
Cooch Behar | Cooch Behar | -- | Dinhata, Koch Bihar, Haldibari, Mathabhanga, Mekliganj, Tufanganj | Bhangri Pratham Khanda, Guriahati, Khagrabari, Kharimala Khagrabari | -- |
Dakshin Dinajpur | Balurghat | -- | Balurghat, Gangarampur, Buniadpur | -- | -- |
Darjeeling | Darjeeling | Siliguri | Darjiling, Kurseong, Mirik | Bairatisal, Cart Road, Pattabong Tea Garden, Uttar Bagdogra | -- |
Hooghly | Chinsurah | Chandannagar | Arambag, Bansberia, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Champdani, Hugli-Chuchura, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Tarakeswar, Uttarpara Kotrung | Amodghata, Badhagachhi, Bamunari, Barijhati, Begampur, Chak Bansberia, Chikrand, Dakshin Rajyadharpur, Dharmapur, Kanaipur, Kharsarai, Kodalia, Kulihanda, Madhusudanpur, Mrigala, Monoharpur, Nabagram Colony, Pairagachha, Pandua, Purba Tajpur, Raghunathpur, Rishra, Shankhanagar, Simla, Singur, Garalgachha, Krishnapur, Raghunathpur | -- |
Howrah | Howrah | Howrah | Bally, Uluberia | Andul, Ankurhati, Argari, Bagnan, Balaram Pota, Bally (Jagachha), Bankra, Banupur, Beldubi, Bhandardaha, Bikihakola, Bipra Noapara, Chakapara, Chamrail, Dakshin Jhapardaha, Dhuilya, Domjur, Eksara, Gabberia, Hatgachha, Jagadishpur, Jala Kendua, Jhorhat, Kalara, Kantlia, Kesabpur, Khalia, Khalor, Khantora, Mahiari, Makardaha, Manikpur, Mansinhapur, Nalpur, Natibpur, Naupala, Nibra, Panchla, Panchpara, Paniara, Podara, Raghudebbati, Ramchandrapur, Sahapur, Salap, Sankrail, Santoshpur, Sarenga, Tentulkuli, Uttar Pirpur | -- |
Jalpaiguri | Jalpaiguri | -- | Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, Mainaguri, Mal | Banarhat Tea Garden, Gairkata | -- |
Jhargram | Jhargram | -- | Jhargram | -- | -- |
Kalimpong | Kalimpong | -- | Kalimpong | -- | -- |
Kolkata | Kolkata | Kolkata | -- | -- | -- |
Malda | Malda City | -- | English Bazar, Old Malda | Aiho, Kachu Pukur, Kendua, Gazole, Chanchal, Kaliachak, Sujapur, Manikchak, Ratua, Harish Chandrapur, Bamongola, Habibpur | -- |
Murshidabad | Baharampur | -- | Baharampur, Beldanga, Dhulian, Jangipur, Jiaganj Azimganj, Kandi, Murshidabad | Anup Nagar, Aurangabad, Chachanda, Charka, Dafahat, Dhusaripara, Sagardighi, Farrakka Barrage Township, Fatellapur, Ghorsala, Goaljan, Gora Bazar, Harharia Chak, Jagtaj, Jot Kamal, Kankuria, Kasimbazar, Khodarampur, Paschim Punropara, Sahajadpur, Serpur, Srikantabati, Uttar Mahammadpur | -- |
Nadia | Krishnanagar | -- | Birnagar, Chakdaha, Gayespur, Haringhata, Kalyani, Krishnanagar, Taherpur, Nabadwip, Ranaghat, Santipur, Cooper's Camp | Aistala, Bablari Dewanganj, Baruihuda, Char Brahmanagar, Char Maijdia, Darappur, Jagadanandapur, Karimpur, Kshidirpur, Madanpur, Badkulla, Nasra, Parbbatipur, Phulia, Satigachha | -- |
North 24 Parganas | Barasat | Bidhannagar | Ashoknagar Kalyangarh, Baduria, Bangaon, Baranagar, Barasat, Barrackpore, Basirhat, Bhatpara, Dum Dum, Gobardanga, Habra, Halisahar, Garulia, Kamarhati, Kanchrapara, Khardaha, Madhyamgram, Naihati, New Barrackpur, North Barrackpur, North Dumdum, Panihati, South Dumdum, Taki, Titagarh | Bamangachhi, Bara Bamonia, Chandpur, Dhakuria, Dhanyakuria, Garshyamnagar, Guma, Ichhapur Defence Estate, Jafarpur, Jetia, Kaugachhi, Maslandapur, Muragachha, Nebadhai Duttapukur, Nokpul, Patulia, Raigachhi, Ruiya, Sadpur, Sonatikiri, Talbandha, Thakurnagar | Barrackpur Cantonment, New Town |
Paschim Bardhaman | Asansol | Asansol, Durgapur | Jamuria, Kulti, Raniganj | Amkula, Andal, Bahula, Ballavpur, Banshra, Baska, Belebathan, Bhanowara, Bilpahari, Chak Bankola, Chapui, Chelad, Chhora, Chittaranjan, Dalurband, Debipur, Dhandadihi, Dignala, Haripur, Harishpur, Hindusthan Cables Town, Jemari, Jemari (J.K. Nagar Township), Kajora, Kanksa, Kenda, Kendra Khottamdi, Khandra, Konardihi, Kunustara, Mahira, Mandarbani, Murgathaul, Nabgram, Palashban, Pangachhiya (B), Parashkol, Parasia, Prayagpur, Raghunathchak, Ramnagar, Ratibati, Sankarpur, Sarpi, Siduli, Sirsha, Ukhra | -- |
Paschim Medinipur | Medinipur | -- | Chandrakona, Ghatal, Kharagpur, Kharar, Kshirpai, Medinipur, Ramjibanpur | Balichak, Deuli, Durllabhganj, Kharagpur Railway Settlement | -- |
Purba Bardhaman | Bardhaman | -- | Bardhaman, Dainhat, Guskara, Kalna, Katwa, Memari | Dhatrigram, Gopinathpur, Hatsimla, Panuhat, Patuli, Srirampur, Sukdal, Uttar Goara | -- |
Purba Medinipur | Tamluk | -- | Contai, Egra, Haldia, Panskura, Tamluk | Bahirgram, Dakshin Baguan, Goasafat, Kakdihi, Kolaghat | -- |
Purulia | Purulia | -- | Jhalda, Puruliya, Raghunathpur | Manbazar, Adra, Arra, Balarampur, Barabazar, Chapari, Hijuli, Nabagram, Par Beliya, Santaldih | -- |
South 24 Parganas | Alipore | -- | Baruipur, Budge Budge, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar Majilpur, Maheshtala, Pujali, Rajpur Sonarpur | Abhirampur, Alipur, Amtala, Asuti, Baharu, Balarampur, Barkalikapur, Basanti, Benjanhari Acharial, Bhangar Raghunathpur, Bhasa, Bidyadharpur, Bilandapur, Birlapur, Bishnupur, Bora Gagangohalia, Bowali, Buita, Chak Alampur, Chak Baria, Chak Enayetnagar, Chak Kashipur, Champahati, Chanddandaha, Chata Kalikapur, Dakshin Raypur, Danga, Daulatpur, Ganye Gangadharpur, Garia, Gaur Daha, Gobindapur, Hanspukuria, Hariharpur, Kalikapur, Kalikapur Barasat, Kalua, Kanganbaria, Kanyanagar, Khodar Bazar, Komarhat, Kriparampur, Magrahat, Mallikpur, Maricha, Mathurapur, Nadabhanga, Nahazari, Naridana, Nimpith, Nischintapur, Panchghara, Patharberia, Petua, Poali, Radhanagar, Ramchandrapur, Ramchandrapur, Rameswarpur, Ramkrishnapur, Raynagar, Sahebpur, Salipur, Samali, Solgohalia, Tulshighata, Uttar Durgapur, Uttar Kalas, Uttar Raypur, Uttarparanij | -- |
Uttar Dinajpur | Raiganj | -- | Dalkhola, Islampur, Kaliaganj, Raiganj | Kas
ba, Nachhratpur Katabari |
-- |
See also[]
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "India at a glance: Population Density". Census of India, 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
- ^ "List of Million Plus Cities of India". Census of India. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ a b c "Push for two new municipalities in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar". Telegraph India. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ a b c "রাজ্যে ২ নয়া পুরসভা". Bartaman (in Bengali). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Civic polls in Kol & Howrah on Dec 19". Millennium Post. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Bally Municipality: হাওড়া পুরসভা থেকে আলাদা হয়ে গেল বালি". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "Category, Year of Establishment, Area, SC, ST and total population in ULBs in West Bengal" (PDF). Department of Municipal affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
- ^ "Urban Agglomerations and Cities" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "List of Census Towns, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- Cities and towns in West Bengal
- West Bengal-related lists