Uttarpara or Uttarpara Kotrung is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).[4] Uttarpara is located at 22°40′N 88°21′E / 22.67°N 88.35°E / 22.67; 88.35, within 10 km from Kolkata, the capital of the state of West Bengal. It is located along the Hooghly river, across from the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Uttarpara is home to the Uttarpara Jayakrishna Public Library, Asia's oldest free public library.

Uttarpara
Uttarpara Kotrung
City
College Ghat, Uttarpara
College Ghat, Uttarpara
Uttarpara is located in Kolkata
Uttarpara
Uttarpara
Location in West Bengal, India
Uttarpara is located in West Bengal
Uttarpara
Uttarpara
Uttarpara (West Bengal)
Uttarpara is located in India
Uttarpara
Uttarpara
Uttarpara (India)
Coordinates: 22°40′N 88°21′E / 22.67°N 88.35°E / 22.67; 88.35
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DivisionBurdwan
DistrictHooghly
Established1853
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyUttarpara Kotrung Municipality
 • Municipality ChairpersonDilip Yadav (AITC) [1]
Area
 • Total
11.75 km2 (4.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
159,147
 • Density14,000/km2 (35,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali[2][3]
 • Additional officialEnglish[3]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
712258
Telephone code+91 33
Vehicle registrationWB
Lok Sabha constituencySerampore
Vidhan Sabha constituencyUttarpara
Websitewww.uttarparamunicipality.in
Map of Uttarpara Kotrung Municipality

Geography

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5km
3miles
Hooghly
River
Raghunathpur
CT
Kanaipur
CT
Basai
CT
Nabagram Colony
CT
Nawapara
CT
Bamunari
CT
Rishra
CT
Dakshin
Rajyadharpur
CT
Belumilki
CT
Uttarpara Kotrung
M
Konnagar
M
Rishra
M
Serampore
M
Baidyabati
M
Cities and towns in the Sreerampur Uttarpara CD Block in Srirampore subdivision in Hooghly district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town,
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Uttarpara is at the southernmost part of Hooghly district. It is separated from Bally, Howrah by Bally Canal (Bally Khal). The old name of Uttarpara was "North Bally". A bridge was constructed in 1846 over Bally Canal to connect Uttarpara with Bally.[5]

Demographics

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Pancharatna Temple of Uttarpara

As per 2011 Census of India Uttarpara had a total population of 159,147 of which 81,410 (51%) were males and 77,737 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 11,760. The total number of literates in Uttarpara Kotrung was 133,610 (90.65% of the population over 6 years).[6]

As of 2001 India census,[7] Uttarpara Kotrung had a population of 150,204. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Uttarpara Kotrung has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82% and female literacy is 76%. In Uttarpara Kotrung, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Kolkata Urban Agglomeration

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The following Municipalities and Census Towns in Hooghly district were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in 2011 census: Bansberia (M), Hugli-Chinsurah (M), Bara Khejuria (Out Growth), Shankhanagar (CT), Amodghata (CT), Chak Bansberia (CT), Naldanga (CT), Kodalia (CT), Kulihanda (CT), Simla (CT), Dharmapur (CT), Bhadreswar (M), Champdani (M), Chandannagar (M Corp.), Baidyabati (M), Serampore (M), Rishra (M), Rishra (CT), Bamunari (CT), Dakshin Rajyadharpur (CT), Nabagram Colony (CT), Konnagar (M), Uttarpara Kotrung (M), Raghunathpur (PS-Dankuni) (M), Kanaipur (CT) and Keota (CT).[8]

Languages

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Languages spoken in Uttarpara Kotrung city (2011)[9]

  Bengali (73.9%)
  Hindi (23.3%)
  Odia (0.61%)
   Santali (0.44%)
   Marwari (0.30%)
  Others (1.31%)

Economy

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Hindustan Motors

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Uttarpara was home to India's first car factory, Hindustan Motors, which produced the legendary Ambassador cars.[10] The plant was closed in 2014 when production of the Ambassador was scrapped.

Titagarh Wagons

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Titagarh Wagons is considered one of the leading wagon manufacturer in India. After the acquisition of sick Italy-based Firema Trasporti, the company encouraged the modernisation of its coach making plant at Uttarpara, which in present scenario is capable of producing ultra-modern India-made aluminum metro coaches.[4]

Hiranandani Group

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The Hiranandani Group entered into an MoU in the state of West Bengal to set up logistics and hyperscale data center park in the region. The group signed an MoU to acquire a 100-acre land at Uttarpara, Kolkata from Hindustan Motors to set up an integrated logistics and hyperscale datacentre park by Hiranandani group companies GreenBase and Yotta respectively. The combined investment by the group and their customers is estimated to cross Rs 10,000 crore.[7]

Transport

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Roadways

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State Highway 6/ Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road) passes through Uttarpara.[11]

Bus service

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Railways

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Uttarpara railway station is situated in the Howrah-Bardhaman main line.[12] It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system.

Culture

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Uttarpara Joykrishna Library
 
Uttarpara C. A. Math Durga Puja, 2022

Uttarpara boasts of a rich cultural heritage. The town once boasted of sylvan peace, beautiful buildings, epitome of great architectural works and steeped in cultural heritage. Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt spent his last days in Uttarpara Joykrishna Library. Uttarpara is also the home of numerous temples and is a destination site for tourists during Durga Puja for its majestic Balaka pandal.[13]

Education

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Colleges

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High school

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Police

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Uttarpara police station has jurisdiction over Uttarpa-Kotrung and Konnagar Municipal areas and parts of Sreerampur Uttarpara CD Block.[14][15] The police station is under Chandannagar Police Commissionerate.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Trinamul set to keep Uttarpara". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  2. ^ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Base Map of Kolkata metropolitan area". Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Importance of Bally Khal".
  6. ^ "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b "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.
  8. ^ "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  9. ^ 2011 census data censusindia.gov.in
  10. ^ Hindustan Motors website Archived 3 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  12. ^ "37815 Howrah Bardhaman Jn Local". Time Table. indiarailinfo. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  13. ^ Chattopadhyay, Amit. "Uttarpara - History, Sociology, Culture and lots more". uttarpara.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  14. ^ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Hooghly". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Hooghly District Police". West Bengal Police. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
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