Raniganj

For other places with same/similar name, see Raniganj (disambiguation).
Raniganj
রাণীগঞ্জ
City
Raniganj

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 23°37′N 87°08′E / 23.62°N 87.13°ECoordinates: 23°37′N 87°08′E / 23.62°N 87.13°E
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Bardhaman
Elevation 91 m (299 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 122,891
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency Asansol
Vidhan Sabha constituency Raniganj
Website bardhaman.gov.in

Raniganj is a city and a municipality in Asansol subdivision in the Indian state of West Bengal.It can also be noted as a suburb of Asansol.

Geography

Raniganj is located at 23°37′N 87°08′E / 23.62°N 87.13°E. It has an average elevation of 91 metres (298 feet). The city has average summer temperatures in May ranging from lows of 24 °C (75.2 °F)to highs above 52 °C (125.6 °F)and winter lows usually are around 6 °C (42.8 °F). The Asansol-Durgapur region is composed of undulating latterite soil. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km (19 mi). For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.[1] The coalfields directly led to the first railway from Howrah being routed to Raniganj: the East Indian Railway line was opened to traffic in early 1855.

Nunia, a small stream about 40 km (25 mi) long has its origin near Adra village in the Salanpur area, flows through the Barabani area, past Asansol and joins the Damodar in the Raniganj area.[2]

Gram panchayats under Raniganj Panchayat Samiti are: Ratibati, Tirat, Egra, Amrasota, Jemari and Ballavpur.[3]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[4] Raniganj had a population of 122,891. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Raniganj has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 56%. In Raniganj, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

Raniganj has some old Bengali, Urdu and Hindi medium schools and also some new age English mediums schools. Old Bengali medium schools include Raniganj High School, Searsole Raj High School (established in 1856), Gandhi Memorial Girls School,Raniganj Shree Durga Vidyalaya, Urdu medium schools like Raniganj Urdu High School and Anjuman Urdu Girls High School. Hindi medium schools include Marwari Sanatan Vidyalaya (the biggest Hindi medium +2 level school in West Bengal) and Basanti Devi Goenka Vidyamandir. English medium schools include Gyan Bharti and RamKumar Khaitan Sikhsha Sadan. DAV has also established a branch of its schools in the year 1999.

Raniganj is also home to the biggest college in the district, Triveni Devi Bhalotia College.

Raniganj has also Lion Maliram Yashoda Devi Chanani School.Besides Triveni Devi Bhalotia College is biggest college of Bardhaman district it also contains the biggest laboratories among all colleges.

Economics

Raniganj is popular for coal mine, and related business have sprung up making raniganj as a very popular market place. Cluster of medical practicenor make raniganj a medical hub. Raniganj is also popular as a commercial business district serving as a link between supply to state capital Kolkata from northern parts of the country.

Company

Few of the prominent business houses are

  • sarvodaya group of companies
  • Reliable Fire Protection
  • Chota Shivaji biri
  • Bengal Oil Mill
  • Chit fund company
  • Multi Company
  • sai group

References

  1. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), (Bengali), Vol I, pp 14-15, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3
  2. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp 26-27
  3. ↑ "List of Pradhan of Gram Panchayats, District: Bardhaman" (PDF). Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  4. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.