Bhilai
| Bhilai भिलाई | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan city | |
| Nickname(s): Steel City of India | |
  Bhilai | |
| Coordinates: 21°13′N 81°23′E / 21.21°N 81.38°ECoordinates: 21°13′N 81°23′E / 21.21°N 81.38°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Chhattisgarh |
| District | Durg |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Devendra Yadav (congress) |
| Elevation | 452 m (1,483 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Rank | 70 |
| • Metro | 1,064,000 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, Chhattisgarhi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 490 0xx |
| Vehicle registration | CG-07 |
| Website | www.bhilainagarnigam.com |
Bhilai is a city in the district of Durg, Chhattisgarh, in eastern central India.[1] The city is located 32 kilometres (20 mi) west of the state's capital, Raipur, on the main Howrah–Mumbai rail line, and National Highway 6. Bhilai is known for the Bhilai Steel Plant, the only manufacturer of rails in the country used by Indian Railways.
Etymology
It is believed that the name "Bhilai" has been coined from the Bhil tribe which originally inhabited this region and continues to dwell in the nearby forests till date. As per another story, the city adopted the name of a nearby village Bhilai Gaon. [2]
History
Not much is known about the past of this town. Bhilai was ruled by the Haihaivanshi Rajput clan in the 12th century. The Rajputs were defeated by the Bhonsle dynasty in 1740 and the city became a part of the Maratha empire. In 1853, the East India Company overthrew the Marathas in the region.
The city remained a part of the British Empire until India gained independence on August 15th, 1947.[2] Post independence, the city shot into prominence following the establishment of the Bhilai Steel Plant. The plant was constructed with aid from the Soviet Union. Work on the plant began in 1950 and was finally completed in 1959. Bhilai Steel Plant was inaugurated by the first Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Demographics
In the 2011 census, Durg-Bhilainagar Urban Agglomeration had a population of 1,064,077.[3] Durg-Bhilainagar Urban Agglomeration includes: Durg (M Corp.), Bhilai Nagar (M Corp.), Dumar dih (part) (OG), Bhilai Charoda (M), Jamul (M), Kumhari (M), Ahmed Nagar (Camp-02), Farid Nagar and Utai (NP).[4]
Climate
The climate is pleasant and mild in the winter (minimum temperature 10 °C, 50 °F). There are medium rains in the monsoon season. The summers are very hot and dry, with maximum temperature 48 °C (118.4 °F), and minimum humidity.
Notable people
- Anurag Basu, movie director
- Rajesh Chauhan, former Indian cricketer
- Saba Anjum Karim, hockey player
- Omkar Das Manikpuri, Indian stage and film actor
- Teejan Bai, exponent of Pandavani
- Amit Sana, runner-up in Indian Idol 1
- Anupama Bhagwat, sitar player
- Arundhati Bhattacharya, first female chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI)
- Suzanna Mukherjee, film and television actress
See also
References
- ↑ Census van 1 maart 2001 (via archive.org)
- 1 2 "History of Bhilai, Historical Aspects of Bhilai, Origin of Bhilai". www.bhilaionline.in. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ↑ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ↑ "Constituents of urban Agglomerations Having Population 1 Lakh & above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
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