Joka, Kolkata

Joka is a census town in Thakurpukur Mahestala CD Block and a neighbourhood in South West Kolkata, India. The neighbourhood is home to one of the premier management institutes of India: Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, which is also colloquially called Joka Management.

Administration

Joka and part of Pailan-Daulatpur (adjoining area of Joka) are now under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Joka Post Office is a small one with limited service capacity. Speedpost facility available only between 11AM and 12PM, Mon-Fri.

A high capacity stormwater pumping & drainage station has been commissioned at north bank of the Charial Canal by KMC in 2015 to solve the problem of rainwater drainage in Joka.

The Gardenreach-Joka KMC water-supply-line (66" diameter line)is under construction and expected to be completed by early 2017.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Joka had a total population of 9,302, of which 4,645 (50%) were males and 4,657 (50%) were females. Population below 6 years was 763. The total number of literates in Joka was 7,803 (91.38 % of the population over 6 years).[1]

The following Municipalities and Census Towns in South 24 Parganas district were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in 2011 census: Maheshtala (M), Joka (CT), Balarampur (CT), Chata Kalikapur (CT), Budge Budge (M), Nischintapur (CT), Uttar Raypur (CT), Pujali (M), and Rajpur Sonarpur (M).[2]

Transport

The old Joka Tram depot is now closed and tram services no longer exists.

Joka is well connected with the rest of Kolkata by the 4 lane Diamond Harbour Road (NH 117) and 4 lane James Long Sarani. The stretch of the Diamond Harbour Road between Joka and Taratala (10 km) is in pretty bad shape with many temporary diversions and narrowing to 2-lanes due to Metro Railway Construction and Gardenreach-Joka Water-line construction.

Joka-BBG Bagh Metro railway constructions are in full swing and expected to be operational by 2018. [3]

Modes of available transport includes Non AC Bus services: SW3 (Joka-Newtown Ecospace), C8 (Joka-Barasat), S-ORD-1 (Howrah Station – Amtala), S-ORD-2 (Howrah Station – Joka), Joka-Sealdah Minibus, Amtala-Howrah Minibus, 131 Joka – Ruby Hospital Minibus and many buses from Amtala to Kolkata.

AC Bus services: AC 12D (Joka-BBG Bagh-Howrah), AC 52 (Amtala-Joka-BBD Bagh-Howrah).

Autorickshaw, Uber Luxury Taxi, Ola Luxury Taxi and Ordinary Taxi ply in the area. There is an autorickshaw stand at Joka Diamond Park and a taxi Stand at Joka Genexx Valley Gate.

Economy

Banks: ICICI bank (Diamond Park Crossing), KBB (Diamond Park Crossing), SBI (IIM Joka Campus) ATMS: Several prominent ATMS around Diamond Park Crossing (3 ATMs), Genexx Valley Gate (1 ATM), IIM Joka (1 ATM) and many more around.

A recent spurt in construction activity in the area has been initiated by a 2000-home housing complex, Genexx Valley being constructed in the erstwhile industrial land belonging to Siemens. The complex is being promoted by Paharpur Cooling Towers Ltd. and the Pioneer Khaitan group. Other housing complexes include RiddhiSiddhi Housing, Diamond Park Housing (open, non-gated community) and upcoming DTC-Southern Heights Housing.

Wholesale Marketplace Metro Cash & Carry is constructing its second Kolkata Outlet at Joka.

Restaurants: Promise Fast Food Center (inside Genexx Valley), Herbs & Spices (inside Genexx Valley), Dominos Pizza.

Healthcare

Hospitals & Clinics: Bharat Sevashram Sangha Hospital (500 beds), ESIC Medical College Hospital Joka (380 beds), Kasturi Nursing Home, DM Hospital. Medicine Shops: A large number of medicine shops including Apollo Pharmacy at Diamond Park and many more near Kasturi Nursing Home, and one inside Genexx Valley Housing complex. There is one veterinary medicine shop near Diamond Park Crossing.

Culture

This locality houses one of the important centers of Bratachari movement.

Education

Reputed schools in the area include Vivekanada Mission School, Pailan World School and IIMC Kendriya Vidyalay.

Ministry of Labour & Employment has started a Medical College in this area (in the campus of erstwhile ESIC Joka Model Hospital) since 2013 (first batch MBBS admission). Annually 100 MBBS students get admitted through WBJEE and AIPMT.

References

  1. ↑ "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Metro to take 3 years". Business Standard. Retrieved 26 April 2016.

Coordinates: 22°27′32″N 88°17′50″E / 22.45889°N 88.29722°E / 22.45889; 88.29722

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