Image of Harrison Street Strand Road and Burra Bazaar in Kolkata (Calcutta) in 1945, shortly before the urban expansion of 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

  1. ^ Announcement of 2 new municipalities was made in October 2021.[3][4] Bally Municipality was re-established on 12 November 2021.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "India at a glance: Population Density". Census of India, 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  2. ^ "List of Million Plus Cities of India". Census of India. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Push for two new municipalities in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar". Telegraph India. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "রাজ্যে ২ নয়া পুরসভা". Bartaman (in Bengali). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Civic polls in Kol & Howrah on Dec 19". Millennium Post. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Bally Municipality: হাওড়া পুরসভা থেকে আলাদা হয়ে গেল বালি". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  7. ^ "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. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Urban Agglomerations and Cities" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  11. ^ "List of Census Towns, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
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