Durganagar

Durganagar
Neighbourhood
Durganagar Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	700028, 700065, 700079
Website	north24parganas.nic.in
Town of Joy

Durganagar (Bengali: দুর্গানগর) is a suburb of Kolkata, though administratively under the district of North 24 Parganas. The town is about 12 km from Sealdah station towards Bongaon and 1 km west to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. It was named after goddess Durga.

Geography

Durganagar (West) has been a part of North Dum Dum Municipality since 2000, while Durganagar (East) belongs to Dum Dum Municipality. Previously it was known as Sultanpur. Its population is about 50,000. The literacy rate is 93% in females and 94% in males, which is much higher than the national average of 59.5%; 54% of the literates are male and 46% are female. Most of the people are Hindu. Only about 200–300 Muslims are residing to its eastern side. The main landmark of this town is Durganagar Railway Station, which is on the Sealdah - North (SEALDAH - BONGAON) section of the Kolkata suburban railway system. The place is also very close to the Kolkata Airport.

Climate

The climate is tropical — like the rest of the Gangetic West Bengal. The hallmark is the Monsoon — from early June to mid September. The weather remains dry during the winter (mid November to mid February) and humid during summer. The temperature is always approx. -2 °C less than the standard temperature of Kolkata's reading.

Temperature: 40 °C in May (max) and 10 °C in January (min)

Relative humidity: between 55% in March & 98% in July

Rainfall: 1,579 mm (normal)[7]

Economy

The main economy depends on the service men. There are small businesses taking place, too. Sewing and weaving is the major industry in Durganagar and hawker and single shop groceries shops. Young generation is looking forward for new startups, too. But the proper take off is not happening clearly due to less popularity of the place with rest of the city. Investment is a challenge here. Slowly banks are coming up, which might help the overall business environment.

Education

This place is very near to several good schools in Kolkata. Some of them are :

• St. Stephen's School
• Kishore Bharati
• Auxillium Convent
• K K Hindu Academy
• Christchurch
• Aditya Academy
• Motijheel Girls
• Baidyanath High School

The literacy rate is 93% in female and 94% in male which is very higher than the national average of 59.5%; 54% of the literates are male and 46% are female.

History

The place is named after the goddess Durga. Almost 3–4 Durga puja's pandels are set up during the main festive season. The 2 main ancient Pujas are at Durganagar is "Durganagar adibasi brinda", 1st which is set up at the main (Durganagar sporting club ) playground near Durganagar X Roads (Chou rasta)it is organized by sporting clubs member and 2nd one is Uttar Durganagar Odibasi brinda set up at the (Saraj sisu Uddan) near saha katgola it is mainly Organised by the members of Bandhu Milon sangha.

There is another club in Durganagar viz., Alok Sangha Club where the road and it's existence goes to the root to the person,

Late Mr. Nani Gopal Dey.

Durga Maa

Location

Almost all important places are near the train station. Just 1 km way from the airport.

It has its own post office, Allahabad Bank, AXIS Bank ATM, HDFC ATM,SBI Bank with ATM and UBI Bank with ATM a market and several playgrounds. Almost the whole population is constituted by 4-5 member small families with a single earning member. Many of them are servicemen (state/central govt. jobs), people working in IT industries and Doctors and Engineers. Residents commute daily to Kolkata through local train or by autoride to Airport which is a huge junction. Even the Kolkata Metro is a good option for people to commute to Central Calcutta.

Environment

Belghoria Expressway.

The famous Durga Pujasnow been taken by Kali Pujas , they are now becoming very famous. Every year there is a lovely big Mela happened in Sporting Club and the club also organize a big New Year brash with renowned artists and fireworks at last. Durganagar is just 1 km from the NSCB International Airport and falls within the Dum Dum locality, but still one can find plenty of greeneries around with many coconut trees. In the morning the sweet sound of chirping of birds reminds of a nostalgic old Kolkata. The nostalgic feeling adhere to it. This place is almost pollution free with much green all around. Facilities are adequate enough with almost everything nearby. But this environment was seen some 10 years ago, now many flats and buildings are constructed by destroying many playground and ponds. The number of vehicles and people have increased in a huge form. Many trees have been cut down for the Construction. But there is no bus route from Drganagar station. Very few ponds are left as well as grounds. The sudden increase in the population has taken place mainly people from outsider are settling here due to its location and low real estate prices. But after the Delhi-road (Belghoria Expressway) the price per kata has taken the acclivity. Very old residential are still belong to this place and has contributed for its development and progress. Still there is very less opportunity for the place to develop since its roads can not be widen and transportation will be only gained from its boundaries and dependent on train will be always be there. The only transport to connect Durganagar to Airport 1 No. is rickshaws and auto-rickshaws. Sometimes, less than 1 km route takes time more than an hour to reach due to unavailability of auto-vehicles. Durganagar have seen its huge boost up to access easier transporting communication by means of BELGHORIA EXPRESSWAY which is ply through it. Now anybody from Durganagar easily go to Howrah, Bally Hault, Dankuni, Kona Expressway, Dunlop, Dakhineswar, 1no Airport Gate, Madhyamgram, Rajharhat, Saltlake (Sector-V) and different other places through bus, taxi and other vehicles ply on this road. Other area people also access this road to different places from its bus stops Sreenagar–Durganagar and Badra–Durganagar.

But still to avail most of the commodities like garments and jewelries people has to travel to Dum Dum Cant. the nearest place from Durganagar to have a big market. The scope comes less when we think of expansion and development of Durganagar, mainly, unavailability of free space and lands. The area is very small and mainly, it is a residential area with small shops hitting every corner of the suburb.

People

There are couple of well-known personalities in Durganagar. Late Dr. Nirmal Kumar Roy Chowdhury, who founded Swarnamayi Smiriti Vidyalaya, was one of them. Late Radhakanta Nandi was famous musician in tabla. He usually played with Late Manna Dey. Renowned ex-goalkeeper of Indian Football Team Bhaskar Ganguly is from Durganagar also. Durganagar is proud for this goalkeeper who have played two renowned teams in Kolkata East Bengal & Mohunbagan. Some more people are the late Joshoda Lal Saha, late Chuni Saha, late Nagen saha, Harekrishna Das all of them are well known persons.

Sports

Bhaskar Ganguly

Football (soccer) is the passion of all citizens, it is the place of famous goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly. You can always find football practice and training happening in the ground morning and evening. Cricket is also played with great fanfare. Cricket enthusiastic are also plenty. It is a place of sports lovers and players.

External links

• Kolkata/Northern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Satellite view