The name came from the word Haor—Bengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate.[citation needed] The word itself was rather used in eastern part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).[14]
History
The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578.[15] As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli river) and perhaps a commercial port.[15] This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood of Bator.[15] Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.[16]
In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank.[17] The list of villages appeared in the Consultation Book of the Council dated 4 May 1714. The five villages on the west bank on Hooghly river were: 'Salica' (Salkia), 'Harirah' (Howrah), 'Cassundeah' (Kasundia), 'Ramkrishnopoor' (Ramkrishnapur) and 'Battar' (Bator): all identifiable with localities of modern-day Howrah city.[18] The deputation was successful except for these five villages.[18] By 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.[18]
On 11 October 1760, as a result of the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty with Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district.[19] In 1787 the Hooghly district was formed and in 1819 the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it.[20] The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.[21]
Howrah is 2nd most populated city in West Bengal (behind Kolkata).[23][24] As of 2011[update] Indian census, Howrah had a population of 1,077,075 with households.[8][note 1][25]
In the 1896 census of British India, Howrah had a population of 84,069, which grew to 157,594 in the 1901 census.[26][27] This rapid growth was due to abundance of job opportunities, which resulted in a 100% increase in male population during this period, whereas the female population grew only by 60%.[26]
Howrah Municipal Corporation is responsible for the administration of Howrah. The tenure of the last board of HMC had ended back on 10 December 2018. From then onwards the corporation has been run by unelected board of administrators selected by the West Bengal government.[32] The Howrah City Police is responsible for law enforcement in the city.
History
Great Banyan Tree at the Botanical Gardens, Howrah by Francis Frith (1850s-1870s)
Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.[33] From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city.[34] During 1882–83, Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah.[26] As per the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation in 1984.[35] The corporation area was divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor.[36] The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area.[36] In 2015, the Bally Municipality was re-amalgamated into Howrah Municipal Corporation, through Corporation vide notification no. 428/MA/O/C-4/IM-36/2014 dated 26 June 2015, which increased the total number of wards to 66.[5][37]
Other administrative offices
Howrah also hosts the temporary administrative office of the state of West Bengal. The office of the Chief Minister of state had been traditionally posted at the Writers' Building, however owing to renovation of the building, the administration has been occupying the Nabanna building.[38]
Development and growth
Even though it is one of the largest cities in the state, Howrah witnessed urbanization in an unplanned manner.[citation needed] As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion and pollution.[39][citation needed]
The city contains a few unlicensed and unregulated residential areas or slums. The name of the novel City of Joy, which has been often the name the Kolkata metropolis been called, is actually based on one such slum of Howrah.[40]
However, recently, work has been done on broadening the National Highways and several local roads.[citation needed] These activities are expected to help in improvement of traffic conditions. Of late, Howrah has seen a lot of new industrial proposals like the Kona Truck Terminus,[41]Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.[citation needed]. The West Bengal Government has also planned a major renovation of the city to match the city's urban facilities with its neighboring city Kolkata.[42]
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is the statutory planning and development authority for Howrah, as the city lies within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA).
Economy
Often termed as Sheffield of the East,[43] Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry.[43] In 1823, Bishop Reginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders".[44] There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah station[45] However these businesses are declining in the 21st century.[43] There are many foundries in Liluah area.[citation needed]
Burn Standard Company, a major company in heavy engineering industry, has its oldest manufacturing unit located in Howrah.[46]Ramkrishna Forgings one of the largest forging company in India has one of its plant located at Liluah in Howrah. The Howrah plant of Shalimar Paints (established in 1902) was the first large-scale paint manufacturing plant to be set up not only in India but in entire South East Asia.[47] The city houses one of the major manufacturing units of Tarsons Products.[48] The jute industry suffered during the Partition of Bengal (1947), when the larger jute production area became part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The foundry industry saw a decline in demand due to growth in steel industry.[citation needed]
Transport
Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, road links to National Highways, as well as its transport connections to Kolkata. Apart from the bridges connecting the cities, there are also ferry services between various jetties.
Howrah railway station (more commonly referred to as Howrah Station) is the major railway station serving Howrah, Kolkata and the neighbouring districts. It is the second busiest rail station in India, along with being the largest railway station in terms of number of platform. It was established in 1854 when a railway line was constructed connecting the city to the coalfields of Bardhaman. Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway, and it is connected to most of the major cities of India. From Howrah both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway operates connecting various stations of the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman, East Midnapore and West Midnapore. Within Howrah city itself, there are twelve more stations, the most prominents being Santragachi and Shalimar.
Howrah is served by the Kolkata Metro Line 2 with Salt Lake in Kolkata via a tunnel under River Hooghly. The Metro line connects Howrah to Esplanade as well which will act as interchange where commuters can change sides to travel on the North-South line.
On the Howrah side, the 2 Stations will be at Howrah Station and Howrah Maidan. These stations are open for public. The Metro currently connects Howrah Maidan Station on one side to Esplanade Station on the other. Howrah & Mahakaran stations lying in between.The Esplanade to Sealdah section is still under construction as of 13th September 2024 estimated to be completed by 2025.
Roads
The total road length in Howrah is approximately 300 km (190 miles).[49] Howrah hosts a branch of the Grand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration.[50] The road starts at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden[51] and connects to the main road near Chandannagar.[50] Howrah also connects the metropolitan region to the national highways – NH 16 and NH 19, which are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via the Kona Expressway.
There are ferry services available, between various jetties in Howrah and Kolkata, which was introduced in the 1970s.[53] The jetties on Howrah side are at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Shalimar, Bandhaghat, Belur Math, Bally and Nazirganj.
Howrah is also served by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located in Dumdum, Kolkata. The Airport will soon be connected to Howrah via Metro service which is presently under-construction.
Near Howrah Station is the slum of Pilkhana which was the basis of the famous book and film "City of Joy".[40]Liluah host some of India's oldest railway factories and is also the educational Hub of Howrah.[citation needed].
Howrah Zilla School, established in 1845, is the only Governmental school in Howrah. Howrah's first vernacular Bengali medium school, established in 1857, was Santragachi Minor School: currently the school is running as Santragachi Kedarnath Institution, Howrah.[56]
Sports
The Sailen Manna Stadium, also known as the Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium, is a multi-use stadium that hosts sporting events for association football. Dumurjala Sports City is a multi-purpose sports complex at Dumurjala. Howrah Rifle Club is a sports shooting stadium located at Kadamtala.
^Census data of Howrah can be difficult to compare as the city is sometimes grouped together with the Kolkata and other settlements as the Kolkata metropolitan area. Further care needs to be taken to distinguish Howrah town from Howrah district. It is also worth noting that Bally Municipality was re-incorporated into Howrah in 2015
^Note that Howrah town census area was not stable until 1981
^"Howrah Municipal Corporation". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
^"Other Municipal Corporation Acts". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
^ ab"About us page". Howrah Municipal Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
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