Okhla
Encyclopedia
South Delhi
South Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, the districts of New Delhi to the north, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West...
district, though it is most known as the Okhla Industrial Area (OIA) or Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi and mainly divided in three phases. Okhla in the past has also lends its name to the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, or NOIDA
Noida
Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization...
.
History
Barrage (dam)
A barrage is a type of dam which consists of a line of large gates that can be opened or closed to control the amount of water passing the dam. The gates are set between flanking piers which are responsible for supporting the water load...
, which is a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
dam, is also the starting point of the Agra Canal
Agra canal
The Agra Canal is an important Indian irrigation work which starts from Okhla in Delhi. The Agra canal originates from Okhla barrage, downstream of Nizamuddin bridge. It opened in 1874....
built in 1874, today it is also the location of the Okhla Sanctuary
Okhla Sanctuary
The Okhla barrage bird sanctuary in Okhla, near Delhi is a haven for waterbirds. In 1990, an area of on the river Yamuna was notified as a bird sanctuary by the Uttar Pradesh government under the Wildlife Protection Act of India. The site is located at the point where the river leaves of Uttar...
, and further down the canal towards Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, the Keetham Lake
Keetham Lake
Keetham lake is a scenic lake just outside Agra on the Agra - Delhi highway . The Keetham lake is also known as the Sur Sarovar. It is a tranquil spot, ideal for a relaxed outing...
, National Bird Sanctuary.
The present campus of Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is an Indian Central University located in Delhi. It was established at Aligarh in United Provinces, India in 1920. It became a Central University by an act of the Indian Parliament in 1988...
university was established here in 1935. The Okhla Mandi is an important wholesale markets in Delhi, NSIC, Meera Bai Polytechnic, Kalaka Mandir, Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple
The Bahá'í House of Worship in Delhi, India, popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flowerlike shape, is a Bahá'í House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent...
, Okhla Railway Station
Okhla (Delhi Metro)
Okhla is a Delhi Metro station in Delhi. It is located between Govind Puri and Jasola Apollo stations on the Violet Line. The station was opened with the first section of the Line on October 3, 2010 in time for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on the same day....
, Surya Hotel, and the Okhla
Okhla
Okhla, is a neighbourhood around the old village in South Delhi district, though it is most known as the Okhla Industrial Area or Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi and mainly divided in three phases...
Water Works.
Okhla Industrial Estate
Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi was established by National Small Industries Corporation and was one of the 12 such estates being developed across India to encourage small industries. Construction work at the site began in 1952 and it was finally inaugurated in 1958 , and in time became synonymous to growth of small scale industries in region. Today it is divided in three phases . The Okhla village became an important theatre centre of Delhi in 1950s, when veteran theatre director, started establish "Okhla Theatre" here, using many local artists as actors, starting longing tradition of theatre here.Phases
- Okhla Industrial Phase I and Phase II is one of the 28 notified industrial areas of Delhi, as per the Master Plan of 2001. And revenue earners from this base include ready-made garment exporters and leather garment exporters, besides other segments of industry such as pharmaceutical manufacturing units, plastic and packaging industries, printing presses, machinery manufacturers, call center, MNCs Office, Bank and others
- Okhla Industrial Estate Ph 3
The Okhla Industrial Estate or Phase III spreads over 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) and is a modest industrial beginning laid out British architect Mr Walter George, also famous for the planning and construction of Parliament House, North and South Blocks.
Today, there are a host of MNCs, Call center, BPO, Showrooms and Media Group operations in the area.
Overview
The whole industrial area is named after the main area Okhla Village, in South DelhiSouth Delhi
South Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, the districts of New Delhi to the north, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West...
, with nearby areas now as its own parts like Batla House, Zakir Nagar, Zakir Bagh, Jamia Nagar, Abul Fazal Enclave, Shaheen Bagh, Kalindi Colony, and Kalindi Kunj
Kalindi Kunj
Kalindi Kunj is a public garden in Delhi, located on the banks of River Yamuna, close to Okhla barrage. Named after Kalindi, another name of river and goddess Yamuna and is situated close to between Delhi and Noida border, it also accessible to Faridabad in Haryana, via Mathura Road...
.
The Okhla area has a high density of Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
population areas of Delhi, and show high linguistic literacy rate . It is a state assembly constituency part of the East Delhi
East Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency)
East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 7 Lok Sabha constituencies in the Indian National Capital Territory of Delhi. This constituency came into existence in 1966...
, Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
constituency, and in the Delhi state assembly elections, 2009, the seat was won by Asif Mohd. Khan of Rastriya Janta Dal .
Neighborhoods
Nehru Place, Batla House, Kalkaji, Sukhdev Vihar, Greater KailashGreater Kailash
Greater Kailash is a residential area in South Delhi, consisting of several residential colonies and multiple markets. The real estate prices are comparatively high.-Geography:...
, Govindpuri, Sriniwaspuri, Tughlakabad, Sarita Vihar
Sarita Vihar
Sarita Vihar is situated in South Delhi. This colony consists of DDA flats. Opposite the biggest corporate hospital in Delhi, Apollo Hospital, the underpass below Mathura Road/Railway Line/flyover would be the latest addition in the landscape of Sarita Vihar...
, Jasola, Shaheen Bagh, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jaitpur, Madanpur, Badarpur, and Harkesh Nagar(a village attached with Okhla Phase 2 & 3)
Problems
The main problem is the slums in the vicinity which house about 80,000 slum dwellers. In addition to polluting the area, the slums further threaten the ground water reserves in the area.These slums are not the problems but the manpower resources for many factories and offices in this region. Many posh colonies around Okhla get their domestic helps like sweepers, drivers, cooks etc. The apathetic treatment of Civic bodies and Corporates Houses, and lack of public initiatives have created such places. These very slum dwellers whom we accuse of "polluting the area" are source of "indespensible" domestic help for upperclass Indian society.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Okhla SanctuaryOkhla SanctuaryThe Okhla barrage bird sanctuary in Okhla, near Delhi is a haven for waterbirds. In 1990, an area of on the river Yamuna was notified as a bird sanctuary by the Uttar Pradesh government under the Wildlife Protection Act of India. The site is located at the point where the river leaves of Uttar...
, a Bird Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, where during the month of September thousands of migratory birds including shovellers, pintail, common teal, gadwall and blue winged teal visit the area and is ideal for nature lovers.
Hospitals
Indraprastha Apollo HospitalIndraprastha Apollo Hospital
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is an Indian hospital owned by Apollo Hospital group, India's largest healthcare chain, and is the second largest hospital in Delhi...
, Escort Heart Hospital, and the Holy Family Hospital are the famous hospitals in the city of Delhi.
Public Gardens
Kalindi Kunj,Okhla Head is the most famous public garden close to the river of Yamuna. The main attractions are the fountains adorned with colorful lights.A large number of tourists arrive in the evening to enjoy the breathtaking view of the fountains.
Delhi Ride Park also open in kalindi kunj park
Transport
It is well connected by road and rail and is not far from the airport, as it is located in the centre of the National Capital Territory. Business districts such as Nehru PlaceNehru Place
Nehru Place is a large commercial, financial, and business center in Delhi, India. Though its importance as a financial center has declined in recent years, Nehru Place is still a prominent commercial area in South Delhi and houses the headquarters of several Indian firms and rivals with other...
and Connaught Place
Connaught Place, New Delhi
Connaught Place Connaught Place Connaught Place (Hindi: कनॉट प्लेस, (officially Rajiv Chowk) is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centers in Delhi. It is often abbreviated as CP and houses the headquarters of several Indian firms. Its surroundings occupy a place of pride...
are not far and even the inland container terminal of the Container Corporation of India is also close at hand.
By the end of September 2010, Okhla is also getting connected to the Delhi Metro Network. The okhla metro station on the Violet Line (Delhi Metro)
Violet Line (Delhi Metro)
The Violet Line is one of the six lines of the Delhi Metro, a rapid transit system in Delhi, India. The line connects Central Secretariat station, of Yellow Line with Badarpur. The line consists of 16 metro stations with a total length of...
is upcoming near Harkesh Nagar in Phase-II.