Siliguri
Encyclopedia
Siliguri is a city in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. It is located in the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck - a very narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its north-eastern states. It is also the transit point for air, road and rail traffic to the neighbouring countries of Nepal
, Bhutan
and Bangladesh
. Consequently, the city has become an important trade center of West Bengal. The city hosts over 200,000 domestic and 15,000 foreign visitors annually. It is the commercial nerve center of North Bengal
.The city of Siliguri runs from west at Naxalbari to north east at Sevoke, Rohini gardens in north to Rajganj in south. the total area of Siliguri City is 232 sq km.
Siliguri is situated in Darjeeling district
and is the district's & North Bengal's largest city. This city is also known as "Gateway of North East India". Siliguri is a unique city as 15 out of 47 wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation falls in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district
. The Indian army
, Border Security Force
(BSF), CRPF
, SSB
and the Assam Rifles
have bases around the city. The Bagdogra Airport
, which serves the city, is located within the Indian Air Force
's cantonment
area.The city has many tourist places near by. The city is also famous for its fast food.It is the second capital of West Bengal, and capital city of North Bengal. The informations are updated by the City co-ordinator Mr Bikash Limboo(North Bengal University).
and the second largest city of West Bengal. It connects the hill station
towns of Gangtok
, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong
and Mirik
with the rest of India. The Mahananda River
bifurcates the city. Siliguri has three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon
. Dense fog, a characteristic of Siliguri till a decade ago, is a rare occurrence today. In summer the temperature rarely reaches 33 degree Celcius.Winters are generally Chilled where temparature goes down to 0 degree celcius. During the monsoons (between June and September), the town is lashed by moderate to heavy rains often cutting access to the hill stations and Sikkim
.The city is blessed with natural beauty of flora and fauna.The city has several fault line or uplands near by.The city is surrounded by dense forest which doesn't allow the temperature to reach high, in summers it still remain cooler than the other part of the Bengal. Summer are generally short starts from mid of May to mid September where temp. remains 25-32 degree celcius. December and January are the coolest months with temperature getting to freezing point in some places of the city . The climate is suitable for growing tea
and the surrounding region have many tea gardens. The ancient Baikunthapur Forest
is located near the city.
As a gesture of international co-operation and friendship, the road network of Siliguri is being used by the governments of Nepal
and Bangladesh to facilitate easy transportation of essential commodities, such as food grains. The Silk Route of India, i.e. trade route between India and Tibet (China) is accessible only after crossing Siliguri (Nathula and Jelepla). There are also business routes to Bhutan.Bagdogra airport market is one of the shopping hubs in Siliguri.Another important market is at Matigara hut where people from Hills n plains comes for shopping. The city is famous for its fast food. The Shivmandir Bazaar is one of the famous site for its Momos,chowmin,chop(fries),egg rolls,chats,phuchkas,Thypoes,Biriyani,Kababs,etc.Another food hub is Momo gali where one can have the delicious taste of momoes ,south and north indian dishes. The city has various number of markets which fulfill the requirements of the local and visitors demands.
In recent times, the city has seen the establishment of a number of shopping malls and multiplexes to cater to the growing needs of the populace.The city centre, Uttarayon has become the new shopping hub and also providing various kind of part time and full time jobs. The are more than 10 big malls in the city namely Cosmos, Orbit, City centre, Vishal mega mart, V mart, City style, Bazaar Kolkata, Shoppers stop,Reliance trends and so many. The another feature is the fashionable garments, one can buy the latest outfits easily from the local markets.
In order to develop the city in a planned manner and to make arrangement for the exploding population of the city, new townships of Uttarayon and Shushruta nagar kawakhali township have been proposed to be built around the fringes of Siliguri.
Siliguri has experienced a huge surge in population in recent times. Based on Census data of 2011, the city had an approximate population of 17,72,374. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. In Siliguri, 12% of the population is under six years of age.
Siliguri has a majority Bengali
population. Other minority communities include Gorkhas
, Marwaris
and Biharis
.Bengali,Hindi,English,Nepali,Marwari,Bihari, Bhojpuri,Assamese,Punjabi,Gujrati,Tibeten languages are spoken by the local people of Siliguri.No doubt Siliguri is a 32th metropolitan city of India, Siliguri has acquired a nick name from the young generations that is 'SILA'.
Siliguri has seen waves of massive immigration over the years, most prominent being the migrants from the erstwhile East Bengal
during the Partition of India
, Nepal
and Bihar
. In addition, people from Jharkhand and other parts of India have also come to the city in search of livelihood.
Public transport includes cycle rickshaw
s, auto rickshaw
s, local buses and Mahindra/Ape tempos, the rail bus from NJP Jn to Bagdogra. There is no metered vehicular transport. While 6-seater city autos ply between two fixed destinations of about 10–15 km, one can hire petrol-driven auto rickshaws from auto stands at a rate fixed by the municipal authorities. A total of 6,000 rickshaws licensed by the municipal corporation and an additional 15,000 illegal ones ply in this increasingly congested city.
1. Siliguri Town - This is the oldest station in the area. Opened on 23 August 1880 during the British Raj
, this station used to be the terminus for the trains coming from Kolkata
, and the starting point for the world-famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
for journey to Darjeeling. It is this station where such world-renowned personalities as Rabindranath Tagore
, Chittaranjan Das
and Subhash Chandra Bose
set their feet on their way to Darjeeling and other places.
2. Siliguri Junction - This station was opened in 1949 and used to be the point of departure of all trains to the north-eastern states, until the broad gauge
was extended to New Bongaigaon. Siliguri Junction is the only station in India with tracks of all the three gauges used in India.
3. New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri - Opened in 1964 as a totally greenfield project 2.5 km south of the Hasmi Chowk. Initially named New Siliguri (but later renamed New Jalpaiguri as it is located in Jalpaiguri District
), this is now the most important station in the region. It is also known as NJP. This station connects Siliguri to every nook and corner of the country by railway. The city has now been expanded and included New Jalpaiguri as one of its ward of Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The Darjeeling Himalayan Toy train is the main attraction of this station.The station is the largest Railway station in entire North East with wide parking area and has awarded as cleanest Railway stn of India in the year 2011.
4. Bagdogra, Siliguri- Is situated in the western part of the city is one imp railway terminal in the city.
With the extension of broad-gauge railway track to the Siliguri Junction station, people can now travel directly to the heart of the city without having to alight at New Jalpaiguri. This new broad-gauge track extends to the old Dooars metre-gauge track up to Alipurduar
and beyond.
5. Naxalbari,Siliguri- Is situated at further western part of the greater Siliguri city, in the heart of Naxalbari. The railway station has strategic importance as it facilitates not only the people of Naxalbari and Panitanki to connect with the other parts of the country but it also facilitates the people of Nepal(of places like Kakarvita, Dhulabari,Bittamore, etc) to utilize the railway station as the means of communication with rest of India. The station is to be facilitated with computerised railway ticket reservation centre very soon. The new broad gauge track that passes from Siliguri Junction to Aluabari Road(Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur) through Bagdora, Naxalbari, Thakurganj(Bihar) provides an impetus to travel and trade through this part of the country.
in the region. The airport is connected to Bengaluru, Chandigarh
, New Delhi
, Kolkata
, Guwahati
, Mumbai
, Chennai
, Bangkok
(Thailand)[Sydney] , [Dubai] and Paro
(Bhutan).
Central Bus Terminus situated next to the Siliguri Junction Railway Station is a major stop for most private and state-owned buses in the region. The Royal Government of Bhutan
also operates buses from Siliguri to its border town Phuentsholing. Volvo Bus, Mercedes-Benz Bus, Royal Cruiser Bus link Siliguri to Kolkata
, Patna
etc. Jeeps also link Siliguri to neighbouring hill towns of Darjeeling, Gangtok
, Kurseong
, Kalimpong, Mirik
, Jorethang
, Namchi
, etc.
The Sikkim Government
buses run to various destinations of Sikkim
from the Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) bus station near the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus. There is another bus terminus named P.C. Mittal Bus Stand on Sevoke Road. All buses heading for the Dooars region via the Sevoke Coronation Bridge start from here.
The bus service from Siliguri Court More interconnects the different parts of the city such as Sivmandir, Bagdogra,Naxalbari, Panitanki,Medical, and Chatterhut while the Bus service from Howrah Petrol pump and Jalpaimore connects the city with Fulbari, Rajganj,Belakoba,Ambari Falakata and Jalpaiguri.
as well as the Dooars region. Apart from the residents of the town, students from states like Sikkim, Nagaland and Assam come here to pursue education. The region also sees an influx of students from the neighbouring countries of Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. While previously there had been just a handful of schools, of late there has been a spurt of growth in numbers with most catering to the CISCE (ICSE, ISC), CBSE and West Bengal Secondary and Higher Secondary board(s). Siliguri Boys' High School (SBHS) is the oldest school of the city founded in 1918 at the time of British rule and it is one of the largest school in city. Siliguri Girls' High School,Margaret English High School, Terai Tarapada Adarsha Vidyalaya, Nanda Prasad High School,Army public school ,Bengdubi/Sukna,Air Force School, B.S.F. School, Lincoln's High school, St. Joseph's High School, Matigara;Delhi Public School (DPS), Don Bosco,, Mahbert High School, Lincoln High School,Good Shepherd School, Hebron School etc. are some of the notable schools here.
Siliguri has two engineering colleges, viz. Siliguri Institute of Technology
& Surendra Institute of Engineering & Management other colleges are Suryasen mahavidyalaya, St Xaviers, Ignou Delhi, Salesian, Bagdogra clg, Naxalbari clg, Gyan jyoti, IIAS,and NIIT etc.
There are a number of colleges in Siliguri. All these deliver general degrees as well as specialization (Honours) in the fields available under the North Bengal University.
The North Bengal Medical College
, located in Sushrutanagar, is the sole medical college in the region and is connected to the main city through the 3rd Mahananda Bridge. Students from across the state as well from neighbouring states come to study here after having cleared the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination
(Medical) or the All India Pre-Medical Test.
The University of North Bengal
was established in 1962, 10 km away from the main Siliguri city, in Raja Rammohan Pur. The campus occupies an area of about 330 acres (1.3 km²) is second largest in India. Approximately 80 colleges are affiliated to the university, with approximately 36,000 and 1,500 students enrolled in graduate and post-graduate courses respectively, every year. A sprawling campus, this university boasts having the second largest campus in the country. The University is re-accredited by NAAC as B++.
Siliguri has been identified as city that can emerge as preferred destinations for software development and outsourcing companies.
The likes of Acclaris Hinduza Infosys
and Firstsource
are in operation here since 2005. West Bengal Government has set up an IT Park at Siliguri for establishment of IT industries. Most of the individuals are already contributing towards innovative ideas and contributing IT skills towards the society. e.g. Education for the child's who can't afford school fees, Online clinic for poor people and A social site on Chhathpuja.
, Chhath Puja, Ganesh puja, Laxmi puja, Saraswati puja, Dipawali etc. Baishaki mela is one of the oldest mela in Siliguri. The fashion week during winters are celebrated for entertainment. Various concerts are organised by local clubs, which continues from mid oct to mid dec.
, cricket
, taekwon-do, chess
and football are the most popular sports here. The Kanchenjunga Stadium
is the city's only outdoor stadium and have hosted national and international level matches. The stadium houses the SAI
sports hostel for athletes. There is an indoor stadium at Deshbandhupara in the southern part of the city. This new stadium has facilities for lawn tennis, badminton and table tennis as well as other indoor sports. However, the city is best known for being the training grounds for table tennis players. Siliguri has produced a number of national champions like Mantu Ghosh, the Gold Medal winner in the 1996 and 1999 SAF Games, Subhajit Saha
and Nandita Saha. In recent years the close proximity of the Teesta river
has made Siliguri a destination for the white water rafting enthusiasts. Indian international cricketer Wriddhiman Saha
also hails from Siliguri.
, The Asian Age, The Statesman
and The Telegraph
. Several Bengali newspapers, including Uttarbanga Sambad, Anandabazar Patrika
, Bartaman
, Ganashakti
, Aajkaal
and Pratidin
are also available. International news agencies like Reuters
, AFP and AP also have correspondents here.
In addition to All India Radio
, Siliguri has four private FM radio stations in Nine FM 91.9 MHz, Radio High 92.7 MHz, Red FM 93.5 MHz and Radio Misty 94.3 MHz.
Siliguri receives almost all the television channels that are received by the rest of India. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan
, cable television
serves most of the homes in the town, while satellite television
is common in the outlying areas and in wealthier households. Besides mainstream Indian channels, local news broadcasts, sporting events, and concerts are broadcast live or delayed via cable to many households. DTH services both by government and private companies are also available such as Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h, Digital TV (Airtel) and Big TV (Reliance). Siliguri has three private channels - CCN, AMAR CABLE and HTV.
Internet cafes can be easily found in the main market area, served through broadband
services provided by BSNL and other private companies like MetroNET (Orange Networks) and Sinet (CCN).
The area is serviced by cell phone
companies such as Idea
, Vodafone
, Airtel, Aircel
, BSNL, Reliance Communications
, Tata Indicom
, MTS, Tata Docomo
, Virgin Mobile
and Uninor
. And also has 3G
network of BSNL, Reliance Communications
, Vodafone
, Bharti Airtel
, Aircel
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. It is located in the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck - a very narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its north-eastern states. It is also the transit point for air, road and rail traffic to the neighbouring countries of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Consequently, the city has become an important trade center of West Bengal. The city hosts over 200,000 domestic and 15,000 foreign visitors annually. It is the commercial nerve center of North Bengal
North Bengal
North Bengal is a term used for the northern parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division. Generally it is the area lying west of Jamuna River and north of Padma River, and includes the Barind Tract. The West Bengal part denotes Cooch Behar, Darjeeling,...
.The city of Siliguri runs from west at Naxalbari to north east at Sevoke, Rohini gardens in north to Rajganj in south. the total area of Siliguri City is 232 sq km.
Siliguri is situated in Darjeeling district
Darjeeling district
Darjeeling District is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district is famous for its beautiful hill stations and Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is the district headquarters...
and is the district's & North Bengal's largest city. This city is also known as "Gateway of North East India". Siliguri is a unique city as 15 out of 47 wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation falls in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district
Jalpaiguri District
Jalpaiguri district is the largest district of North Bengal, covering an area 6,245 km2. It is situated between 26° 16' and 27° 0' North latitudes and 88° 4' and 89° 53' East longitudes...
. The Indian army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
, Border Security Force
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
(BSF), CRPF
Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force also known as CRPF is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain...
, SSB
Sashastra seema bal
Sashastra Seema Bal or SSB is one of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It is often referred to as a paramilitary force...
and the Assam Rifles
Assam Rifles
The Assam Rifles are one of the Paramilitary forces of India. The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force that was formed under the British in 1835 called Cachar Levy. Since then the Assam Rifles have undergone a number of name changes before the name Assam Rifles was finally...
have bases around the city. The Bagdogra Airport
Bagdogra Airport
Bagdogra International Airport or Civil Aerodrome Bagdogra is a military airport that is open for civilian flights. The airport is located in the town of Bagdogra, about from the city of Siliguri in the Darjeeling district in northern West Bengal, India...
, which serves the city, is located within the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
's cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
area.The city has many tourist places near by. The city is also famous for its fast food.It is the second capital of West Bengal, and capital city of North Bengal. The informations are updated by the City co-ordinator Mr Bikash Limboo(North Bengal University).
Geography
Siliguri is situated in the plains at the base of the Himalaya mountains. It is the largest city in North BengalNorth Bengal
North Bengal is a term used for the northern parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division. Generally it is the area lying west of Jamuna River and north of Padma River, and includes the Barind Tract. The West Bengal part denotes Cooch Behar, Darjeeling,...
and the second largest city of West Bengal. It connects the hill station
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
towns of Gangtok
Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of . The town, with a population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered...
, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong
Kurseong
Kurseong is a hill station situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.Located at an altitude of 1458 metres , Kurseong is just 30 km from Darjeeling...
and Mirik
Mirik
Mirik is a picturesque tourist spot nestled in the serene hills of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. The name Mirik comes from the Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire"....
with the rest of India. The Mahananda River
Mahananda River
The Mahananda River is a trans-boundary river that flows through the Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar, and Bangladesh. Right bank tributary Mechi forms part of Nepal's eastern boundary with West Bengal and the Kankai crosses out of Nepal.-Course:...
bifurcates the city. Siliguri has three seasons: summer, winter and monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. Dense fog, a characteristic of Siliguri till a decade ago, is a rare occurrence today. In summer the temperature rarely reaches 33 degree Celcius.Winters are generally Chilled where temparature goes down to 0 degree celcius. During the monsoons (between June and September), the town is lashed by moderate to heavy rains often cutting access to the hill stations and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.The city is blessed with natural beauty of flora and fauna.The city has several fault line or uplands near by.The city is surrounded by dense forest which doesn't allow the temperature to reach high, in summers it still remain cooler than the other part of the Bengal. Summer are generally short starts from mid of May to mid September where temp. remains 25-32 degree celcius. December and January are the coolest months with temperature getting to freezing point in some places of the city . The climate is suitable for growing tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and the surrounding region have many tea gardens. The ancient Baikunthapur Forest
Baikunthapur Forest
Baikunthapur is a Terai forest region in the western part of the Dooars in West Bengal, India, south of the Himalayan foothills, between the Mahananda River to the west and Teesta River to the east. The main towns in the area are Siliguri and Jalpaiguri...
is located near the city.
Economy
Siliguri is described as the gateway to the North East of India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The strategic location of the city makes it a base for essential supplies to the above regions. Siliguri has gradually developed as a profitable centre for a variety of businesses. As a central hub, many national companies and organizations have set up their offices here. The Hong Kong market near Khudirampally is the chief hub for buying low-cost Chinese and illegally imported goods. Seth Srilal Market, Sevoke Road and Hill Cart Road are other prominent market places. The four "T"s - Tea, Timber, Tourism and Transport - are the main businesses of Siliguri. Being a tourist destination, Siliguri has a good number of hotels. Siliguri is the headquarters of FOCIN (Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of North Bengal).As a gesture of international co-operation and friendship, the road network of Siliguri is being used by the governments of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bangladesh to facilitate easy transportation of essential commodities, such as food grains. The Silk Route of India, i.e. trade route between India and Tibet (China) is accessible only after crossing Siliguri (Nathula and Jelepla). There are also business routes to Bhutan.Bagdogra airport market is one of the shopping hubs in Siliguri.Another important market is at Matigara hut where people from Hills n plains comes for shopping. The city is famous for its fast food. The Shivmandir Bazaar is one of the famous site for its Momos,chowmin,chop(fries),egg rolls,chats,phuchkas,Thypoes,Biriyani,Kababs,etc.Another food hub is Momo gali where one can have the delicious taste of momoes ,south and north indian dishes. The city has various number of markets which fulfill the requirements of the local and visitors demands.
In recent times, the city has seen the establishment of a number of shopping malls and multiplexes to cater to the growing needs of the populace.The city centre, Uttarayon has become the new shopping hub and also providing various kind of part time and full time jobs. The are more than 10 big malls in the city namely Cosmos, Orbit, City centre, Vishal mega mart, V mart, City style, Bazaar Kolkata, Shoppers stop,Reliance trends and so many. The another feature is the fashionable garments, one can buy the latest outfits easily from the local markets.
In order to develop the city in a planned manner and to make arrangement for the exploding population of the city, new townships of Uttarayon and Shushruta nagar kawakhali township have been proposed to be built around the fringes of Siliguri.
Demographics
Siliguri has a majority Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
population. Other minority communities include Gorkhas
Indian Gorkha
Indian Gorkha is a term used to describe the Nepali/Gorkhali-speaking citizens of India. This term tries to make a distinction between the citizens of Nepal and the Indian citizens of Gorkha ethnic group....
, Marwaris
Marwaris
Marwari or Marwadi or Rajasthani people are Indian ethnic group, that inhabit the Rajasthan region of India. Their language Rajasthani is a part of the western group of Indo-Aryan languages....
and Biharis
Bihari people
The Biharis are an ethnic group originating from the present state of Bihar with a history going back three millennia...
.Bengali,Hindi,English,Nepali,Marwari,Bihari, Bhojpuri,Assamese,Punjabi,Gujrati,Tibeten languages are spoken by the local people of Siliguri.No doubt Siliguri is a 32th metropolitan city of India, Siliguri has acquired a nick name from the young generations that is 'SILA'.
Siliguri has seen waves of massive immigration over the years, most prominent being the migrants from the erstwhile East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
during the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. In addition, people from Jharkhand and other parts of India have also come to the city in search of livelihood.
History
As it is one of the newest city in the country, so doesnt contain much historical evidence, the city of Siliguri started from the small village Saktigarh whichis now in southern part of the city, When the British east India Company introduced Railway to North East India, it grew the importance of the region, the present city area was once covered with dense forest of Dolka forest Range which was the habitance of Tigers,Leopard,Elephants and other wild animals. Siliguri town jn was opened in the year 1878. It was still a small town till 1947. After the partition of India and Pakistan the huge migration of population from Bangladesh taken place. The population continuously expanded, huge migrants from adjacent states helped in rise in population.In the year 2001 the population was 6 lakhs approx. And in the year 2011 census the population of Siliguri reached beyond its expectation, its more than 17 lakhs and became the 32th largest city of India.Transport
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
s, auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
s, local buses and Mahindra/Ape tempos, the rail bus from NJP Jn to Bagdogra. There is no metered vehicular transport. While 6-seater city autos ply between two fixed destinations of about 10–15 km, one can hire petrol-driven auto rickshaws from auto stands at a rate fixed by the municipal authorities. A total of 6,000 rickshaws licensed by the municipal corporation and an additional 15,000 illegal ones ply in this increasingly congested city.
Rail
Railway stations in the city include:1. Siliguri Town - This is the oldest station in the area. Opened on 23 August 1880 during the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, this station used to be the terminus for the trains coming from Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, and the starting point for the world-famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the "Toy Train", is a narrow gauge railway from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal, run by the Indian Railways....
for journey to Darjeeling. It is this station where such world-renowned personalities as Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
, Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das was an eminent Bengali lawyer and a major figure in the Indian independence movement.-Personal life:...
and Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
set their feet on their way to Darjeeling and other places.
2. Siliguri Junction - This station was opened in 1949 and used to be the point of departure of all trains to the north-eastern states, until the broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
was extended to New Bongaigaon. Siliguri Junction is the only station in India with tracks of all the three gauges used in India.
3. New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri - Opened in 1964 as a totally greenfield project 2.5 km south of the Hasmi Chowk. Initially named New Siliguri (but later renamed New Jalpaiguri as it is located in Jalpaiguri District
Jalpaiguri District
Jalpaiguri district is the largest district of North Bengal, covering an area 6,245 km2. It is situated between 26° 16' and 27° 0' North latitudes and 88° 4' and 89° 53' East longitudes...
), this is now the most important station in the region. It is also known as NJP. This station connects Siliguri to every nook and corner of the country by railway. The city has now been expanded and included New Jalpaiguri as one of its ward of Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The Darjeeling Himalayan Toy train is the main attraction of this station.The station is the largest Railway station in entire North East with wide parking area and has awarded as cleanest Railway stn of India in the year 2011.
4. Bagdogra, Siliguri- Is situated in the western part of the city is one imp railway terminal in the city.
With the extension of broad-gauge railway track to the Siliguri Junction station, people can now travel directly to the heart of the city without having to alight at New Jalpaiguri. This new broad-gauge track extends to the old Dooars metre-gauge track up to Alipurduar
Alipurduar
Alipurduar is a sub-divisional municipal city of Jalpaiguri district, and is located at the eastern end of the district. Situated on the east bank of Kaljani River on the foothills of the Himalayas, the town is a gateway to Bhutan and North Eastern states of India...
and beyond.
5. Naxalbari,Siliguri- Is situated at further western part of the greater Siliguri city, in the heart of Naxalbari. The railway station has strategic importance as it facilitates not only the people of Naxalbari and Panitanki to connect with the other parts of the country but it also facilitates the people of Nepal(of places like Kakarvita, Dhulabari,Bittamore, etc) to utilize the railway station as the means of communication with rest of India. The station is to be facilitated with computerised railway ticket reservation centre very soon. The new broad gauge track that passes from Siliguri Junction to Aluabari Road(Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur) through Bagdora, Naxalbari, Thakurganj(Bihar) provides an impetus to travel and trade through this part of the country.
Air
Bagdogra International Airport, Siliguri, situated about 15 km away frm the heart of the city, is the only airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the region. The airport is connected to Bengaluru, Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
(Thailand)[Sydney] , [Dubai] and Paro
Paro, Bhutan
-History:Rinpung Dzong a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley has a long history. A monastery was first built on the site by Padma Sambhava at the beginning of the tenth century, but it wasn't until 1646 that Ngawang Namgyal built a larger monastery on the old foundations, and for...
(Bhutan).
Bus
The Tenzing NorgayTenzing Norgay
Padma Bhushan, Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara Tenzing Norgay, GM born Namgyal Wangdi and often referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer...
Central Bus Terminus situated next to the Siliguri Junction Railway Station is a major stop for most private and state-owned buses in the region. The Royal Government of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
also operates buses from Siliguri to its border town Phuentsholing. Volvo Bus, Mercedes-Benz Bus, Royal Cruiser Bus link Siliguri to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
etc. Jeeps also link Siliguri to neighbouring hill towns of Darjeeling, Gangtok
Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of . The town, with a population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered...
, Kurseong
Kurseong
Kurseong is a hill station situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.Located at an altitude of 1458 metres , Kurseong is just 30 km from Darjeeling...
, Kalimpong, Mirik
Mirik
Mirik is a picturesque tourist spot nestled in the serene hills of Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. The name Mirik comes from the Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire"....
, Jorethang
Jorethang
Jorethang is a major town in South Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town is situated at an altitude of about 300 m above sea level and has a temperate climate. Jorethang lies on the Rangeet River, a tributary of the River Teesta. Jorethang lies on the way to Pelling from...
, Namchi
Namchi
Namchi is the capital of the South Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The appellation Namchi means Sky High in Bhutia.- Geography :Namchi is located at . It has an average elevation of 1315 metres ....
, etc.
The Sikkim Government
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
buses run to various destinations of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
from the Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) bus station near the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus. There is another bus terminus named P.C. Mittal Bus Stand on Sevoke Road. All buses heading for the Dooars region via the Sevoke Coronation Bridge start from here.
The bus service from Siliguri Court More interconnects the different parts of the city such as Sivmandir, Bagdogra,Naxalbari, Panitanki,Medical, and Chatterhut while the Bus service from Howrah Petrol pump and Jalpaimore connects the city with Fulbari, Rajganj,Belakoba,Ambari Falakata and Jalpaiguri.
Education
Siliguri has always been the hub of education in the TeraiTerai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
as well as the Dooars region. Apart from the residents of the town, students from states like Sikkim, Nagaland and Assam come here to pursue education. The region also sees an influx of students from the neighbouring countries of Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. While previously there had been just a handful of schools, of late there has been a spurt of growth in numbers with most catering to the CISCE (ICSE, ISC), CBSE and West Bengal Secondary and Higher Secondary board(s). Siliguri Boys' High School (SBHS) is the oldest school of the city founded in 1918 at the time of British rule and it is one of the largest school in city. Siliguri Girls' High School,Margaret English High School, Terai Tarapada Adarsha Vidyalaya, Nanda Prasad High School,Army public school ,Bengdubi/Sukna,Air Force School, B.S.F. School, Lincoln's High school, St. Joseph's High School, Matigara;Delhi Public School (DPS), Don Bosco,, Mahbert High School, Lincoln High School,Good Shepherd School, Hebron School etc. are some of the notable schools here.
Siliguri has two engineering colleges, viz. Siliguri Institute of Technology
Siliguri Institute of Technology
Siliguri Institute of Technology is a Graduate Engineering and Management College that was established in the year 1999 in Siliguri , West Bengal, India...
& Surendra Institute of Engineering & Management other colleges are Suryasen mahavidyalaya, St Xaviers, Ignou Delhi, Salesian, Bagdogra clg, Naxalbari clg, Gyan jyoti, IIAS,and NIIT etc.
The North Bengal Medical College
North Bengal Medical College
North Bengal Medical College is located in Siliguri, India. It is the largest healthcare facility in the North Bengal region of West Bengal serving as a tertiary referral institute and has teaching programs for graduation and postgraduation. It is one of the nine government medical colleges in...
, located in Sushrutanagar, is the sole medical college in the region and is connected to the main city through the 3rd Mahananda Bridge. Students from across the state as well from neighbouring states come to study here after having cleared the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination
West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination
West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination or the WB-JEE is a state-government controlled centralised test for admission to many private and governmental medical and engineering institutions in West Bengal. The test is taken after the 12th grade for admission to graduation courses...
(Medical) or the All India Pre-Medical Test.
The University of North Bengal
University of North Bengal
University of North Bengal is a state university situated near Siliguri in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The university was established in 1962 with a goal to disseminate knowledge to fulfill growing socio-economic and technical manpower needs in the six North Bengal...
was established in 1962, 10 km away from the main Siliguri city, in Raja Rammohan Pur. The campus occupies an area of about 330 acres (1.3 km²) is second largest in India. Approximately 80 colleges are affiliated to the university, with approximately 36,000 and 1,500 students enrolled in graduate and post-graduate courses respectively, every year. A sprawling campus, this university boasts having the second largest campus in the country. The University is re-accredited by NAAC as B++.
Information technology
Siliguri is one of the three satellite IT hub and township that the government of West Bengal is developing. Some leading IT companies have shown interest and some of them have already started operating.Siliguri has been identified as city that can emerge as preferred destinations for software development and outsourcing companies.
The likes of Acclaris Hinduza Infosys
Infosys
Infosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...
and Firstsource
Firstsource
Firstsource is a provider of Business Process Outsourcing services headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Firstsource provides customized business process management to customers in the Banking & Financial Services, customer services, Telecom & Media and Healthcare sectors...
are in operation here since 2005. West Bengal Government has set up an IT Park at Siliguri for establishment of IT industries. Most of the individuals are already contributing towards innovative ideas and contributing IT skills towards the society. e.g. Education for the child's who can't afford school fees, Online clinic for poor people and A social site on Chhathpuja.
Festival
Major festivals observed at Siliguri include Durga pujaDurga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, Chhath Puja, Ganesh puja, Laxmi puja, Saraswati puja, Dipawali etc. Baishaki mela is one of the oldest mela in Siliguri. The fashion week during winters are celebrated for entertainment. Various concerts are organised by local clubs, which continues from mid oct to mid dec.
Sports
Table tennisTable tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, taekwon-do, chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
and football are the most popular sports here. The Kanchenjunga Stadium
Kanchenjunga Stadium
Kanachenjunga Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Siliguri, India. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 40,000 people....
is the city's only outdoor stadium and have hosted national and international level matches. The stadium houses the SAI
Sports Authority of India
The Sports Authority of India is a body set up by the Government of India. It was created in 1984 to help promote sport throughout the country. Presently, it has seven regional centres at Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, Sonepat, Delhi, Mumbai and Imphal and two sub-centres at Guwahati and...
sports hostel for athletes. There is an indoor stadium at Deshbandhupara in the southern part of the city. This new stadium has facilities for lawn tennis, badminton and table tennis as well as other indoor sports. However, the city is best known for being the training grounds for table tennis players. Siliguri has produced a number of national champions like Mantu Ghosh, the Gold Medal winner in the 1996 and 1999 SAF Games, Subhajit Saha
Subhajit Saha
Subhajit Saha is a professional table tennis player from West Bengal, India. He won the men's doubles gold in the 19th Commonwealth table tennis championship held at New Delhi in 2010....
and Nandita Saha. In recent years the close proximity of the Teesta river
Teesta River
River Teesta or Tista is said to be the lifeline of the Indian state of Sikkim, flowing for almost the entire length of the state and carving out verdant Himalayan temperate and tropical river valleys. The emerald-coloured river then forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal before joining...
has made Siliguri a destination for the white water rafting enthusiasts. Indian international cricketer Wriddhiman Saha
Wriddhiman Saha
Wriddhiman Prasanta Saha is an Indian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and specialist wicket-keeper. Saha has played Test cricket for India and represents Bengal and the Chennai Super Kings in Indian domestic cricket.-Bengal:...
also hails from Siliguri.
Media
English-language newspapers in Siliguri include the Times of India, The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
, The Asian Age, The Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
and The Telegraph
The Telegraph (Kolkata)
The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
. Several Bengali newspapers, including Uttarbanga Sambad, Anandabazar Patrika
Anandabazar Patrika
Anandabazar Patrika is an Indian Bengali language daily newspaper published in Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai by the ABP Group. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.28 million copies making it the largest circulation for a single-edition, regional language...
, Bartaman
Bartaman
Bartaman Patrika is an Indian Bengali language daily newspaper published in Kolkata by Bartaman Pvt. Ltd. Apart from the Kolkata edition, the newspaper has four other simultaneous editions, published daily from four major towns of West Bengal -- Siliguri, Burdwan, Malda and Midnapore...
, Ganashakti
Ganashakti
Ganashakti Patrika is the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party of India West Bengal State Committee, which first appeared as a fortnightly in 1967...
, Aajkaal
Aajkaal
Aajkaal is a Bengali newspapers in Kolkata, India. The newspaper was started in 1981 by Abhik Kumar Ghosh, and was part of the transformation of the Indian newspaper industry in the 1980s...
and Pratidin
Sangbad Pratidin
Sangbad Pratidin is an Indian Bengali newspaper published from Kolkata, India. It started publishing from 9 August 1992, owned by Swapan Sadhan Basu....
are also available. International news agencies like Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, AFP and AP also have correspondents here.
In addition to All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Siliguri has four private FM radio stations in Nine FM 91.9 MHz, Radio High 92.7 MHz, Red FM 93.5 MHz and Radio Misty 94.3 MHz.
Siliguri receives almost all the television channels that are received by the rest of India. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
, cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
serves most of the homes in the town, while satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
is common in the outlying areas and in wealthier households. Besides mainstream Indian channels, local news broadcasts, sporting events, and concerts are broadcast live or delayed via cable to many households. DTH services both by government and private companies are also available such as Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h, Digital TV (Airtel) and Big TV (Reliance). Siliguri has three private channels - CCN, AMAR CABLE and HTV.
Internet cafes can be easily found in the main market area, served through broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
services provided by BSNL and other private companies like MetroNET (Orange Networks) and Sinet (CCN).
The area is serviced by cell phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
companies such as Idea
Idea
In the most narrow sense, an idea is just whatever is before the mind when one thinks. Very often, ideas are construed as representational images; i.e. images of some object. In other contexts, ideas are taken to be concepts, although abstract concepts do not necessarily appear as images...
, Vodafone
Vodafone Essar
Vodafone Essar, formerly Hutchison Essar, is a cellular operator in India that covers 23 telecom circles in India. It is based in Mumbai. On July 2011, Vodafone Group agreed terms for the buy-out of its partner Essar from its Indian mobile phone business. The UK firm paid $5.46 billion to its...
, Airtel, Aircel
Aircel
Aircel group is a mobile phone service provider in India. It offers both prepaid and postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout India. The Aircel group is a joint venture between Maxis Communications Berhad of Malaysia and Sindya Securities & Investments Private Limited, whose current...
, BSNL, Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications Ltd. is an Indian broadband and telecommunications company headquartered in Navi Mumbai, India. RCOM is the world's 16th largest mobile phone operator with over 144 million subscribers. Established on 2004, a subsidiary of the Reliance Group...
, Tata Indicom
Tata Indicom
Tata Teleservices Limited is a Indian broadband and telecommunications provider based in Mumbai, India. It is a subsidiary of the Tata Group, an Indian conglomerate...
, MTS, Tata Docomo
Tata DoCoMo
TATA DoCoMo, referred to as DoCoMo , is a Tata Teleservices Limited owned cellular service provider on the GSM and CDMA platform-arising out of the Tata Group's strategic joint venture with Japanese telecom giant NTT Docomo in November 2008...
, Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile is a brand used by many mobile phone service providers across the globe; its headquarters are based in the United Kingdom. Virgin Mobile has local operations in Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, Greece, United Kingdom and the United States. It briefly also had operations...
and Uninor
Uninor
Uninor is a mobile operator in India. The company holds Unified Access Service licences to offer mobile telephony services in each of India’s 22 telecom circles, and has received spectrum to roll out services in 21 of these...
. And also has 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
network of BSNL, Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications Ltd. is an Indian broadband and telecommunications company headquartered in Navi Mumbai, India. RCOM is the world's 16th largest mobile phone operator with over 144 million subscribers. Established on 2004, a subsidiary of the Reliance Group...
, Vodafone
Vodafone Essar
Vodafone Essar, formerly Hutchison Essar, is a cellular operator in India that covers 23 telecom circles in India. It is based in Mumbai. On July 2011, Vodafone Group agreed terms for the buy-out of its partner Essar from its Indian mobile phone business. The UK firm paid $5.46 billion to its...
, Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel Limited , commonly known as Airtel, is an Indian telecommunications company that operates in 20 countries across South Asia, Africa and the Channel Islands. It operates a GSM network in all countries, providing 2G or 3G services depending upon the country of operation...
, Aircel
Aircel
Aircel group is a mobile phone service provider in India. It offers both prepaid and postpaid GSM cellular phone coverage throughout India. The Aircel group is a joint venture between Maxis Communications Berhad of Malaysia and Sindya Securities & Investments Private Limited, whose current...
.