Chittaranjan

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?Chittaranjan West Bengal • India
Chittaranjan
Coordinates: 23°52′N 86°52′E / 23.87, 86.87
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 155 m (509 ft)
District(s)	Bardhaman
Population	45,925 (2001)
Website: bardhaman.gov.in/

Coordinates: 23°52′N 86°52′E / 23.87, 86.87

Chittaranjan (Bengali: চিত্তরঞ্জন)(Hindi: चित्तरंजन) is a census town in Asansol subdivision of Bardhaman District in the state of West Bengal, India.

1 Geography
2 Locomotives
3 Demographics
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Geography

coor title dm|23|52|N|86|52|E|region

Chittaranjan is located at 23.87° N 86.87° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 155 metres (508 feet).

Chittaranjan is a railway town on the border of the Indian states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The town is named after the Indian freedom fighter, Chittaranjan Das The town of Chittaranjan is on the West Bengal side of the state border. The town on the Jharkhand side is known as Mihijam. The passenger rail head serving Chittaranjan is in Mihijam.

The Asansol-Durgapur region is composed of undulating latterite region. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.^[2] At the western fringe of the area the Barakar forms the boundary with Jharkhand. There is a small stretch of land border with Jharkhand in the Chittaranjan area.

[edit] Locomotives

Main article: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works

Chittaranjan is well known for Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), which manufactures mainline electric broad gauge locomotives. This factory commenced production in 1950; and up to 1972, it was involved in the production of Broad Gauge & Metre Gauge Steam Locomotives such as WG, WP (Broad Gauge goods & passenger) and YP, YG (Metre Gauge goods & passenger). Production of Electric Locomotives commenced in 1963 (with technical assistance of SNCF of France), when the late Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister Of India, dedicated the first mainline Broad Gauge Electric Locomotive titled 'BIDHAN' and of the class WAG1 to the nation.

In addition to steam and electric locomotives, CLW also produced Narrow Gauge (762mm) diesel locomotives of the ZDM class and Broad Gauge Hydraulic shunting locomotives of the WDS4 class. Production of steam locomotives was discontinued in 1972, when the last steam locomotive titled 'ANTIM SITARA' (The Last Star) was rolled out. Towards the early 90s production of diesel locomotives in CLW was discontinued altogether.

In the mid 90s' under a Transfer-Of-Technology agreement with the Indian Railways, Msrs ABB of Switzerland helped CLW produce the 3-phase 5000 HP locos under the WAP-5 & WAP-7 classes (Passenger Traffic) and WAG-9 class (Freight Traffic). Currently, CLW produces electric locomotives of WAP-4, WAP-5 & WAP-7 classes (Passenger Traffic) and WAG-7 & WAG-9 (Freight Traffic) With its neatly arranged row-houses, broad and clean roads, lots of greenery and lakes, Chittaranjan is a perfect example for an ideal township. This township houses over 9000 quarters of various types and sizes for its employees. All these quarters are neatly grouped under various areas, with each area, having its own Primary Health Unit (also known as a Dispensary), marketplace, school, Community hall and Playground. In addition to a dispensary in every area, CLW also has its own Hospital - the Kasturba Hospital. A bird's eye view of a part of Chittaranjan Township can be had from Chittaranjan's own little hill resort - the dimunitive HillTop, located within the town limits. Chittaranjan also has two big playgrounds: The "Oval" ground and the "Srilata" Ground which holds various Sub-divisional tournaments.

Some of the schools offering primary and secondary school education in Chittaranajan are: 1) Chittaranjan High School 2) Deshabandhu Vidyalaya - Boys and 3) Deshabandhu Vidyalaya - Girls 4) St. Joseph's Convent 5) Kendriya Vidyalaya. Chittaranjan has two multi-Sports Stadiums, two Swimming Pools, Basketball Court, Badminton Court, Lawn Tennis Court, many Football Grounds and a Gymnasium. Chittaranjan has two movie theaters - Ranjan Cinema and Sreemati Cinema. While the former screens mostly Hindi movies, the latter screens Bengali movies and the occasional Hindi movie. Chittaranjan has many Community Halls where annual Durga Puja festival is organized and celebrated. Amongst the must-eat items in Chittaranjan are: 1) The early morning Radha-Ballabhi (A cousin of the famed Kachori) served piping hot at Burdwan Mistanna Bhandar, on station road, Mihijam. 2) Chops served piping hot on the SP East Market Road. 3) Pani Puri and Ghuguni near Amladahi Bus Stand. 4) Piping hot Elaichi Tea served in Khullars in SP East Market. 5) Famous sweet Labangalatika near locomotive main gate. Spots to visit: 1) Ajay river — One of the famous picnic spot. 2) "Hill Top" situated over a water filter house. 3) Horticulture Garden (near Hill Top). 4) Boating club.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[3] Chittaranjan had a population of 45,925. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Chittaranjan has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 88% and female literacy of 79%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.