Ulhasnagar
Ulhasnagar
Ulhasnagar | |
|---|---|
city | |
 | |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 472,943 |
| Website | www.umc.gov.in |
Ulhasnagar (Hindi/Marathi : उल्हासनगर) is a city located on coast of the West India, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of the City of Mumbai (Bombay), in the Thane district in the state of Maharashtra. Ulhasnagar, also referred as Sindhunagar, has an estimated population of 472,943 people (2001).[1] The name derives from the Ulhas river which flows through it.
Over the years, the city has grown a reputation for lawlessness, and is known for its gang warfare; it is said that "There was a time when there would be a killing in Ulhasnagar every Tuesday."[2] While its image has improved in recent times, it remains one of the cities that has continuously sent a gangster to the legislature; don Pappu Kalani has won four state elections here, two of them while he was in jail on charges including several murders.[3]
Geography and Demographics
Ulhasnagar is located at 19°13′N 73°09′E / 19.22°N 73.15°E.[4] It has an average elevation of 19 metres (62 feet).
As of 2001 India census,[5] Ulhasnagar had a population of 472,943. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ulhasnagar has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Ulhasnagar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
After the partition of India, over 100,000 Sindhi refugees from the newly created West Pakistan were relocated to deserted military camps five kilometers from Kalyan. The area was converted into a township in 1949, and named Ulhasnagar by the then Governor-general of India, C. Rajagopalachari (literally 'city of joy'; ulhas=joy; nagar=city).
A suburban railway station was built in 1955. Five years later in January 1960 Ulhasnagar Municipality was formed, with Arjun K. Ballani as first chief, and a municipal council was nominated. In 1965, elections to this council were held for the first time. Now this 22 square kilometer area has 350,000 people of Sindhi descent, the largest enclave of this ethnic group in India. The town lies outside Mumbai city but within the Mumbai Conurbation.
The Sindhi community flourished as a business group, though it became well known for duplicate products, often on the borders of legality: for a good part of the 70s and 80s ‘Made in USA’ meant ‘Made in Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association’. While this helped the local businesses flourish for a while, the city was seen as nothing more than a counterfeiters’ paradise and soon the rot set in. Illegal construction, unauthorized industrial units and high levels of pollution, all began to plague the town.[6]
Business grew, and the Ulhasnagar turnover was estimated at Rs. 1,000 crores (US$ 200 million) in 1995. The duplicate goods image gradually wore off, but the lawlessness continued, particularly in illegal construction, unauthorized industrial units, and high levels of pollution. Consequently, politicians started to charge money to look the other way, and by 1999, each corpora tor in the municipality was said to be making 5 to ten lakhs in "protection money".[7]
Places to Visit
The city is served by 5 pincodes 421001 to 421005 and these sections are referred to as camps 1 to 5 by the local residents.
There are interesting places to visit in Ulhasnagar like temples, gardens and shopping areas. Camp 2 and 3 have areas marked for local shopping. Ulhasnagar is a good place to bargain and get good deals on clothes, furniture & electronics.
There city also has gardens and parks like Gol Maidan, Sapna Garden, Netaji Garden etc. The biggest one is Gol Maidan (Gol means Circle) which has rides for children, cricket ground, jogging track, and also some yoga and meditation centers.
There are various famous temples and landmarks in and around Ulhasnagar like Swami Shanti Prakash Temple, Swami Shanti Prakash Chowk, Statue of Swami Shanti Prakash, Puj Jhulelal Mandir - Temple (Jhulelal is God of water worshiped by Sindhis).
Shopping
Ulhasnagar is famous for its products, be it clothes or furniture or electronics or jewellery. Earlier it was infamous for selling duplicate stuff but this has changed in the recent past. Today people from Mumbai or Thane come to Ulhasnagar for shopping. Bargaining is the mantra and one can get some of the best deals around in wholesale or retail.
There is a famous saying "The person who can trade in Ulhasnagar, can trade in any part of this world". Goods are exported throughout the nation and some parts of world.
Transport
One can reach Ulhasnagar by road or railway. By using Mumbai suburban railway (Central branch) one can reach Ulhasnagar by alighting at stations like Kalyan and Shahad stations which are near camp 1 and 2 or Ulhasnagar and Vithalwadi stations which are close to rest of the camps. The city is serviced by autorickshaw for travel from Mumbai and Thane as well as intra city transport.
References
- ^ Mumbai Councils
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Dionne Bunsha (2004-12-17). "The States: Dons in a new role". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Tanushree Chakraborty (September 06, 2001). "Pappu Kalani is free: bluster intact, not his base". Indian Express. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ulhasnagar
- ^ Template:GR
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Girish Kuber (2007-01-09). "Pappu's Ulhasnagar gambit may backfire". Economic Times. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Yogesh Pawar (1999-03-03). "Three Ps rule Ulhas: Pelf, Politicians & Pappu". Indian Express. Retrieved 2007-05-24.