Bidhannagar

2026-05-01T18:59:56Z

82.132.237.94:

{{About|a city in West Bengal, India|3=Salt Lake City (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement 
| name = Bidhannagar
| official_name =
| native_name = বিধাননগর
| native_name_lang = bn
| other_name = Salt Lake City
| settlement_type = [[Satellite City]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 275
| image_style =
| perrow = 1/2/2/1
| image1 = Kolkata, Salt Lake, Sector-5 skyline (modified).jpg
| caption1 = Sector-5 skyline
| image5 = SaltLakeSectorV_KolkataSkyline_Bidhannagar.jpg
| caption5 = [[Salt Lake Sector-V]]
| image4 = Nicco Park Salt lake.jpg
| caption4 = Nicco Park
| image2 = Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.jpg
| caption2 = [[Salt Lake Stadium]], largest football stadium in India
| image3 = Omega & Infinity Benchmark.jpg
| caption3 = Omega and Infinity Benchmark office buildings
| image6 = New Town Skyline captured from Bengal Intelligent Park, Saltlake, Kolkata (2 of 2 photos).jpg
| caption6 = View of Mahishbathan
}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| mapframe-marker = city
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal##Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|22.58|N|88.42|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Emblem of West Bengal (Banglarmukh) before 2018.png}} [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Administrative divisions of West Bengal|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Presidency division|Presidency]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of West Bengal|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder = [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]] <br/> Dobrivoje Toskovic (Master Planner and Chief Architect)
| named_for = Bidhan Chandra Roy
| government_type = [[Municipal Corporations in India|Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body = [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Krishna Chakraborty]]
| leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1 = Anita Mondal
| leader_title2 = Chairperson
| leader_name2 = [[Sabyasachi Dutta]]
| leader_title3 = Police Commissioner
| leader_name3 = Shri Mukesh, IPS
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name="bmcwbgov1"/>
| area_rank = 5th (in West Bengal)
| area_total_km2 = 55.51
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 11
| population_total = 6,34,107
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 4th (in West Bengal)
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="bmcwbgov1"/>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 700064, 700091, 700097, 700098, 700105, 700106, 700059, 700091, 700101, 700135, 700102, 700157, 700159
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +91 33
| registration_plate = WB
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Barasat Lok Sabha constituency|Barasat]], [[Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency|Dum Dum]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Bidhannagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bidhannagar]], [[Rajarhat Gopalpur Assembly constituency|Rajarhat Gopalpur]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.bmcwbgov.in|bmcwbgov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Bidhannagar''' or '''Salt Lake City''', is a planned city in [[North 24 Parganas district]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[West Bengal]] and the main IT hub of [[Eastern India]]. It is a part of the city of [[Kolkata]] and is under the municipal administration of [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]] (BMC). Designed by [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] architect [[Dobrivoje Tošković]], the development of Salt Lake commenced from late 1960s onwards from reclaimed wetlands and was developed into a major IT hub for the city [[Kolkata]] by the state government through the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.<ref>{{cite web|title= Refugee resettlement and futuristic planning: Lessons from Saltlake township|url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/refugee-resettlement-and-futuristic-planning-lessons-from-saltlake-township|publisher=Observer Research Foundation|last=Mitra|first=Snehashish|access-date=4 March 2026|date=6 January 2024}}</ref> Keeping with its original name, it is commonly referred to as Salt Lake City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bmcwbgov.in|title=Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation|access-date=7 January 2021|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920095154/http://bmcwbgov.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It is the headquarters of the [[Bidhannagar subdivision]] and is a part of the area covered by [[Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority]] (KMDA), located on the north-eastern side of [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.cmdaonline.com/kma.html| title =Base Map of Kolkata Metropolitan area| access-date =2007-09-03| publisher =Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000049/http://www.cmdaonline.com/kma.html| archive-date =2007-09-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kmda.wb.gov.in/page/cms/introducing_kmda_011393|title=Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority|publisher=KMDA|access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kmda.wb.gov.in/page/cms/map_of_kma_c1fed8|title=Kolkata Metropolitan Area Map|publisher=KMDA|access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref> The Nabadiganta Industrial Township Area and Sector V of Bidhannagar is one of the main economic hubs of the city with approximately 1,500 companies residing in Sector V as of 2021.<ref name="timesofindia-indiatimes1">{{cite web |title=Soon, smart composting units at Sector V offices |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/soon-smart-composting-units-at-sector-v-offices/articleshow/68713409.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=14 September 2023 |location=Kolkata |date=4 April 2019}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The city is named after [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], the founder of Salt Lake area of the city, the second Premier of West Bengal (1948–1950) and the first [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]].

== History ==
During the [[Salt March|Salt Satyagraha]], the people of Mahishbathan between present day Salt Lake and Rajarhat Newtown joined the Salt Satyagraha movement by preparing salt using indigenous methods. The main initiator of the movement was Lakshmikant Pramanik, the [[Zamindars of Bengal|zamindar]] of Mahishbathan.<ref name="anandabazar1">{{cite web |author1=Aryabhatta Khan |date=10 September 2023 |title=ভেড়ির জল থেকে লবণ তৈরি করে শুরু সত্যাগ্রহ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/rabibashoriyo/mahisbathan-jamidarbari-is-duely-connected-with-the-initiation-of-satyagraha-movement-against-british/cid/1458708 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Anandabazar |publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |language=bn |location=Kolkata}}</ref>

Bidhannagar's Master Planner and Chief Architect was [[Dobrivoje Tošković]]<ref>{{Cite web |title="The clean sheet." © Dobrivoje Toskovic |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-clean-sheet-C-Dobrivoje-Toskovic-Reproduced-by-permission-of-Dobrivoje-Toskovic_fig1_319075304}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Roy |first=Tasmayee Laha |date=2012-06-06 |title=How Dobrivoje Toskovic turned Salt Lake into a futuristic city |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/east/how-dobrivoje-toskovic-turned-salt-lake-into-a-futuristic-city/articleshow/13868669.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> from [[SFR Yugoslavia]], now [[Serbia]].

Bidhannagar's architecture has modern landmarks, such as the [[Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan]] or Salt Lake Stadium.

==Demographics==

{{Historical population
| source = [[Government of India]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=6 January 2024}}</ref>
|1981 | 33175
|1991 | 100048
|2001 | 164221
|2011 | 215514
|align = left
}}

At the 2011 census, Bidhannagar Municipality had a population of 218,323 (males 111,363; females 106,960) in an area of approximately 13.16 square km with a density of about 16,590 persons per square kilometre.<ref name="medium.com">{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@anjan.chatterjee/an-overview-the-drainage-aspect-of-bidhannagar-municipal-corporation-area-bidhannagar-kolkata-fe0982c8060|title=An overview — the drainage aspect of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation area, Bidhannagar, Kolkata|first=Anjan|last=Chatterjee|date=5 April 2016|website=Medium}}</ref> However, the area of Bidhannagar Municipality was 33.50 square km (much bigger than Salt Lake City) because it includes [[East Kolkata Wetlands]] area, where very few floating people live.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kolkata Overview|url=http://wbplan.gov.in:80/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgs%20north.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205044900/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgs%20north.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 February 2018|access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="medium.com" /> Bidhannagar Municipality has an average literacy rate of 90.44% (higher than the national average of 74%),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/india/Final%20PPT%202011_chapter6.pdf|title=6. State of Literacy|publisher=Census of India 2011|page=98|access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref> with male literacy of 93.08% and female literacy of 87.69%.<ref name=census>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above|year=2011|publisher=Census of India|page=7|access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File: Nalban - West Bengal 7792.JPG|thumb|An example of the many wetlands and lakes that surround Bidhannagar]]

Salt Lake is located in the southeastern part of West Bengal. The city area sits within the [[Ganges Delta|lower Ganges Delta]] of eastern India. The Salt Lake area of Kolkata city was formed by land reclamation, which was done in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate the growing population. Salt Lake is located on the north eastern area of [[Kolkata]], the state capital; {{convert|65.2|km}} west of [[Ghojadanga]], a border checkpoint; and {{convert|128|km}} north of [[Bakkhali]].

According to the [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]], the city area has a total area of {{convert|55.51|sqkm}}, with approx {{convert|30.51|sqkm}} of it being land, and approx {{convert|25|sqkm}}, or 45.5% of the total, being covered by water. It has an average elevation of 11 [[metre]]s (49 ft).

[[East Kolkata Wetlands]], located within the city limits of Bidhannagar, lies across the southern part of the city. It is one of the two [[Ramsar site]]s in West Bengal, the other being the [[Sundarbans|Sundarban Wetland]].<ref name=ekw>{{Cite web|title=East Calcutta Wetlands|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1208|access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref>

==Civic administration==
[[File:Poura_Bhavan_-_Bidhannagar_Municipality_-_FD_415A_-_Salt_Lake_City_-_Kolkata_2013-10-11_3305-3306.JPG|thumb|220x220px|[[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]] ]]

Bidhannagar is administered by several government agencies. The [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]], or BMC, oversees and manages the civic infrastructure of the city's 6 boroughs, which together encompass 41 wards. Each ward elects a councilor to the BMC. Each borough has a committee of councillors, each of whom is elected to represent a ward. By means of the borough committees, the corporation undertakes urban planning and maintains roads, government-aided schools, hospitals, and municipal markets. The functions of the KMC include water supply, drainage and sewerage, sanitation, solid waste management, street lighting, and building regulation.<ref name="bmcwbgov1">{{cite web |title=BMC Profile |url=http://www.bmcwbgov.in/index.php/about-us/bmc-profile |website=www.bmcwbgov.in |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807111508/http://www.bmcwbgov.in/index.php/about-us/bmc-profile |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA) was created in January 2006. It supplies water; maintains sewerage, roads, street signals; furnishes important buildings and collects property tax and fees in Sector - V (excluded from the jurisdiction of [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ndita.org/egovernance/|title=NDITA Overview}}</ref>

===Police===
The [[Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate]] is responsible for law enforcement in the city area. Out of 13 police stations of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, 9 police stations are engaged in controlling law and order in city area.<ref name="bidhannagarcitypolice1">{{cite web |title=Bidhannagar City Police |url=http://bidhannagarcitypolice.gov.in/police_station.php |website=bidhannagarcitypolice.gov.in |access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="bidhannagarcitypolice-map">{{cite web |title=Bidhannagar City Police |url=http://bidhannagarcitypolice.gov.in/juridiction_map.php |website=bidhannagarcitypolice.gov.in |access-date=14 September 2023}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Entrance gate of the Karunamoyee Bus Terminal in Salt Lake City-Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.jpg|thumb|Karunamoyee Bus Terminus]]
Bidhannagar has a bus terminal named Karunamoyee Bus Terminus. A variety of AC & Non-AC Buses depart from this terminus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/karunamoyee-bus-stand-set-to-get-revamped-with-better-toilets-sheds-and-waiting-areas-for-passengers/cid/1999870|title=Karunamoyee bus stand set to get revamped with better toilets, sheds and waiting areas for passengers|publisher=The Telegraph|date=12 Feb 2024|access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref>

'''WBTC Bus'''
* AC-9 (Jadavpur 8B - Karunamoyee)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youfindgo.com/listing/ac-9-bus-services/|title=AC 9 Bus Services|publisher=You Find Go|access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref>
* AC-38 (Dum Dum Stn - Karunamoyee)
* AC-23A (Rajchandrapur - Karunamoyee)
* AC-14 (Baruipur - Karunamoyee)
* EB-12 (Barasat - Karunamoyee)
* S-22 (Shakuntala Park - Karunamoyee)
* S-46 (Rabindra Nagar - Karunamoyee)
* S-4 (Parnasree - Karunamoyee)
* S-9 (Jadavpur 8B - Karunamoyee)
* S-14 (Garia - Karunamoyee)
* S-16 (Thakurpukur 3A - Karunamoyee)
* S-23A (Rajchandrapur - Karunamoyee)
* 14A (Ramnagar - Karunamoyee)
* AC-30S (Ultadanga - Ecospace)
* S-12N (Karunamoyee - Nabanna)
* S-30A (Ultadanga - Ultadanga)
* S-64 (Naihati - New Town)

Other WBTC buses which ply on [[Eastern Metropolitan Bypass]] and [[Biswa Bangla Sarani]] are as follows:
* AC-9B (Jadavpur 8B - Ecospace)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youfindgo.com/listing/ac-9b-bus-services/|title=AC 9B Bus Services|publisher=You Find Go|access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref>
* AC-4B (Joka Tram Depot - Newtown)
* AC-12 (Howrah Stn - Shapoorji)
* AC-37A (Airport - Garia 6 no Bus stand)
* AC-43 (Airport - Golf Green)
* AC-47 (Kudghat - Shapoorji)
* AC-49 (Parnasree - Ecospace)
* AC-4A (Parnasree - Ecospace)
* EB-3 (Tollygunge Tram Depot - Ecospace)
* EB-14 (Santragachi - Ecospace)
* EB-16 (Joka - Hatisala)
* C-8 (Barasat - Joka)
* C-23 (Dankuni - Park Circus)
* M-14 (Behala - Newtown)
* S-3W (Joka Tram Depot - Ecospace)
* S-4D (Parnasree - Ecospace)
* S-9C (Kamalgazi - Ecospace)
* S-12 (Howrah Stn - Newtown)
* S-12E (Howrah Stn - Ecospace)
* S-30 (Ultadanga - Ecospace)
* AC-37 (Barasat - Garia)
* AC-50A (Rajchandrapur - Garia)
* V-1 (Tollygunge Tram Depot - Airport)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wikiroutes.info/en/kolkata?routes=77091|title=V-1 Bus Route|publisher=Wiki Routes|access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Waterside Ring Road Sector V - Salt Lake City - Kolkata 2017-06-21 2866.JPG|thumb|Ring road along the eastern periphery of /[[Salt Lake Sector-V]]]]

The modes of transportation like other parts of [[Kolkata]] includes air conditioned/non-ac government/private buses, Yellow taxi and other popular options like [[auto rickshaw]] and e-rickshaws. The [[Howrah Maidan metro station|Howrah Maidan]] - Salt Lake Sector V - [[Teghoria]] (Haldiram) Line ([[Green Line (Kolkata Metro)|Green Line]]) of the [[Kolkata Metro]] is in operation since 14 February 2020, now connects Salt Lake Sector V and Sealdah. The [[New Garia]] – [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport|Dum Dum Airport]] Line ([[Orange Line (Kolkata Metro)|Orange Line]]) of the [[Kolkata Metro]], which passes through the Salt Lake Bypass, is under-construction with cost inflation and delays.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rail set to take over East-West|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110208/jsp/calcutta/story_13549408.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208202952/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110208/jsp/calcutta/story_13549408.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2012|access-date=26 September 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=8 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hidco clears route for Garia-airport Metro|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Hidco-clears-route-for-Garia-airport-Metro/articleshow/10110483.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928221024/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-25/kolkata/30200059_1_hidco-official-east-west-metro-metro-route|url-status=live|archive-date=28 September 2012|access-date=26 September 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 September 2011}}</ref>

==Education==
===Colleges===
# [[All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health]] (Second campus)
# [[Bidhannagar College|Bidhannagar Government College]]
# [[Bose Institute]]
# [[Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology]]
# [[Indian Institute of Foreign Trade]], Kolkata
# [[Institute of Engineering and Management]]
# [[International School of Business and Media]]
# [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology]]
# [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]]
# [[National Institute of Homoeopathy]]
# [[National Council of Science Museums]]
# Institute of Health Sciences, [[Presidency University, Kolkata]]
# [[Rabindra Bharati University]]
# [[Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics]]
# [[S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences]]
# [[Techno India University]]
# [[Jadavpur University|Jadavpur University's]] Second Campus
# [[University of Calcutta]]'s Technology Campus
# Unitedworld School of Business
# [[Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre]]
# [[West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences]]

===Schools===
Schools in Salt Lake include the:

# Pearl Rosary School, Affiliated to CBSE, BK Block, Near Tank 8
# Bidhannagar Government High School,
# [[Bidhannagar Municipal School]], a combined [[primary school|primary]] and [[high school]] and
# a branch of [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]], named [[Bhavan's Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir]],
# [[Salt Lake School]],
# Kalyani Public School near CK Market, formerly Mother International School,
# [[Sri Aurobindo Institute of Education]] near Sector V Metro Station,
# [[Laban Hrad Vidyapith]].
# Also, there are two Kendriya Vidyalaya in Salt Lake viz. K.V. No. 1 Salt Lake and K.V. No. 2 Salt Lake.
# Apeejay School Saltlake

Catholic schools include:

# St. Joan's School,
# [[Our Lady Queen of the Missions School]] and
# [[St. Francis Xavier School, Kolkata|St. Francis Xavier School]].

==See also==
* [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]]
* [[Salt Lake Stadium]]
* [[Nicco Park]]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bidhannagar}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Kolkata/East}}
* [http://www.bmcwbgov.in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920095154/http://bmcwbgov.in/ |date=20 September 2020 }}
* [https://bidhannagarcitypolice.gov.in/ Bidhannagar City Police]

{{Kolkata neighbourhoods}}
{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Planned cities in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1962]]
[[Category:High-technology business districts in India]]
[[Category:Central business districts in India]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Kolkata Metropolitan Area]]
[[Category:Bidhannagar]]

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