| |
| Related Links.... |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
| home >> about west bengal >> basic information |
|
| BASIC INFORMATION |
|
 |
| Location : |
| West Bengal is located at the center of the Eastern Region of India. The state is strategically positioned with 3 international frontiers, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The state of West Bengal borders the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Sikkim and Assam. It stretches for about 700 km, from the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal in the South to the mighty Himalayas in the North. |
|
|
| Area : |
| 88752 sq. km (less than 3% of total area of India) |
|
| Population : |
| 80221171 (7.81% of total population of India) |
|
| Temperature : |
Summer - 24 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius
Winter - 7 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius
The average temperature in March ranges from 28 degree Celsius to 32 degree Celsius |
|
| Monsoon : |
| June-September |
|
| Rainfall : |
| 175 cms (annual average) |
|
| |
|
| West Bengal Snapshot |
|
| Economy |
| West Bengal is the third largest economy in the country after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The service sector is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product of the state, contributing 55.59% of the state domestic product compared to 25.92% from agriculture and 18.49% from industry. |
|
|
| Market |
| 1/10th of India's market is in West Bengal. There are 23 towns with a population of over 100,000. The percentage of population living below the poverty line has drastically reduced. A vast rural captive market is available in West Bengal. On an average, an amount of Rs.13100 crore is being spent by the rural population on purchase of industrial goods every year and this is increasing nearly @ 10% p.a. |
|
|
| Economic Growth |
| Industrial : |
As against the present growth rate of index of industrial production of 11.5 % at the national level, the index of industrial production in West Bengal stands at 8.1 % (2006-07). |
| State Domestic Products : |
During the year 2006- 2007, the growth of Net State Domestic Product of West Bengal was 8.81 % as against 9.6 % growth of gross domestic product of the country over this period. |
|
|
|
| Infrastructure |
|
| Power |
| Installed Capacity : |
7359.2 MW |
| Generation : |
47166.54 MU. West Bengal is a power surplus state. It supplies power to its neighbouring states. It is the only state to offer 40% power tariff concession in an ordered scale up to 6 years of production of an industrial unit. |
|
|
|
| Roads |
| Highways : |
 |
National Highways: 1898 kms |
|
State Highways: 3533 kms |
|
State Highways: Road (PWD) 12565 kms |
|
Zila Parishad: 42479 kms |
|
Municipal Road: 22453 kms |
|
Railway Network: 4040.88 Route kms |
|
|
|
|
| Communications |
| Telecom : |
Kolkata ranks third in terms of mobile subscription. The state had about 93.81 lakh mobile subscribers in 2007-08. VSNL has its international gateway and earth station in and around Kolkata. Mobile cellular services and email services are available from a host of operators. International connectivity is provided through VSNL and five STPI earth stations, viz. Kolkata, Durgapur, Kharagpur, Haldia, and Siliguri.
DoT/GoI has selected Digha in East Midnapore district as the cable landing station for the submarine cable laying project connecting India and South East Asia. |
|
|
| Ports |
| Airports : |
There is an international airport at Kolkata and a domestic airport at Bagdogra, Siliguri.
India’s first aerotropolis is slated to come up near Durgapur – Andal region. |
| Seaports : |
There are two seaports at Kolkata and Haldia. |
|
|
|
|
| Growth Centres |
| There are 12 Growth Centres for medium and large scale industries, exclusive growth centres for Electronics Industries, Software Technology Park at Salt Lake, Export Processing Industrial Park at Durgapur and Export Processing Zone at Falta. |
|
|
|
| Major Industries |
| Chemicals, Cotton Textiles, Coal, Iron & Steel Products, Heavy & Light Engineering products, Leather & Footwear, Papers, Tea, Jute products, Breweries, Paper, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Electrical & Electronics, Plastics, Software and lnfotech, Locomotives, Vegetable Oils, Gems & Jewellery, Leather & Leather products and Poultry products. |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
