The Most Populated Cities In West Bengal

West Bengal is an eastern Indian state with a coastline on the Bay of Bengal. It is India’s fourth most populated state and had a population of 91,347,736 in 2011. In terms of area, West Bengal is the country’s 14h largest and has an area of 88,752 square km.

The 5 Most Populated States In West Bengal

1.Kolkata 

The capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata, is also the most populated city in this eastern Indian state. The city is located on the river Hooghly's eastern banks and is the region’s cultural, commercial, and educational hub. In 2011, Kolkata recorded a population of 14,112,536. The population density here is extremely high at 24,252 square km. The city has a literacy rate of 87.14% that exceeds the national average of 74%. Kolkata has a well-developed infrastructure including a seaport, an international airport, several highways connecting it to major Indian cities, etc. Kolkata has the third highest GDP (PPP) among the South Asian cities. 

2. Asansol

With a population of 1,243,008, Asansol is West Bengal’s second most populous city. It is one of the world’s 100 fastest growing cities. The city is located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau between the Ajay and Damodar rivers. The economy of the city mainly relies on steel, railways, and coal. Trade and commerce are also important economic activities in the city.

3. Siliguri

The city of Siliguri is located in northern West Bengal on the banks of the Mahananda River at the foothills of the Himalayas. The city hosted a population of 701,489 in 2011. Siliguri has a booming economy that attracts migrants from other parts of northern India to this city. A significant population of Bhutanese and Tibetan people also live in this city.

4. Durgapur

West Bengal’s fourth biggest city is Durgapur. The population of the city was recorded to be 581,409 in 2011. Durgapur is a planned city that is often referred to as the steel city of eastern India due to the two large steel plants located in the city. These are the Durgapur Steel Plant and the Alloy Steel Plant. One of the fastest growing cities in the region, Durgapur also has several other industries like Durgapur Chemicals, Durgapur Cements, DVC, CMERI, etc.

5. Bardhaman 

The fifth most populated city in West Bengal is Bardhaman. This city had a population of 347,016 in 2011. The city is located in the Purba Bardhaman district where it is the district capital. The city is an ancient one and is named after a Jain Tirthankara of the 6th century.