About Rourkela

Rourkela pronunciation (Oriya:ରାଉରକେଲା) (Bengali:রাউরকেলা ) (Hindi: राउरकेला) is located in the northwestern tip of the Indian state of Orissa at the heart of a rich mineral belt. It is situated about 340 kilometres (211 mi) north of state capital Bhubaneswar.It is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by rivers. One of the largest steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited is situated here. It also has one of the National Institutes of Technology of the country. Rourkela Steel Plant was first to bring cctv to the whole Asia continent for the first time(1984). It is the 14th most clean and green city of India.

Name

The name "Rourkela" in the local tribal language of "Sadri" means "Our Village". It comes under Sundargarh district of the Indian state of Orissa. An indigenous community called Raulia used to inhabit this region.

History

The picturesque and modern twin towns of Rourkela and Fertilizer Township as well as their developed periphery are located in areas that were once covered by dense forests. Rourkela city came into prominence in the year 1955. According to the census report of 2011 the population of Rourkela City is 7 lakhs approx. Then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali.

When India obtained independence, a priority for the government was the industrialization of the country. A basic necessity was the production of iron and steel, and after a search for a suitable location, a steel plant was finally ear-marked in the Rourkela region. Thus, India's first public sector steel plant facility was established here with the help of Germany private undertaking called KRUPP & DEMAG Co.

Layout

The Rourkela Township is divided into two separate townships under Census of India as Steel Township and Civil Township. The Residential quarters colony of Rourkela Steel Plant having 21 sectors on record (while in reality the Sector – 10, 11 and 12 do not exist, though the area for the same is earmarked) is called Steel Township and the other part is called Civil Township. One smaller township Fertilizer was renamed sector-22, as this township is within the purview of SAIL.

The 23 kilometers long Ring Road, connecting 19 sectors and some other parts of the steel city including old Rourkela is perhaps its most important landmark. The important places on the Ring Road are as follows –

1. Aam Bagan (Ispat Market)
2. VIP Market Sector-5 & Super Market (Near from Sector 19 Chowk)
3. Chhend Colony
4. Basanti Nagar & STI Chowk
5. Indira Gandhi Park
6. Bisra Chowk (Rourkela Main Road)
7. Main Gate (RSP, SAIL)

Important Layouts (Other than Ring Road) are: Civil Township, Station Road (Bus & Railway), Koel Nagar, Panposh, Udit Nagar, Fertiliser Township, IGH Road, Hanuman Vatika, Vedvyas.

Climate

Rourkela has a tropical climate and receives high rainfall during Southwest monsoon (June–September) and retreating Northeast monsoon (December–January). Average annual rainfall ranges between 160–200 cm. The minimum and maximum temperatures are in the range of 7 C to 47 C with a mean minimum and maximum temperature range of 9.8 C to 39.2 C during coldest and hottest months. Thirty six percent of the geographical area of the district has semi-evergreen or tropical dry deciduous forest.

Economy

Industries

Rourkela is the industrial capital of Orissa. It has industries of all sizes. The city is known internationally for iron & steel trades. Recent upspurt in iron & steel pricing has seen a lot of industries of all sizes coming in and around Rourkela. The city is near to the source of Raw Materials. Major Industries:

• Rourkela Steel Plant, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
• NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited (NSPCL a joint venture of NTPC and SAIL)
• Fertiliser Plant
• L&T Plant located at Kansbahal
• IDL Limited (now merged to Gulf Oil Corporation Limited)
• Serly Marshalling Yard, Bondamunda (Indian Railways)
• Kalunga Industrial Estate
• STPI Rourkela (Information & Technology)
• Swaraj Enterprise Private Limited (IT & ITES)

Tourism

Rourkela also acts as a hub for tourism in Orissa. Hanuman Vatika is a famous site to see and behold in Rourkela

Hanuman Vatika

The city houses the Hanuman Vatika, which is a major attraction for the locals and visitors to the town. A 74.9 feet (23 m) tall full-fledged Hanuman statue welcomes the visitors to the steel city. Sri Laxmana Swami was the architect behind the statue. The Hanuman Vatika Trust Board has made a temple complex on 13 acres (53,000 m²) of land. The Bata Mangala Mandira, Vinayaka Mandira and Manas Parayana Sharala have been established to the entrance of the Hanuman Vatika. The Koili Baikuntha, the kitchen, the Kalyan Mandap and the Bhajan Mandap lie close to the Jagannath temple.

Vedavyas

Vedvyas – adjacent to modern Rourkela and Panposh – is a highly revered place and religious for Hindus – most ancient and almost pre-historic. Historians debate that ‘Vyasadeva’ was not an individual, but a school of thoughts of 18 rishis – all named Vyasadeva.

A place of natural beauty also considered a 'Tirtha', is situated 9 km away on the confluence of the rivers Shankha, Koel and Saraswati. There is also a Vedic Ashram and a Gurukula system school here. It is at this site that the epic Mahabharata was purported to have been put down on paper by Maharishi Vyas. The naming of the place ‘Vedvyas’ at the confluence of 3 rivers:

1. Sankha – from Chhatisgarh, over which Mandira Dam and Reservoir of SAIL is located;
2. Koel – from Jharkhand and
3. River Saraswati, which is now extinct. It has historic authenticity.

The mighty and the holy river Brahmani starts from this place. After the Ganga-debacle, King Shantanu fell in love with a fisherman’s daughter Satyabati – starting flash-point of the Mahabharat stories. ‘Vedvyas’ was the ashram (the Holy Hermitage) of Vaisampayan Vyasadeva – first maker of the legendary epic Mahabharata. This was the place where the Vedas were interpreted to Purans.

Mandira Dam

Mandira Dam, near Kansbahal is situated at the lowest level,it is mostly used for Rourkela Steel Plant. If the dam were breached, the water would drown almost 100 villages.

Ghoghar Temple

The Ghoghar Temple, 30 km. from Rourkela dates back to antiquity. The temple is by the Ghoghar river, a gorge on River IB, is situated in 200 19’ North and 840 0 ‘E longitude. The beautiful gorge with its sylvan background is also a popular holy spot and attracts visitors throughout the year. There is a naturally formed Siva Linga of Black granite here. The renovated temple has a facility of community lunch and lodging for outstation visitors. Devotees from all over throng the place especially during the month of Shravan(July / August). Other than this during Kartika Purnima in the months of November and Shivaratri February / March, thousands of devotees visit this place. Ghoghar is easily approachable both from Kansbahal and Rajgangpur.courtsy by – S.M.Engineers(Samarendra Mohapatra),ph-9937905360,Ranibandh,Rajgangpur

Khandadhar

The 244 m High Khandadhar is 90 km from Rourkela via Bonaigarh. It is formed by the perennial Korapani Nala which flows here throughout the year. It is the highest waterfall in Orissa and the 4th highest in India.

Darjin

Darjin is a picnic spot on the river Brahmani. Nearby is Deodhar, a gorge on the river. It is 51 km from Rourkela on National Highway No. 23. About 180 km from Rourkela, Junagarh has a fort of historical and archaeological importance with ancient caves. Another haunt of the tourists is the Mirig Khog Waterfall, a picnic spot, 111 km from Rourkela.

Maa Vaishno Devi Temple

It is situated on the top of the small hill with a beautiful environment of green tree and fresh air through the day. It is also visible from the Railway Station. The images of Maa Kali, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati were found on the hill in the year 2000. then Maa Vaishnu Devi Temple Trust was formed in the year 2000. The Temple was constructed and completed in the year 2003. Proper stairs were made and water tanks were arranged for drinking water. Maa Durga Temple is another attraction near the cave to be worthy seen.

Laxmi Narayan Mandir

Situated in Sector-14 on a small hillock this is a place to attend complete peace of mind, away from the hustle and bustle of city. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Mata...

Civic administration

The steel city is divided mainly into two sections: Old Rourkela (sections of the city near the railway station that were settled prior to RSP coming up) and the much larger Steel township. The Steel township till 1999, was divided into 18 Sectors, Sector 6 being the largest of them.

The Steel township & Fertilizer Township are under the Steel Plant Administration while the other sections of the city are under the Rourkela Municipal Committee. Some rural areas of South Rourkela are managed by the Jalda Panchayat.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Rourkela had nearly 7 lakhs of population. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Rourkela has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%. In Rourkela, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

• Density of Population – 6,696 per km². approx.
• Sex Ratio – 835 Female per 1000 male.
• Per Capita income – Highest in Orissa.
• Population (Census 2011) – 7 Lakhs approx.
• Main Habitations in Rourkela – Civil Township, Koelnagar, Chhend Colony, Uditnagar, Steel Township (Eighteen Sectors), Fertilizer Township, Industrial Estate, Basantinagar, Jhirpani, Jagda, Panposh, Vedavyas and Kalunga.

Transport

As Rourkela is the commercial and industrial capital of Orissa, it has a developed transportation network.

Rail

It is situated on the Kolkata-Mumbai South Eastern railway line which is a major route connecting the two metros of India. Rourkela is directly connected to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Jamshedpur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Puri, Patna, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Raipur, Sambalpur and many more cities of India.Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Intercity Express introduced this year has broken all records of popularity.

Local transport

Rourkela city is connected with National Highways NH-23 and SH-10 to the towns and cities of Orissa. The three-wheeler auto taxis are the most important mode of transportation in the city. Taxis also ply on the city's roads. Sampark buses, introduced in September 2006, connect various areas in the city.

Air

After the survey of AAI, air services have again resumed to the city. A private airliner known as Sky Airways has launched services in the city since 1 October, thus connecting the steel city with the capital city of Bhubaneswar via Barbil. The service has temporarily been suspended by the authorities.

The Steel City of is likely to reconnected by air shortly with a Kolkata-based private air service operator all set to start Rourkela – Kolkata air service from September 1 this year. The necessary clearances from the Airport Authority of India Ltd and Rourkela Steel Plant have been obtained for launching the flight service. DTDS, a Kolkata-based travel and tour operator, has got the clearance from Rourkela Steel Plant for using its airport to operate one private air taxi, which would be a three to nine seater flight. DTDS has been providing similar kind of air services from Bokaro to Kolkata.

Culture

Rourkela has two recreation parks: Indira Gandhi Park in front of the Gayatri Mandir hillock, and a smaller Jubilee Park abutting Sector-8.

Entertainment

Bhanja Bhawan and Civic Center are the two landmarks which shows the rich cultural and societal values of the city. Since its inception Bhanja Bhawan caters to the needs of all types classical, folk dancing and singing, paintings of the city. Every year State level and National Level Drama and Dancing competitions are held in Civic Center.

Radio (FM)

Rourkela City has a radio station of All India Radio (A.I.R) located at Jagda. All India Radio, Rourkela, broadcasts on FM Band 102.06 MHz since 24-06-1995. It is the only FM channel in Rourkela broadcasting National, Regional and District News. The listening zone of this station extends covers Sundergarh District and goes up to Jharkhand. Other radio channels include Radio Chocolate 104 and Big 92.7 FM

Movie theatres

• Konark Cinema Hall, Ring Road

The Oscar nominated film director, Mira Nair, was born here.

Raj Viswanadha, the writer of the super-hit animation series Chhota Bheem telecast on Pogo TV, hails from here.

Education

Main article: Education in Rourkela

Rourkela is the educational, technical and research hub of Western Orissa. It houses many English medium schools which provide CBSEand ICSE certificates to their students.

• Deepika English Medium School
• Ispat English Medium (Public School)
• Carmel Convent School
• St Joseph's Convent School
• Delhi Public School
• St Pauls School
• M.G.M School.

The students of these schools represent their schools in various national level and international competitions including IMO and NASA. Rourkela also houses one of the premier institutes of the country, NIT Rourkela.

There are overall 15 colleges for arts, science and commerce streams under the Sambalpur university. There are also private engineering colleges Padmanava (PCE), RIMS, DAMITS, RIT and Purushottam PIET. This colleges come under the jurisdiction of Biju Pattnaik University Of Technology, BPUT head office is located in Rourkela.^[12]

Sports

Rourkela has produced some of the best hockey players for India at the international level including present day India team captain Dilip Tirkey and deep defender Lazarus Barla. It has produced as many as 4 Arjuna Awardees including Mrs. Minati Mohapatra. Olympians of repute like Paralympian Roshan and Rachita Mistry are from this city. Indian national cricketeer Sanjay Raul and the Under-19 world cup representative Chandrakant Barik play from this city. Former National 'B' champion in chess and second only to Viswanathan Anand in national 'A' Mr Pabitra Mohan Mohanty is a proud sporting son of the city.

Currently Natraj Behera, an emerging cricketer from the city has been selected in the much popular IPL-3.

The Ispat Stadium and a beautiful astro-turf hockey stadium are located in Sector-6. There is a basketball ground, a chess hall, and a well maintained volley-ball ground in the same area. The indoor stadium hosts the badminton players and TT stars.

Stadiums

Rourkela has an International hockey stadium with synthetic astroturf which has been host to World Junior Hockey Championship and been a training center to most of the international Hockey players of India. Ispat Stadium has been host for several Ranji Trophy matches. The city has produced many reputed Ranji players in the recent times.

• Sports Hostel, Chhend
• Ispat Stadium (Sector-6)
• Biju Pattnaik Hockey Stadium (Sector-6)
• Sports Hostel, Panposh
• IG Stadium, Fertilizer Township

Notable residents

• Mira Nair, film director
• Dilip Tirkey, former India hockey captain
• Ignace Tirkey, Indian hockey player
• Lazarus Barla, Indian hockey player
• Harish Hande, Magsaysay Award winner
• Rajasmita Kar, Dance India Dance Finalist- 2012