Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Bilaspur is a city in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh and the administrative headquarters of Bilaspur district. It is the second largest city in Chhattisgarh after the state capital Raipur, and is regarded as a major judicial, administrative, educational and railway hub of central India.

Key facts

Overview

Bilaspur lies in the plains of the Chhattisgarh region, drained by the Arpa river, a tributary of the Mahanadi. The city serves as the seat of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, established in 2000 when Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, and houses the headquarters of the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone of Indian Railways. These two institutions, along with the surrounding coal and power sector, are central to the city's identity and economy.

History

Local tradition traces the name of the city to a fisherwoman named Bilasa, after whom the original settlement on the banks of the Arpa is said to have been named. The region historically formed part of the Haihaya (Kalachuri) kingdom of Ratanpur, which lay a short distance to the north of present-day Bilaspur and served as a regional capital for several centuries. After the decline of the Haihayas, the area passed under Maratha influence in the 18th century and subsequently came under British administration as part of the Central Provinces.

Under British rule Bilaspur developed as a district town and gained importance with the arrival of the Bengal–Nagpur Railway in the late 19th century, which linked it with Howrah and Mumbai. After Indian independence the city remained part of Madhya Pradesh until 1 November 2000, when it became part of the new state of Chhattisgarh.

Geography and climate

The city is situated in the north-central part of Chhattisgarh, on the Arpa river. The surrounding region is characterised by an alluvial plain rising towards the Maikal range and the forested uplands of the Achanakmar–Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve to the north-west. Bilaspur experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, with hot summers, a south-west monsoon from June to September, and mild winters.

Administration

Civic affairs are managed by the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation. The city is the headquarters of Bilaspur district and forms part of the Bilaspur revenue division. It is represented in the Lok Sabha through the Bilaspur parliamentary constituency, and sends members to the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from constituencies covering the urban and surrounding rural areas.

Economy

The economy of Bilaspur is shaped by railways, mining, power generation, trade and services. Major institutions and industries with a presence in or around the city include:

• South East Central Railway, with its zonal headquarters and a large railway colony, workshops and divisional offices in Bilaspur.
• South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, headquartered in Bilaspur and operating coalfields across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Thermal power stations in the wider Korba–Bilaspur belt, including units of NTPC and the Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company.
• Handloom weaving of Kosa (tussar) silk, for which the Bilaspur region is well known.
• Rice milling and trade, the area being part of the rice-growing heartland of Chhattisgarh.

Transport

Bilaspur Junction is one of the busiest and highest-revenue-earning railway stations in India, lying on the Howrah–Mumbai main line and serving as a key node for freight traffic from the coalfields of Chhattisgarh. The city is connected by National Highways to Raipur, Ambikapur and other regional centres. Bilasa Devi Kevat Airport at Chakarbhata, on the outskirts of the city, provides scheduled commercial flights to selected metropolitan destinations.

Education

Bilaspur is an important educational centre in Chhattisgarh. Major institutions include:

• Guru Gh