Kankurgachi
Kankurgachi is a locality of North Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the important junctions in North Kolkata.
Etymology
It was an area which was reclaimed early from the Salt Lakes. Kankur, a species of melon, grew well in the area.History
The East [India Company] obtained from the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar, in 1717, the right to rent from 38 villages surrounding their settlement. Of these 5 lay across the Hooghly in what is now Howrah district. The remaining 33 villages were on the Calcutta side. After the fall of Siraj-ud-daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, it purchased these villages in 1758 from Mir Jafar and reorganised them. These villages were known en-bloc as Dihi Panchannagram and Kankurgachi was one of them. It was considered to be a suburb beyond the limits of the Maratha Ditch.Kankurgachi was developed by the Kolkata Improvement Trust.
Kankurgachi township began in the 60s along with Salt Lake. Earlier it was planned to provide residential houses only to doctors and lawyers, but eventually this place developed into a cosmopolitan neighbourhood.
Transport
WBTC Bus
- AC-39
- AC-30
- AC-2
- EB-13
- VS-2
- VS-1
- S-3B
- S-21
- S-16
Ultadanga, one of the city's important junctions and the location of one of Kolkata's busiest railway stations – Bidhannagar Road railway station, is a kilometer away from Kankurgachi. The place is a major junction to reach few other important destinations, namely the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and New Town.
Economy
Industry
was founded by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray at Maniktala in 1892. The company shifted to its present site on Maniktala Main Road at Kankurgachi in 1901. Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals is now owned by the Central Government.Commerce and services
Kankurgachi is primarily marked by a huge outlet of Pantaloons, one of India's leading retailers. Tanishq, Fabindia & M.P. Jewellers has been called a "jewellery hub" with several large jewelry stores in the area. Mani Square, one of the largest shopping mall-cum-multiplex of Kolkata, is also located here, which houses various luxury brands and restaurant. An outlet of the most famous diamond retail chain of India, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri is also located in Kankurgachi. The famous pan India optical chain Lawrence and Mayo apart from World Of Titan and Titan Eye have their outlets here too.Kankurgachi is considered to have "an excellent social infrastructure."
Famous eateries dot the area viz. Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, The Rose and Honey Da Dhaba. Espresso bars like Barista and Cafe Coffee Day are also located here. Domino's Pizza and Sharma's Tea have outlets too. Besides the Bhujia barons like Tewary, Haldiram and Bhikharam Chandmall have their outlets here too. Bidhan Sishu Udyan,a historical play and activity centre founded by the Late Atulya Ghosh is located here too.
The largest Muslim burial ground in Asia, the Bagmari Kabristan is also in Kankurgachi.
In addition, the area is also noted for providing good health care services. Apollo Hospitals, North City Hospital and a host of well equipped nursing homes and chemist shops like Frank Ross and Dhanwantary are located in Kankurgachi too.
Kankurgachi has become home for all the major banks. Axis Bank, HDFC, ICICI, SBI, Allahabad Bank, Indian Bank, UBI, Yes Bank, Indusind Bank and PNB are some of the major banks located here. Many renowned educational and training centres are also situated in this area, the most prominent one being Arena Animation Kankurgachi, one of Eastern India's largest animation centres.