Brief History of Bilaspur
Bilasa - the fisherwoman after whom the city got its name
Bilaspur has an history of about 400 odd years. It has been named after a beautiful fisherwoman Bilasa. Bilasa - the fisherwoman after whom the city got its name.According to the legend, in those days Ratanpur was the capital of the local kingdom and the modern day Bilaspur used to be a small settlement on the banks of River Arpa. According to one tale, the king had taken fancy for Bilasa a young beautiful fisherwoman during a trip in this part of his kingdom. Bilasa refused to surrender to the wishes of the king and burnt herself alive. From then on the king would refer to this place as Bilasa ki nagari (बिलासा की नगरी), the name stuck and later on became Bilaspur. Another tale, though far less accepted speaks about a revolt by fishermen of the region under the leadership of Bilasa. The revolt was crushed by the king and Bilasa was killed. The foundation for modern Bilaspur city as we know it today, was laid in late 19th century when the Bengal Nagpur Railway was being constructed. This place on the banks of River Arpa was selected as a major station and became one of the divisional headquarters.Economy
The economy of the region has traditionally been agriculture based. The region is one of the top producers of paddy. So much so that it is often referred to as the "धान का कटोरा Dhaan Ka Katora" (bowl of rice).
With exploitation of the vast mineral reserves that have been found in the region, mining and its associated industries have gained prominenence as an important economic activity.
Most of the industrial and commercial activities of the region revolve around the wide variety of mineral resources that are available in abundance in the vicinity of Bilaspur.
Bilaspur is the headquarters of SOUTH EASTERN COALFIELDS LTD. (SECL), Coal
India's highest revenue earner. SOUTH EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY (SECR), which is the largest revenue earning zone of the country, is located at Bilaspur.
NATIONAL THERMAL POWER CORPORATION LTD. (NTPC) is preparing to commence operations at its Super Thermal power project which on maturity will deliver about 2400 MW of electric power to the national power grid.
Many companies big and small have there manufacturing / production units in and around Bilaspur. Companies in thermal power, aluminum, cement, sponge iron sectors etc. are located here and are doing good.
The anciliary, allied and support industries have also bloomed and flourished in the quest to meet the requirements of the changing times.
Bilaspur became a popular destination on the medical tourism map when SECL
conceived and constructed an ultra modern 250 bed hospital and handed it for
management to Apollo Hospital. APOLLO HOSPITAL BILASPUR is a multi-speciality health facility located at Lingyadih.
The health infrastructure of Bilaspur also includes CHHATTISGARH INSTITUTE OF
MEDICAL SCIENCES and NEW HORIZON DENTAL COLLEGE and RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TRIVEDI DENTAL COLLEGE and LAXMICHAND INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.Education
The higher education infrastructure of Bilaspur
revolves around GURU GHANSIDAS UNIVERSITY, which offers a variety of degree and diploma courses through its teaching departments and affiliated colleges. Bilaspur has several University Teaching Departmetns and about 125 colleges affiliated to the university including those offering courses in Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. Students come to Bilaspur from the surrounding places to take up education in almost all the fields of study.
Bilaspur has its own standing as a hub for coaching centers. These institutes are working to prepare the young aspirants for the competitve examinations that are conducted at the state and national levels.
National Thermal Power Corporation
SIPAT- Bilaspur District National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) is in the process of setting up a Super Thermal Power Project at Sipat, approximately 20 kilometers from Bilaspur city. The Sipat Project comprises of 3 large units of 660W capacity each. The power plant use the super critical boiler technology. The project also has of two unit of 500MW capacity. Work of erection is going on in full swing. Once completed the project will add 2980 MW to the national power grid.KORBA - Korba District NTPC already has power generation facility at Korba which has a commissioned capacity of 2100MW.
South East Central Railway
General Manager: R. KasturirangamSouth East Central Railway (SECR) is amongst the youngest zones of the Indian Railway. It was inaugurated on 20 September 1998 by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. SECR started functioning as an separate zone from 1 April 2003 and was formally dedicated to the nation by the same Prime Minister at an elaborate function on 5 April 2003. Having its headquarters at Bilaspur, SECR is recognized as the most information technology friendly. The zone has a construction organization and 3 open-line divisions functioning under its administrative control. Construction OrganizationThe Construction Organization of the South East Central Railway has its office at Bilaspur near the new (under-construction) zonal headquarters building. This organization executes all new infrastructure development work including laying of new lines, doubling, construction, computerization etc.
South Eastern Coalfields Ltd.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director: M.P. DixitSouth Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Ltd and the largest coal producing company in the country. It was incorporated in 1985 with its headquarters in Bilaspur. Its mining operations span 5 districts in Chhattisgarh and 3 districts in Madhya Pradesh. SECL has mining operations in the following districts Chhattisgarh
Bilaspur, Korba, Koriya, Raigarh, Sarguja
Madhya Pradesh
Shahdol ,Umariyam, Anuppur
SECL has more than 90 mines - including open cast mines, underground mines and mixed mines.
The the organization has 13 administrative areas that are strategically spread across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
•Johilla area
•Sohagpur area
•Jamuna & Kotma area
•Hasdeo area
•Chirimiri area
•Baikunthpur area
•Bisrampur area
•Bhatgaon Area
•Korba area
•Gevra area
•Kusmunda area
•Raigarh area
•Dipka area
The company was adjudged the best PSU in the country for 97-98 and was awarded Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial National Award for pollution control and energy conservation in the year 2003 and Excellence award in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, SECL was awarded the Mini Ratna status.
Local Transport (City Bus Services)
City transport for commuters is provided by Bilaspur City Bus Ltd. The company runs buses on 4 routes across the length and breadth of the city. Services on 3 new routes to be implemented very soon. The routes on which the buses run are...Route Number 1 -
Power House to Kanan Pandari (17 kms)
Power House Chowk, Gurunanak Chowk, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Dayalband Chowk, Gandhi Chowk, Shiv Talkies Chowk, Agrasen Chowk, Magarpara Chowk, Bhartiya Nagar Chowk, Maharana Pratap Chowk, Mandir Chowk, Swimming Pool, Narmda Nagar Chowk, Sakri, Kanan Pandari
Route Number 2 -
Railway Station to Village Mopka (13.7 kms)
Railway Station, Titli Chowk, Church Chowk, Tarbahar Chowk, CMD Chowk, Bus Stand Chowk, Agrasen Chowk, Magarpara Chowk, Indu Chowk, Mandir Chowk, Nehru Chowk, Mahamaya Chowk, Nutan Chowk, Behetarai, Vasant Vihar, Mopka Chowk, Village Mopka
Route Number 3 -
Railway Station to GGD University Koni (10.3 kms)
Railway Station, Church Chowk, Tarbahar Chowk, CMD Chowk, Agrasen Chowk, Civil Lines, GDC Chowk, Rajendranagar Chowk, Nehru Chowk, Mahamaya Chowk, Guru Ghasidas University
Route Number 4 -
Village Sendri to Chakarbhata (21.9 kms)
Village Sendri, Guru Ghasidas University, Mahamaya Chowk, Nehru Chowk, Swimming Pool, Mangala Chowk, Shanti Nagar, Maharana Pratap Chowk, Parsada, (under construction) High Court, Chakarbhata Chowk, Chakarbhata