Andal, Bardhaman

Geography

Andal is located at 23.60°N 87.20°E / 23.60; 87.20. It has an average elevation of 76 metres (249 feet).

The Asansol-Durgapur region is composed of undulating laterite soil. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.

Singaran, a small stream about 35 km long has its origin near Ikra in the Jamuria area, flows past Topsi and Andal and joins the Damodar near Waria.

Police station

Andal police station has jurisdiction over parts of Andal and Pandabeswar CD Blocks. The area covered is 106 km² and the population covered is 236,000.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Ondal had a total population of 19,924 of which 10,321 (52%) were males and 9,603 (48%) were females. Population below 6 years was 2,176. The total number of literates in Ondal was 14,613 (82.34% of the population over 6 years).

As of 2001 India census, Andal had a population of 19,504. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Andal has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 68%. In Andal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Road

Andal is on the Grand Trunk Road or NH 19, now part of the Golden Quadrilateral. It is easily approachable from all other cities and towns in the region.

Rail

The best option to communicate Andal through Rail Station named as Andal railway station. It is on the Howrah-Delhi track and is linked with Sainthia through the Andal-Sainthia branch line.

Asansol division of Eastern Railway has the largest goods yard at Andal. The marshalling of wagons is done by a hump yard fitted with mechanical retarders.

Sujallam Airport

The Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the West Bengal Government announced on 7 September 2007 plans to set up a new airport — along with a township, IT and logistics hub — at Durgapur-Andal Region. This earmarked the beginning of the Aerotropolis Project in Andal. Spread over approximately 2,182 acres (8.83 km²), the Durgapur Aerotropolis Project is shaping up in the Asansol Durgapur Planning Area (ADPA) of Burdwan District in West Bengal.

An Integrated Township, IT Park and Logistics Hub will see the light of the day along with the Durgapur Aerotropolis Project. These will help in enhancing the growth prospects of Durgapur. BAPL has completed most of its legal procedures like receiving the In-Principal Clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and getting the Land Use Development Control Plan (LUDCP) approved by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA). It has also entered into a Technical Services Agreement with Changi Airports India Pte Ltd, Singapore. In the area both Burnpur and Durgapur have airstrips for the landing of small planes. The airfield at Panagarh is under Indian Air Force.

The honourable chief minister of Paschimbanga, Mamata Banerjee announced on 25 May 2013 (Nazrul Islam's Birth Anniversary) that she has proposed to name the airport at Durgapur after the iconic Bengali poet, author, musician, freedom fighter and the National poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam. This has been a matter of great joy and pride for the people.

Politics & Social life

In the 1957 General Elections, Ondal was a dual constituency. While Ananda Gopal Mukherjee of INC won the open seat, Dwajadhari Mondal of INC won the seat reserved for Scheduled Castes. For election results in other years for the area see Ausgram and Durgapur

As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, from 2011 Andal community development block is part of Raniganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency).

Education

Andal has seven primary, four secondary and three higher secondary schools, including Andal Hindu Hindi vidyalaya which is the biggest Hindi medium school in the area. Also having an Eastern Railways owned school E.Rly. High School, Andal and a Kendriya Vidyalaya(K.V. Andal). Andal has a Bengali medium high school named Ondal High School. There are two English medium secondary schools named St. Mary's (Station Road) and St. Francis Xavier School.One of the renowned Urdu medium School is Iqbal Academy High school .