West Bengal is the state with highest population density in India. The state is dotted with several small and medium towns and cities. Historically, the main source of income of the people of West Bengal has been farming, and, as a consequence, the state previously had a large rural population skew. At the turn of the 20th century, however, the role of industry in West Bengal increased substantially, leading to a population move into urban areas.
In 1947, when India gained independence, the erstwhile British Indian province of Bengal was divided into two parts: the eastern region formed East Pakistan—which became Bangladesh in 1971 — and the western part joined India as the state of West Bengal. Scores of refugees from the eastern part came to West Bengal, leading to the start of new urban areas, and contributing to the congestion of already established cities like Kolkata.
As of 2001 India census, 375 cities and towns in West Bengal can be classified in the following categories:
5 Urban agglomeration (UA): Kolkata, Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for civic administration of the city, whereas Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority is responsible for Greater Kolkata, the UA.Burdwan, English Bazar, Siliguri-Jalpaiguri, Asansol-Durgapur forms the other UAs.
21 Municipal Corporations: Kolkata, Asansol, Chandannagar, Durgapur, Bidhannagar, Howrah, English Bazar, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Bardhaman, Kharagpur, Barasat, Chinsurah, Barakpur, Kalyani, Maheshtala, Baharampur, Habra, Srirampur, Haldia, and Krishnanagar.
114 Municipalities: Alipurduar, Arambag, Ashoknagar Kalyangarh, Baduria, Badkulla, Baharampur, Baidyabati, Bally, Balurghat, Bangaon, Bankura, Bansberia, Baranagar, Barasat, Barddhaman, Barrackpur, Baruipur, Basirhat, Beldanga, Bhadreswar, Bhatpara, Bidhan Nagar, Birnagar, Bishnupur, Bolpur, Budge Budge, Port Canning, Chakdaha, Champdani, Chandrakona, Contai, Dainhat, Dalkhola, Darjiling, Dhulian, Diamond Harbour, Dinhata, Dubrajpur, Dumdum, Egra, Falakata, Gangarampur, Garulia, Gayespur, Ghatal, Gobardanga, Guskara, Habra, Haldia, Haldibari, Halisahar, Hugli-Chinsurah, Haringhata, Islampur, Jamuria, Jangipur, Jaynagar Mazilpur, Jhalda, Jhargram, Jiaganj Azimganj, Kaliaganj, Kalimpong, Kalna, Kalyani, Kamarhati, Kanchrapara, Kandi, Katwa, Kharagpur, Kharar, Khardaha, Koch Bihar, Konnagar, Krishnanagar, Kshirpai, Kulti, Kurseong, Madhyamgram, Maheshtala, Mal, Mathabhanga, Medinipur, Mekliganj, Memari, Mirik, Murshidabad, Nabadwip, Naihati, New Barrackpur, North Barrackpur, North Dumdum, Old Maldah, Panskura, Panihati, Pujali, Puruliya, Raghunathpur, Raiganj, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Rajpur Sonarpur, Ramjibanpur, Rampurhat, Ranaghat, Raniganj, Rishra, Sainthia, Santipur, Serampore, Sonamukhi, South Dumdum, Suri, Taki, Tamluk, Tarakeswar, Titagarh, Tufanganj, Uluberia and Uttarpara Kotrung.
2 notified area: Cooper's Camp and Taherpur
1 cantonment: Barrackpur Cantonment and
252 census towns.
Now, number of municipalities has been increased to 117 as four new municipalities have been established: Nalhati (2000), Dhupguri (2001), Panskura (2001) and Dalkhola (2003). So, the number of census towns is now reduced to 250 as Dhupguri and Dalkhola have been upgraded to municipality.
