Vasai-Virar

Last updated

Vasai–Virar
City
Mumbai Metropolitan Region
JivDani,Virar - panoramio (35).jpg
Paronama of the city
Vasai fort building2.jpg
Vasai Fort
JivDani,Virar - panoramio (13).jpg
Jivdani Temple
Stupa Of Nalla sopara (Mumbai) 02.jpg
Sopara Stupa
Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (28673467730).jpg
Tungareshwar
India Maharashtra location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Vasai–Virar
Coordinates: 19°28′N72°48′E / 19.47°N 72.8°E / 19.47; 72.8
Country Flag of India.svg India
State Flag of Maharashtra.svg Maharashtra
District Palghar
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation
Area
[1]
 • Total
311 km2 (120 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (2011) [2]
 • Total
1,221,233
 • Density3,900/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PINs
Virar
East - 401305, 401309
West - 401303

Nallasopara
East - 401209
West - 401203

Vasai Road
East - 401209
West - 401201, 401202

Naigaon
East - 401208
West - 401201, 401202, 401207
Telephone code0250-XXX XXXX
Vehicle registration MH-48
Sex ratio 880 ♂/♀

Vasai-Virar is an agglomeration of four previously governed municipal councils: Vasai (Bassein), Virar, Nallasopara and Navghar-Manikpur, as well as a few towns to the east and west of the urban area. It lies in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, India.The twin city of Vasai-Virar is a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate.

Contents

According to the 2011 census, it is the 5th largest city in Maharashtra. [3] Within a close proximity to Mumbai, it is located in Palghar District, and lies north of Vasai Creek and south of the Vaitarna River. Vasai-Virar is bordered by Mira-Bhayandar and Thane on its south and southeast, Bhiwandi-Nizampur on its east and Palghar rural district on its north.

Vasai-Virar has several train stations. On the western line, it has Naigaon, Vasai Road, Nallasopara, Virar and Vaitarna train stations, where as on the central line it has Juchandra and Kaman Road stations.

History

Vasai-Virar, formerly Bassein or Vasai, is a city (municipal corporation) in western Maharashtra state, western India. It lies on the Arabian Sea coast north of Mumbai (Bombay). [4] Vasai town was part of the territory of the Hindu Devagiri Yadavas until 1317, and it later became a seaport for the Gujarat Muslim kings. [5] In 1526 the Portuguese established a fort (now in ruins) and trading station at Vasai, and the town became famous for its shipbuilding industry. [6]

The Portuguese, with their naval power and their crusading valor, were unquestioned masters of the Indian Ocean. When the Portuguese arrived, Vasai was under the rule of Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat. [6]

On 23 December 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat, signed a treaty with the Portuguese and ceded Vasai with its dependencies of Salsette, Mombaim (Bombay), Parel, Vadala, Siao (Sion), Vorli (Worli) (Worli fort photo), Mazagao (Mazgao), Thane, Bandra, Mahim, Caranja (Uran). [7]

Vasai-Virar

In 2009, the town was joined administratively with neighboring Virar (north) and several dozen other surrounding communities to form the Vasai-Virar twin city, and it immediately became one of the most-populous urban areas in the state. [4] The city has long been a large-scale fishing centre and a wholesale exporter of agricultural produce. Traditional industries include silk and cotton hand-loom weaving and salt manufacture. There has been a rise in construction and in technology-related activities (e.g., software development). [4]

Climate

Vasai-Virar has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw). This moderate climate consists of high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures. 80% of total rainfall occurs between June and October. Annual rainfall averages at 2,000–2,500 mm (79–98 in) and humidity is 61—86%, making it a humid-prehumid[ clarification needed ] zone. The driest days are in winter, while the wettest days occur in July. In recent times, the area has become more flood prone due to rapid urbanization. The flooding, at times, cuts off the area from surrounding regions. Flooding has also affected transport, agriculture and industrial activities in the past. [8]

Climate data for Vasai-Virar
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28.5
(83.3)		29
(84)		31
(88)		32.5
(90.5)		33.2
(91.8)		32
(90)		29.7
(85.5)		29.5
(85.1)		29.8
(85.6)		32.1
(89.8)		32
(90)		30.3
(86.5)		30.8
(87.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.2
(73.8)		23.7
(74.7)		26.3
(79.3)		28.3
(82.9)		29.8
(85.6)		29
(84)		27.4
(81.3)		27.1
(80.8)		27
(81)		27.8
(82.0)		26.6
(79.9)		24.6
(76.3)		26.7
(80.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)17.9
(64.2)		18.5
(65.3)		21.6
(70.9)		24.2
(75.6)		26.5
(79.7)		26.1
(79.0)		25.1
(77.2)		24.7
(76.5)		24.3
(75.7)		23.6
(74.5)		21.2
(70.2)		18.9
(66.0)		22.7
(72.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)0
(0)		1
(0.0)		1
(0.0)		0
(0)		10
(0.4)		486
(19.1)		870
(34.3)		531
(20.9)		350
(13.8)		71
(2.8)		6
(0.2)		1
(0.0)		2,327
(91.5)
Source: Climate-Data.org (altitude: 5m) [9]

Demographics

Religion in Vasai-Virar (2011) [10]
ReligionPercent
Hinduism
 
77.16%
Islam
 
9.03%
Christianity
 
8.28%
Buddhism
 
2.65%
Jainism
 
1.90%
Others
 
0.98%

The population of Vasai-Virar was 1,221,233 at the 2011 census, up from 693,350 in 2001, 365,480 in 1991, and 219,868 in 1981, there exists slums and villages as well as urban zones. [11] The projected current population according to the Municipal Corporation is 19.85 Lakhs. [12]

The population of Vasai-Virar city comprises many different religions. Among them, Hinduism is practiced by 943,165 people which makes up to 78.05% of the total population, which is below the national average of 80.5%. [13] The table given below shows the total populations of different religions that are practiced along with their percentage. [3]

Governance and politics

The Vasai–Virar urban town is governed by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. The town was formed in 2009 when it was joined administratively with Virar and other surrounding communities. [4] Vasai-Virar city has been separated from Greater Mumbai and Mira-Bhayandar City because of presence of Vasai Creek. [12] VVCMC is declared as ”C” Class Municipal Corporation. [12]

Civic administration

Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) was formed on 3 July 2010. It is headed by a Municipal commissioner, Shri. Gangatharan D., an Indian Administrative Service officer. [14] He wields the executive power. A quinquennial election is held to elect the governing body, who are responsible for overseeing that their constituencies have the basic civic infrastructure in place, and that there is no lacuna on the part of the authorities.

The position of mayor is a largely ceremonial post with limited duties but the office-holder heads the party with the largest vote. The current mayor of the city Shri. Narayan Mankar. The total number of electoral wards within the city jurisdiction is a 115. [12]

Civic services

Public Transport: The VVMT uses diesel powered buses for its operation. All buses with electronic display board are introduced in the fleet, which have destination with the route number flashing in Marathi as well as English on front of the buses. [15] The VVMT bus routes are spread city-wide and also to neighboring cities. The VVMT operates inter-city services to three different areas beyond the municipal limits of Vasai-Virar city, i.e. into the limits of the Municipal Corporations of the cities of Mira-Bhayandar, Thane, and Mumbai. [15]

Digital Services: The VVMC website provides information on grocery shops, ration shops, medical shops, and community kitchen lists. [16] The website also includes list of eye and blood banks in the city. [16] The website also holds minutes of general body meeting since 2015. [17]

Water Supply: Laying of water pipeline in the Coastal Regulation Zone III area of Kaman river has been approved for the Surya dam water project. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is executing the 403 million litres daily project (MLD) that will bring an additional 54 MLD water supply to the Vasai-Virar region. [18]

Citizen Engagement: A blog known as Vasai Virar Blog for local information is managed by few citizens and can be used by all. [19] It provides information on various services provided in the city like ambulance service and their contact numbers, hospital location in the city and the nearest police station. [20] In addition, information about schools and colleges in the area are also available.

Transport

The city is well connected to Mumbai by Western Railway and through Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway. The city is connected to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Panvel node of Navi Mumbai city by the Vasai-Diva Railway line. Vasai-Virar city has significant growth potential due to close proximity to city-proper Mumbai. [12]

Railways

Mumbai Suburban Local Train Mumbai Train.JPG
Mumbai Suburban Local Train

Vasai-Virar city is connected by the Western Railway and Central Railway. The major railway stations on the Western and Central Railway in Vasai–Virar city are:

Road

Marcopolo Bus Marcopolo bus by vvmt.jpg
Marcopolo Bus
Mini Bus Mini Bus in VVMT Fleet.jpg
Mini Bus

Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation started its own transport service on 3 October 2012 in association with Bhagirathi Transport Corporation Pvt Ltd, known as VVMT. It operates a large number of bus lines in the Vasai-Virar city. VVMT also plies its buses in Vasai-Virar villages. It also has operation outside city limits into neighbouring city of Mira-Bhayandar, Thane, and Mumbai. VVMT bus ply from Vasai to Thane & Vasai to Mulund. [21]

Other Towns & Cities where VVMT Buses connects
Mira-Bhayandar City
Thane City
Mumbai City
Information of VVMT Bus Routes & Bus Depot
No of Bus Routes32
No of Depots1 (Agarwal Nagar, Vasai East)

2 (Navghar, Vasai East)

Operations

The VVMT bus routes are spread town-wide and also to neighboring towns and cities. The VVMT operates inter-city services to three different areas beyond the municipal limits of Vasai-Virar Town, i.e. into the limits of the Municipal Corporations of Mira-Bhayandar, Thane, and Mumbai. [21]

Vasai-Virar City
The local bus services of the city, which are operated by VVMC. The internal places of Vasai-Virar city which are far from the Virar, Nala Sopara, Vasai Road, Naigaon Railway Stations are connected by VVMT. The major concentration has always been Vasai-Virar city and with vast growing population in the city.

Vasai-Virar Villages
It is not official, but some faraway villages from the Virar, Nala Sopara, and Vasai are connected by VVMT buses. VVMT services are not so frequent in villages as in the city.

Mira-Bhayandar City
Services start from Virar, Nala Sopara and Vasai Road Railway Stations and passes by Bhayandar via Ghodbunder Road. The inter city connection between the Vasai-Virar city (which on the western railway side) and (which is on the central railway side).

Thane City
Thane City is connected to Vasai by the VVMT. From Vasai, it starts its services towards Thane. The inter city connection is between Vasai-Virar city (which is on the western railway side) and Thane City / Central Mumbai City (via Thane City) (which is on the central railway side).

Mumbai City
Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) is the largest public transport provider in the Mumbai City & suburbs. VVMT connects the last station in Mumbai's suburb Mulund to the Vasai-Virar. The inter-city connection is between Vasai-Virar Town on the western railway side and Central Mumbai City on the central railway side.

Sports

Sachin at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon in 2014 Sachin at Vasai Virar Marathon.png
Sachin at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon in 2014
Ritesh Deshmukh at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon Ritesh Deshmukh at Vasai Virar Marathon.jpg
Ritesh Deshmukh at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon

Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon

Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Marathon, formerly known as Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon is an annual marathon race organized in the Vasai-Virar area. It began in 2011 and in 2012 became a National Level running event, recognized by the AFI.[ clarification needed ] The event sees participation in excess of 15,000 across various categories and offers prize money in excess of Rs 30 lakhs. [22]

Swimming pool

The Municipal Corporation has built an Olympic-size Swimming Pool in Vasai & Virar.

District sports tournaments and Kala-Krida

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation organises District level sports tournaments for various sports and Kala-Krida is a significant and popular annual event for Sports and Arts enthusiasts.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thane</span> Metropolis in Maharashtra, India

Thane is a metropolitan city located on the northwestern side of the state of Maharashtra in India and on the northeastern side of Mumbai. It is an immediate neighbour of Mumbai city proper, and a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is situated in the north-eastern portion of the Salsette Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thane district</span> District in Maharashtra, India

Thane district is a district in the Konkan Division of Maharashtra, India. At the 2011 Census it was the most populated district in the country, with 11,060,148 inhabitants; however, in August 2014 the district was split into two with the creation of a new Palghar district, leaving the reduced Thane district with a 2011 census population of 8,070,032. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Badlapur, Murbad and Shahapur.

Mira Road is a suburb north of Mumbai in Thane District and is also a part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It falls within the Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate. Mira Road is situated in the north-western portion of Salsette Island, Maharashtra state, India. Mira Road has a large Marathi population followed by other ethnic groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palghar</span> Town in Maharashtra, India

Palghar is a prominent town in the Konkan division of Maharashtra state, India, and a municipal council. It is Strategically located within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and since 2014, it has been the administrative capital of the Palghar district. Palghar plays a crucial role in Western Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway in the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail corridor. The town is located approximately 87 kilometers north of Mumbai, about 35 kilometers north of Virar, and about 24 kilometers west of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway at Manor and Mumbai is approximately 50+ km from Palghar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naigaon</span> Village in Maharashtra, India

Naigaon is located in Palghar district of Indian State of Maharashtra. It is linked by the Versova Bridge /Ghodbunder Bridge to Navghar, which is connected from the east side of the settlement by the National Highway. It is located in the Vasai taluka and comes under Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate.

Nallasopara or Nala Sopara formerly known as Sopara or Supara, is a town within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The town lies in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, India, and is governed by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC). Nallasopara railway station is part of the Western Railway Zone and comes under the Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virar</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Virar is a coastal city in Palghar district, Maharashtra. The northern third of the city of Vasai-Virar, it is administered by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. It lies in the south part of Palghar district, and north to the city of Mumbai. It is an important part of Palghar District because Palghar is the outermost part of northern side of Mumbai Metropolitan Region and comes under Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai Metropolitan Region</span> Metropolitan Area in Maharashtra, India

Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is a metropolitan area consisting of Mumbai and its satellite towns in the northern Konkan division of Maharashtra in western India. The region has an area of 6,328 square kilometres (2,443 sq mi) and with a population of over 26 million it is among the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Vasai</span> Fort in Vasai, Maharashtra, India

Fort Vasai is a ruined fort of the town of Vasai (Bassein), Konkan Division, Maharashtra, India. The structure was formally christened as the Fort of St Sebastian in the Indo-Portuguese era. The fort is a monument of national importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira-Bhayandar</span> Place in Maharashtra, India

Mira-Bhayandar is a city and municipal corporation in Thane district in the state of Maharashtra, India located in the northern part of Salsette Island before the Vasai Creek, and shares a border with North Mumbai. Mira-Bhayandar is administered by Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), with a population at the 2011 Census of 809,378. Mira-Bhayandar is a part of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate.

Bhayandar also spells as Bhaindar or Bhayander is a suburb located in the western suburbs of Mumbai and the northern most suburb of the island on the western side, near the Vasai Creek. It has a large Marathi, Aagri, Koli and other mixed populations as well. It falls under the North Central ward of the Municipal Corporation and comes under Police Jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport</span> Indian public transport service

The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT) is a public transport service owned by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), which began operations in 2006 as a local bus services connecting interconnecting various places in the Mira-Bhayandar area. Presently, these buses are run by a private company Kestrel Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. Kestrel will pay a royalty of Re 1 per kilometer to the MBMT. Presently MBMT operates in Mira-Bhayander, Thane, Borivali, Uttan and Andheri. Its fleet consists of non-AC TATA Marcopolo CNG buses, non -AC Eka Electric buses and a handful of Volvo AC buses.

Thane Municipal Transport (T.M.T) is a civic transport public company based in Thane, Maharashtra. T.M.T comes under Thane Municipal Corporation. It operates service in Thane city and into neighboring cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira Road railway station</span> Railway Station in Maharashtra, India

Mira Road is a passenger railway station located at Mira Road, a suburb in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai. It is situated between Borivali and Bhayandar stations on the Western line, of Mumbai Suburban Railway. The route of the station is located between the salt pan towards the western zone of the suburb leading towards Bhayandar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhayandar railway station</span> Railway Station in Maharashtra, India

Bhayandar is a railway station on the Western line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhiwandi Road railway station</span> Train station in Mumbai, India

Bhiwandi Road is a railway station in Thane, India, on the Vasai Road–Diva–Panvel route of the Central Railway, of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. The Bhiwandi station lies on the Vasai–Diva corridor, between the Western Line and Central line. A Mainline (MEMU) service runs from Diva to Vasai. Computerised reservation services has been installed at this station obviating the need to go to Kalyan for tickets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Suburbs (Mumbai)</span> Precinct of Greater Mumbai in Maharashtra, India

The Western Suburbs is the western precinct of the city of Mumbai, India. The Western Suburbs consist of Andheri, Bandra, Marol, Oshiwara Lokhandwala, Borivali, Dahisar, Goregaon, Versova, Jogeshwari, Juhu, Kandivali, Khar, Malad, Sakinaka, Santacruz and Vile Parle. Geographically, the Western Suburbs lie at the western part of Salsette Island, is a continuous urban sprawl spanning the areas from Bandra to Bhayander, which is separated by the Vasai Creek from Vasai-Virar city and Mithi River from Mumbai city district.

Kalamb Beach is a long, isolated beach located in Nala Sopara, near Ahmedabad highway, Nala Sopara, near Nirmal, India.

Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) is the civic body that governs areas and villages in Vasai-Virar taluka in Maharashtra, India comprising the most populated part of Palghar district. According to the 2011 census, it is the fifth largest city in Maharashtra with a population of more than 1.3 million. The city is located 50 km north of Mumbai, on the north bank of Vasai Creek, part of the estuary of the Ulhas River. It was formed on 3 July 2010 by combining four municipal councils and 53 gram panchayats.

References

  1. ↑ "VVCMC".
  2. ↑ "Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Census India 2011 Cities above 1 lac population" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Vasai-Virar | India". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Vasai History – A Glimpse of Its Past and The Present - Travel India Destinations". 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 "History of Vasai | Vasaiker". 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "History of Vasai | Vasaiker". 30 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Mahale, Ajeet (6 December 2019). "Urbanisation made Vasai-Virar more vulnerable to floods: study". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Climate: Vasai Virar - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Vasai-Virar Population 2011". Census 2011.
  11. ↑ "Vital Ingredients for Getting Beautifully Written Essays" (PDF).
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vasai Virar City | Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Census India 2011".
  14. ↑ "Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Vasai Virar Transport Service | Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Medical Shop List | Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "General Body Meetings | Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  18. ↑ Clara Lewis (14 September 2017). "surya: Vasai-Virar to receive additional water from Surya dam | Bhubaneswar News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Vasai-Virar Marathon Photos 2019". Vasai-Virar local information and blogs. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Vasai-Virar Marathon Photos 2019". Vasai-Virar local information and blogs. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  21. 1 2 About VVMT Bus Services
  22. ↑ About Marathon
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