Overview
Behala, situated in the South-West of Kolkata is a developed locality in the Indian State of West Bengal. The name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur which means “Land Of Many Rivers” or “Dark City”. It comes under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It is one of the oldest residential area of the city. It is also home to Sourav Ganguly, former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee, the present Mayor of Kolkata. It is also an important industrial area of the city. There are many factories and industries located here which include the manufacturing units like chemicals, plastic and plastic recycling, spray painting, metal plating and galvanizing. Bangashree Pally, Sahapur, Tollugunge, Kalitola, Srishti, Barisha, Talpukur, Muchipara, Sukhdebpur, Gopalpur, Majherhat, Kalighat are its neighbouring localities. It consists of many small localities like Parnasree Pally, Taratala, Sahapur, Behala Tram depot, Manton, Behala Chowrasta (Barisha), Sakherbazar, Silpara, Kadamtala and Behala Thakurpukur. Due to this enormous and unplanned growth, the traffic is by and large dependent on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road, in spite of the availability of the parallel James Long Sarani as an option. Previously it was well connected by tram lines towards the north. However the trams were stopped when the flyover at the Taratala junction was constructed. Some of the best residential projects in Behala are Purti Planet, SKDJ Parnasree Green Heights, Greenfield City, Kshetrum Aspire, Symphony Towers, Fort Rejoice among others.
Connectivity
Various buses, fair taxis, auto rickshaw are available to move around Behala to Kolkata. Diamond Harbour Road is the major road passing through the middle of the localities. Other arterial roads are Banamali Naskar Road, Biren Roy Road and James Long Sarani which further connect the locality with NH 12.
Behala is served by the Majherhat & Brace Bridge railway station on the Sealdah South section of Kolkata Suburban Railway. Bracebridge, New Alipore, Majerhat, Alipore Court, Mominpore are its nearby railway stations. However, the major railway station is Howrah Junction which is located at a distance of 15.3 km via Alipore Road from where one can get the trains for different routes and cities.
Behala Airport more commonly referred as Behala Flying Training Institute (BFTI) or Behala Flying Club (BFC) is the second of the two airports in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and other being the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport which is located at a driving distance of 29.5 km via Thakurnagar - Panchpota Road. There are plans to upgrade the airport.
Recently a helicopter service has been started to connect Kolkata with Durgapur by air.
Proposed and Planned infrastructure
Construction of Joka to BBD Bagh Metro Rail project in full pace and once operation will reduce the time and traffic congestion for daily commuters.
Factors for past growth
Its close proximity to Dumdum International Airport aloong with newly built B B D Bagh Metro Station have been a plus point for Behala. The locality is witnessing an increase in population in recent years, owing to its proximity to the commercial hub of Sector V, which is located at a distance of 19.2 kilometres. A large number of workforce want their house close to their workplace. As a result, property for rent in Behala has seen tremendous growth.
Infrastructural Development (Social and Physical)
Schools in Behala are affiliated with the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Major schools in this region are K. E. Carmel School, Behala, K. E. Carmel School, Sarsuna, Meghmala Roy Education Center, Vivekananda Mission School, Joka, M.P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School & National Gems Higher Secondary School in this region.
Lake Mall, South City Mall, Bazar Kolkata, and Gariahat Mall are nearby malls. Lot of restaurants and retail outlets of national and international brand also have come up there. Behala Samabayika, Shambhu Das Grocery, Mega Bazar, Farhana Garments to name a few.
Health Care facilities are also good in the locality. The major hospitals which providing medical facilities to the resident of Behala are D M Hospital, Nightingale, Vidyasagar State General Hospital, Behala Balananda Brahmachari Hospital, Hope Hospital, Vivekananda Hospital among few.
