Gorakhpur: An Introduction
Gorakhpur is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the Rapti river in the Purvanchal region. It is situated 270 kilometres east of the state capital Lucknow. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur district, North Eastern Railway Zone and Gorakhpur division. The city is home to the Gorakhnath Math, a Gorakhnath temple. The city also has had an Indian Air Force station since 1963. Gita Press, the world’s largest publisher of Hindu religious texts like Ramayana and Mahabharat, is also located in Gorakhpur. The name ‘Gorakhpur’ comes from the Sanskrit Gorakshapuram, which means abode of Gorakhnath, a renowned ascetic who was a prominent saint of the Nath Sampradaya.
As of the 2011 Indian Census, Gorakhpur had a total population of 673,446, of which 353,907 were males and 319,539 were females. Gorakhpur had 112,237 households in 2011. According to a 2020 report, 31 villages have been incorporated into the municipal corporation, increasing the population to over 1 million. The city area has also increased from 145.5 km2 in 2011 to 226.6 km2.
The state government also declared Gorakhpur as a metropolis on 22 November 2021. Apart from Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation, the government has declared three Nagar panchayats and eight development blocks as a metropolitan areas. For this, the Urban Development Department has notified the city. According to the order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development, now in Gorakhpur Metropolitan Region, Municipal Corporation, Nagar Panchayat Pipraich, Nagar Panchayat PPganj, Nagar Panchayat Mundra Bazar, Chargawa, Khorabar, Pipraich, Sardar Nagar, Piprauli, Jungle Kaudiya, Campierganj and The entire area of Bhathat development block has been covered. After this, the population of Gorakhpur metropolis will be around 25 lakhs.
Transport System in the City
Gorakhpur is connected through a rail network and Gorakhpur railway station. Until March 2021, it had the world’s most extended platform of 1366 meters. Hubli Junction railway station is now the world’s most extended platform at 1505 meters. In February 2020, 100 flowering pots with support structures were made and installed on the hydrant pipe at platform No.2 to increase the plantation and natural cover, using the local resources of the Gorakhpur coaching depot.
The station offers Class A-1 railway station facilities. On 6 October 2013, Gorakhpur had the world’s Longest Railway platform, after the inauguration of the remodelled Gorakhpur Yard, with a stretch of around 1,355.40 metres. Gorakhpur is the headquarters of North Eastern Railways. An Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force was established in Gorakhpur in 1963, named Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport, and extended for public air transport.
Metro
The Gorakhpur Metrolite is a light, rapid transit system proposed for the city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The network will consist of 2 elevated lines serving 27 stations with a total length of 27.41 kilometres. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 4,672 crores. It is expected to be completed by 2024.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh appointed the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation to build a metro system in Gorakhpur in 2017. Rail India Technical and Economic Service prepared the feasibility study and the detailed project report for the project and submitted it to the corporation in March 2019. The state cabinet approved the report on 9 October 2020.
The Public Investment Board approved the project’s first phase on 22 November 2021, which is expected to be completed by 2024.
Project Details & Key Figure
Operational : 0 Km
Under Construction : 0 Km
Approved : 0 Km
Proposed: 27.41 Km
Estimated Project Cost: Rs. 4,672 Crore
Routes
Line-1 : Shyam Nagar – Sooba Bazar (16.95 Km)
- Type: Elevated
- Depot: Sooba Bazar
- Stations (16): Shyam Nagar, Bargadwa, Shastri Nagar, Nathmalpur, Gorakhnath Mandir, Hazaripur, Dharmshala, Gorakhpur Railway Station, University, Mohaddipur, Ramgarh Lake, AIIMS, Malviya Nagar, MMM Engineering College, Divya Nagar, Sooba Bazar
Line-2 : Gulriha – Kachehri Chauraha (10.46 Km)
- Type: Elevated
- Depot: Mugalaha
- Stations (11) : Gulariha, BRD Medical College, Mugalaha, Khanjanchi Bazar, Basharatpur, Ashok Nagar, Vishnu Nagar, Asuran Chowk, Dharamshala, Gol Ghar, Kachehri Chauraha
