ASANSOL

city, West Bengal state, northeastern India. Situated in the heart of the Raniganj coalfield, it is the centre of the Kulti-Burnpur industrial complex. Asansol is connected by the Grand Trunk Road and by rail with Calcutta, Durgapur, and Burdwan. The city is an important coal-trading and railway centre, with large railway workshops and a railway colony. Its major industries include textile, iron, and steel factories. Jaykaynagar, a suburb, has large aluminum works. Asansol was constituted a municipality in 1896 and has several colleges affiliated with the University of Burdwan. Pop. (1991 prelim.) city, 261,836; metropolitan area, 763,845.