DURGAPUR

city, southern West Bengal state, northeastern India, just north of the Damodar River. Connected by road and rail with Calcutta, Burdwan, and Asansol, Durgapur is one of India's chief steel-producing centres. The main steel plant went into operation in 1962, and the population grew fivefold during the 1960s. Other major industries include a coal washery, an alloy and special steel plant, a coal-mining machinery plant, brick and tile manufacturing, and several large thermal-power units. Coke gas produced there is conveyed to Calcutta by pipeline. The Damodar provides canal irrigation and industrial power in the area. The city has an engineering college and a government college affiliated with the University of Burdwan and a school of music affiliated with Rabindra Bharati University at Calcutta. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 415,986.