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{{Distinguish|Bidadi}}
{{Short description|City in Chhattisgarh}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bhilai
| native_name = 
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style =
| perrow = 2/2/2
| image1 =
| image2 =
| image3 =
| image4 =
| image5 = बीआईटी प्रशासनिक भवन.jpg
| image6 = Csvtu.jpg
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Bhilai Steel Plant]], [[Electric Loco Shed, Bhilai]], Sector area, Surya Treasure Island, [[Bhilai Institute of Technology]], [[Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University]]
| nickname = Steel City of India
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Chhattisgarh#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|21.21|N|81.38|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Chhattisgarh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Durg]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| government_type = [[Municipal corporation]]
| governing_body =
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Neeraj Pal
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Bhilai City|url=http://www.bhilainagarnigam.com/PB.pdf}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 357
| area_rank = 1st in state
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 297
| population_total = 624700
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Bhilai City Population|date=21 October 2020 |url=https://www.findeasy.in/population-of-bhilai/}}</ref><ref name=population/>
| population_metro = 1064222
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 |access-date = 16 April 2012 }}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank = 2nd in state, 50th in India
| population_blank1_title = Metro rank
| population_blank1 = [[List of million-plus agglomerations in India|50th]]
| population_demonym =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 490XXX
| registration_plate = CG-07
| website = [http://www.bhilainagarnigam.com/ www.bhilainagarnigam.com]
| footnotes =
| named_for = [[Bhil|Bhils]]
}}
'''Bhilai''' is a [[city]] in [[Durg district]] of the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Chhattisgarh]], in eastern central India. Along with its twin-city [[Durg]], the urban agglomeration of Durg-Bhilainagar has a population of more than a million, making it the second-largest urban area in Chhattisgarh after [[Raipur]]. Bhilai is a major industrial city as well as an education hub of central India. The Bhilai metropolis contains three municipal corporations: Bhilai Municipal Corporation, Bhilai-[[Charoda]] Municipal Corporation and Risali Municipal Corporation.<ref name=population>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070607194126/http://www.censusindia.net/results/data/chh_uatowns.PDF Census van 1 maart 2001 (via archive.org)]</ref>

The city is home to several industries like [[Bhilai Steel Plant]], [[Jaypee Group|Jaypee Cement]], [[CK Birla Group|Orient Cement]], [[NSPCL Bhilai Power Plant]], [[Steel Authority of India]], FSNL and [[ACC (company)|ACC Cement]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Industries in Bhilai, Industrial Development in Bhilai |url=https://www.bhilaionline.in/city-guide/industries-in-bhilai |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=www.bhilaionline.in}}</ref> The city is home to [[IIT Bhilai|Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai]], [[Bhilai Institute of Technology|Bhilai Institute of Technology Durg]]. [[Jama Mosque, Bhilai|Jama Masjid]] in Bhilai is one of the largest mosques in India. The state's oldest zoo is [[Maitri Bagh]] in Bhilai.

== Etymology ==
The term ''Bhilai'' is derived from the [[Bhil people|Bhil]] tribe which originally inhabited this region and continues to dwell in the nearby forests until today. The Bhilai word meaning is Bhils came (Bhil= Tribe, Ai= Came).<ref name="bhilaionline1">{{cite web|title = History of Bhilai, Historical Aspects of Bhilai, Origin of Bhilai|url = http://www.bhilaionline.in/city-guide/history-of-bhilai|website = www.bhilaionline.in|access-date = 22 December 2015}}</ref>

== History ==
Bhilai was a small village and a part of the [[Haihaiyavansi Kingdom]] until 1740 when it was conquered by the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]].

The foundation of the modern city of Bhilai was laid in 1955 when the Indian government signed a historic agreement with the [[Soviet Union]] in [[Magnitogorsk]] to establish a steel plant near the village. The first blast furnace of the plant was commissioned in 1959 by the first president of India, [[Rajendra Prasad|Dr. Rajendra Prasad]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbth.com/economics/2014/08/22/bhilai_steel_plant_chhattisgarhs_icon_of_indo-russian_cooperation_37741|title=Bhilai Steel Plant: Chhattisgarh's icon of Indo-Russian cooperation|last1=Katz|first1=Alexandra|last2=RIR|first2=specially for|date=22 August 2014|website=www.rbth.com|language=en-US|access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref>

== Demographics ==

=== Population ===
In the 2011 census, [[Durg]]-Bhilainagar Urban Agglomeration had a population of 1,064,222, of which 545,916 are males and 518,306 are females. Bhilai has an average literacy rate of 86.63%, male literacy is 92.22% and, female literacy is 80.71%.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 100,000 and above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 |access-date = 16 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122151653/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Bhilai lies at 21.21°N 81.38°E in [[Central India]] at an elevation of 297m above [[sea level]] on the banks of the [[Shivnath River|Shivnath river]], a tributary of the river [[Mahanadi]]. It covers an area of 341 km<sup>2</sup> (132 sq mi).

According to the [[Bureau of Indian Standards]], the town falls under [[Earthquake zones of India|seismic zone 2]], in a scale of 2 to 5 (in order of increasing value of vulnerability to earthquakes)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=168661|title=Seismic Zones|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Owing to its proximity to the [[Tropic of Cancer]], Bhilai has a tropical climate. There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. The average annual temperature in Bhilai is 26.6 °C and the city receives an average rainfall of 1188 mm in a year. Summers usually last from May to June, followed by monsoons in July and August. The town receives the bulk of rainfall in July, with an average rainfall of 352mm. There is little rainfall during the winters, with November being the driest month of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/chhattisgarh/bhilai-993488/|title=Bhilai climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Bhilai weather averages - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=13 May 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==
Bhilai is home to the [[Bhilai Steel Plant]], the first and largest Indian plant to produce steel rails. The inauguration of the first blast furnace of Bhilai Steel Plant was done by then president of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad, which was established with help from the [[Soviet Union]] in 1955.<ref name="zee">{{cite news |publisher=[[Zee News]] |url=http://zeenews.india.com/india/after-road-show-pm-narendra-modi-inaugurates-modernized-and-expanded-bhilai-steel-plant-2116501.html |title=After roadshow, PM Narendra Modi inaugurates modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant |date=14 June 2018}}</ref>

Iron ore from Rajhara, limestone from Nandini, coal from Jharia, manganese from Balaghat, electric power from the Kosa thermal power plant, and water from the Tandula Canal, all nearby, are used in the Bhilai Steel Plant to manufacture rails and structural steel. Pig iron and billets are supplied to foundries and rolling mills located at Kumhari and other sites in central India.

The number of steel rails produced by the facility till 2007 can go around the circumference of the earth 7.5 times. This is depicted on the monument at the globe square in the heart of the city. The facility underwent modernization and expansion and is amongst the leading manufacturers of iron and steel in Asia.<ref name="zee"/>

== Education ==
[[File:IIT Bhilai Acad Block (Aerial).png|thumb|[[Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai|Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai]]]]
The city serves as an educational hub in the region, with a total of 59 universities and colleges, like [[Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai|Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai]], [[Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University]], [[Bhilai Institute of Technology]], Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Government Medical College, [[Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences]], Rungta Group Of Institutions, St. Thomas College, [[Shri Shankaracharya Technical Campus|Shri Shankaracharya Group of Institutions]], Christian College of Engineering & Technology, Kalyan College, Sector 7, Bhilai and CSIT Engineering College.

Schools in Bhilai are run either by municipal corporations or privately by entities, trusts, and corporations. The majority of schools are affiliated with the [[Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education]] and the [[Central Board of Secondary Education]].

==Transport==
===Roadways===
The twin city of Durg-Bhilai is well connected with a network of national and state highways. Some major highways passing through the city are [[National Highway 53 (India)|National Highway 53]] (NH-53), SH-7 till [[Bemetara]] and SH-22 till [[Abhanpur]]. The proposed [[Durg–Raipur–Arang Expressway]] will start from Durg and will pass near the outskirts of Bhilai till [[Arang]], which after completion, will enhance connectivity and commute in the state.

===Rail===
There are total 15 railway stations in the twin city that includes railway stations serving adjacent and minor neighbourhoods within the city. The main stations are [[Bhilai Power House railway station]] and [[Durg Junction railway station]], which are major railway stations, with Durg being the biggest and the busiest, lying on the [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]].
===Bus transport===
The Durg Bus Station is a hub with buses plying to any place in and around Chhattisgarh as well as other parts of the country, with daily bus services operated by private and government buses to all cities within the state and outside the state, like [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Nagpur]], [[Jharsuguda]], [[Varanasi]], [[Prayagraj]], [[Kolkata]], [[Patna]], [[Ranchi]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Jabalpur]], [[Visakhapatnam]], among others.
===Metro===
A [[light rail]], Metrolite or Lite Metro (as referred in India), has been proposed by the [[Government of Chhattisgarh]], which will pass from [[Naya Raipur]] to Durg via [[Raipur]] and Bhilai.<ref>{{cite news|title=Monthly Allowance To Unemployed Youth, Focus On Metro, Sports & Infra: CM Baghel Tabels Chhattisgarh Budget|url=https://news.abplive.com/states/chhattisgarh-budget-2023-announcement-for-health-education-agriculture-budget-highlights-cm-bhupesh-baghel-1586508|work=[[ABP News]]|date=6 March 2023|access-date=9 March 2023|language=en}}</ref>

===Air===
The nearest major airport is [[Swami Vivekananda International Airport]] at Raipur, located {{cvt|50|km}} east from Bhilai. The airport at [[Bhilai Airport|Bhilai]] is currently a private airport operated by the [[Bhilai Steel Plant]], located {{cvt|15|km}} north of the city. In recent years, it has been considered for the airport to be developed to handle commercial operations, and make it a domestic airport.

==Notable people==


* [[Teejan Bai]], Pandvani singer
* [[Anurag Basu]], Bollywood director
* [[Anupama Bhagwat]], sitar player
* Umesh Kumar Sahu, "Kaun Banega Crorepati", Season 9 winner
* [[Rajesh Chauhan]], a former cricketer in the Indian cricket team
* [[Budhaditya Mukherjee]], [[sitar]] player
* [[Amit Sana]], runner-up in ''Indian Idol 1''
* [[Tejal Shah]] (born 1979), visual artist, curator
* [[Krishnamurthy Subramanian]], 17th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India

== See also ==
* [[List of cities in Chhattisgarh]]
* [[Chhattisgarh]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chhattisgarh}}
{{Durg district}}
{{Million-plus cities in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bhilai| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan cities in India]]
[[Category:Company towns in India]]

Bhilai - Revision history

AmitNeogi: small update lead for clarity further and fixed typos based on references

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