Anwarganj
अनवरगंज | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood | |
  Anwarganj Location in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India | |
| Coordinates: 26°27′21″N 80°19′41″E / 26.45584°N 80.3281°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Kanpur Nagar |
| City | Kanpur |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal corporation |
| • Body | Kanpur Municipal Corporation |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.93 km2 (1.52 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 129 m (423 ft) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
| • Total | 67,147 |
| • Density | 17,090/km2 (44,300/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 208003 |
| Vehicle registration | UP-78 |
| Civic agency | Kanpur Municipal Corporation |
Anwarganj (Hindi: अनवरगंज) is a historic neighbourhood in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.[2][1] Located in the Kanpur Nagar district, it is an old residential neighbourhood that was constructed during the British era.[2] The area is known for its railway station, which is the second-largest in the district, and its bustling markets, particularly in the readymade garments trade.[3][4]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The neighbourhood is home to the Anwarganj police station, located on Latouche Road. The name "Latouche" is derived from the French word la touche, meaning "a clump of trees".[5] It remains unclear why the British chose this name for the area, as by the 1970s, it was a crowded market with no remaining trace of trees.[5]
History[edit | edit source]
Anwarganj is one of Kanpur's older neighbourhoods, developed during the British colonial period.[2] The area contains railway quarters, reflecting its historical association with the railways.[2] The neighbourhood's development was closely tied to the establishment of the Kanpur Anwarganj railway station, which opened in 1896.[6]
By the late 20th century, Anwarganj had evolved into a busy commercial and residential locality.[5] In the post-independence era, areas like Lakshmipurwa within Anwarganj became an old concentration of oil mills and cotton ginning and pressing factories. These industries originally developed on the outskirts of Kanpur but were eventually surrounded by heavily populated areas.[7]
Geography[edit | edit source]
Anwarganj is located at approximately 26°27′21″N 80°19′41″E / 26.45584°N 80.3281°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 129 metres (423 ft).[1] The neighbourhood is situated in the central part of Kanpur, near the Ganga river. The area covered by the Anwarganj PIN code (208003) is approximately 3.93 square kilometres.[1]
Demographics[edit | edit source]
According to 2020 estimates, the population of the area under Anwarganj's PIN code (208003) is 67,147.[1] The population density is approximately 17,090 people per square kilometre.[1] The male population is 36,091, while the female population is 31,056.[1]
Administration[edit | edit source]
Anwarganj is administered as Ward 56 of the Kanpur Municipal Corporation (Kanpur Nagar Nigam).[8] In the May 2023 municipal elections, Nur Alam of the Indian National Congress won the Ward 56 seat with 4,053 votes (51.49%).[8] The ward has a General reservation status.[8]
The neighbourhood has a police station, also named Anwarganj, which is located on Latouche Road.[5] The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Kanpur Nagar district police.[9]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Anwarganj is a significant commercial hub in Kanpur, particularly known for its wholesale and retail markets. The Anwarganj/Bansmandi area is considered Uttar Pradesh's biggest hub of readymade garments.[3] The market area comprises numerous commercial complexes and hundreds of business establishments.[3] The area also has a presence of offices, apparel stores, electronics shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals.[1] The Lakshmipurwa area of Anwarganj was historically an industrial zone for oil mills and cotton ginning factories.[7]
Major Incidents[edit | edit source]
- 2023 Market Fire: In April 2023, a massive fire broke out in five commercial complexes in the Anwarganj/Bansmandi area.[3] The fire raged for several days, and the market association estimated losses at approximately ₹2,200 crore.[3] The fire affected around 800 business establishments and required the intervention of the NDRF, SDRF, Army personnel, and a team from IIT Kanpur for technical investigation.[3]
- 2026 ₹16 Clothing Sale Chaos: In August 2026, a promotional midnight sale offering garments for just ₹16 at Alam Market in Anwarganj drew thousands of shoppers, leading to a stampede-like situation and traffic chaos.[10] Police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd, and a case was registered against the store operators.[10] The offer, announced by Alam Mart owner Rais Alam on social media to mark his birthday, promised any clothing item for ₹16 during the first 16 minutes after midnight on August 16.[11] The crowd swelled to an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people, blocking the busy market road.[12]
Transport[edit | edit source]
Railways[edit | edit source]
The area is served by the Kanpur Anwarganj railway station (station code: CPA), which is the second-largest railway station in Kanpur Nagar district after Kanpur Central.[6] The station is located on the Kanpur–Mathura line and falls under the North Central Railway zone and Allahabad railway division.[6] It has three platforms and was opened in 1896.[6] The station was converted from metre-gauge to broad-gauge in 2006, and it was electrified in January 2009.[6] It serves trains of the Lucknow–Kanpur Suburban Railway, helping to reduce pressure on Kanpur Central.[6] Around 45 trains pass through the station, and it handles approximately 50,000 passengers.[6] As of 2026, the station is undergoing redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with inauguration expected in December 2026.[4] The station road is also being widened to ease traffic congestion, and a 24-hour canteen is being constructed on the station premises.[13]
Roads[edit | edit source]
Anwarganj is well-connected by road. The railway station is located on NH 91 (now part of NH 34), on Anwarganj Station Lane.[6] The area is served by the Kanpur Metropolitan Bus Service (KMBS), with a city bus stop near the railway station.[6] The neighbourhood is also close to the Kanpur Airport, approximately 8 kilometres away.[1]
Education and Healthcare[edit | edit source]
While specific educational institutions are not extensively documented, the area has access to schools and colleges in the wider Kanpur region. For healthcare, the neighbourhood has pharmacies and hospitals listed among its commercial categories.[1] Specialist medical practitioners, such as neuropsychiatrists, have practices in the Anwarganj area.[5]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "208003 - Anwarganj". GeoIQ. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Environmental and Social Assessment with Management Plan (Sewerage District-I, Kanpur)" (PDF). World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Anwarganj market fire refuses to die, losses estimated at Rs 2,200 crore". The Times of India. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "कानपुर: दिसंबर में हो सकता है अनवरगंज रेलवे स्टेशन का उद्घाटन, डीआरएम ने परखी विकास कार्यों की प्रगति". Amar Ujala. 2026-10-11. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddrpkgupta - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 "Kanpur Anwarganj railway station". Kiwix. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Table-6: Industrial Areas And Their Location". Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Ward 56 Anwarganj Kanpur Election Result 2023". myCorporator. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "कानपुर में नालियों में कूड़ा जमा, दुर्गंध से लोग परेशान". Dainik Bhaskar. 2026-10-09. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Chaos As Thousands Turn Up For Rs 16 Clothes In Kanpur, Police Step In". NDTV. 2026-08-16. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "Rs 16 Clothing Sale Draws Thousands In Kanpur, Sparks Stampede-Like Situation". News18. 2026-08-16. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "'Rs 16 for 16 mins' midnight offer goes viral, triggers crowd chaos in Kanpur". Udayavani. 2026-08-16. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "कानपुर अनवरगंज स्टेशन रोड का चौड़ीकरण शुरू: यात्रियों को जाम से मिलेगी राहत, 24 घंटे कैंटीन की सुविधा भी मिलेगी". Dainik Bhaskar. 2026-10-01. Retrieved 2026-10-27.