CHAPTER-5 ROAD TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN BHANDARA DISTRICT: AN OVERVIEW CHAPTER-5 ROAD TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN BHANDARA DISTRICT: AN OVERVIEW Sr.No. Particulars Page No. 5.1 Introduction 114 5.2 History of Bhandara 117 5.3 Statistics of Bhandara District 120 5.4 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation 146 CHAPTER-5 ROAD TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN BHANDARA DISTRICT: AN OVERVIEW 5.1 Introduction: Bhandara is an agricultural hub for the farmers around its region majorly growing rice. The city has the crossing of National Highway No.6. The city is split between two rivers one is Wainganga and other is Sur River. The Wainganga is the principal river in the district, and the only stream that does not dry up in the summer, other rivers in district are the Bawanthari, Bagh, Kanhan and Chulbund. Norgyaling Tibetan Settlement, the only Tibetan community in Maharashtra, was established near Bhandaria here in 1972. About 1,000 Tibetans live in Norgyaling. Now it is in the Gondia district after, separation of the district. The major crops production in Bhandara district is rice. Tumsar taluka is famous for rice market. As like rice, brass metal industries are also well known in the district. Bhandara has good tourism places with nature beauty. It is also famous for the ordnance factory. Jawaharnagar in Bhandara where ordnance factory is situated, which manufactures products for Indian Armed Forces. Bhandara has two special schools-Kendriya Vidyalaya Bhandara and Ordinance factory state school, this is one and only Kendriya Vidyalaya in the district. There is one Navodaya school located in Navegaon village. There are major industrial undertakings in the district like Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Group, Sun flag Iron Steel Company and Shivmangal Ispat Pvt. Ltd. Korambi is a popular tourist attraction especially in winter season, 8 Kilometer from Bhandara town. The Pingaleshwari Devi (Korambi Devi) temple on the hill and the Wainganga River flowing one side of it is another scenic spot at Korambi. Geography: Bhandara is located at 21.17oN 79.65oE. It has an average elevation of 244 meters (800 feet). Bhandara is one of the major administrative districts in Maharashtra, and is located in the Nagpur division. The district is enveloped by Balaghat district (Madhya Pradesh) in the north and Chandrapur in the south, while Gondia and Nagpur mark its eastern and western borders, respectively. The district of Bhandara is segregated into Chapter-5: Road Transport Management System in Bhandara District: An Overview 114 two sub-divisions, namely Bhandara and Sakoli that are further divided into seven talukas. It is a major hub for the production of Hand Knitted Silk products which is crafted by tribe of Halba Koshti. Demographics: As per 2011 India census, Bhandara had Males constitute 51 percent of the population and females 49 percent. Bhandara has an average literacy rate of 80 percent, higher than the national average of 74.04 percent, with male literacy of 85percent, and female literacy of 75percent. Bhandara is surrounded with five villages Ganeshpur, Bela, Bhojapur, Khokarla, Takli. Table No. 5.1 Religions in Bhandara Religion Percent Hindus 77.23% Muslims 10.85% Christians 0.35% Buddhist 10.54% Sikh 0.18% Jain 0.30% Other 0.37% Not Stated 0.18% Source: District Collector Office, Bhandara Muslims Percent 11% Buddhist 11% Christians Not Stated 0% 0% Other Sikh 1% 0% Hindus 77% Other Jain 1% 0% Fig. No.5.1 Chapter-5: Road Transport Management System in Bhandara District: An Overview 115 Bhandara is a district headquarters. It is an administrative district in the Maharashtra state. The district Bhandara covers an area of 4087 Sq. K.M. and the population has 1,200,334 as per census 2011 Government of India. In which has male population 605,520 and female population 594,814. In the district mainly 81 percent population belongs to rural area. Bhandara has a mixed economy including contribution of agricultural, mining and forest resources. Rivers: There are major rivers in Districts Waingnaga, Kanhan, Bawamthadi, Garhvi, Chulband, Bag, Eastern Bag and Sur. Wainganga: The source streams of the Wainganga rise in the Chhindwara and Seoni Plateaus of Madhya Pradesh; the river flows south through the Blaghat District before entering Bhandara District at its northern extreme. It initially flows west along the northern boundary, then terms south-west and gradually southwards through the Bhandara taluka. Before leaving the district to enter Chandrapur, the river runs south- east. Thus, the Wainganga drains mainly the western parts of the district. Bawanthadi: The Bawanthadi River rises in the Kurai plateau of Seoni district(MadhyaPradesh) flows south, enters the district at the north-western limit of the boundary, and runs east forming the northern boundary for a distance of 48 km before falling into the Wainganga. Through small and seasonal in its upper course the river after entering this district. It drains the north-western parts of the district around Ambagad and Chandrapur. The river has low banks and hence, in floods, overflows the banks, Quicksands occur in many parts of the river bed. Garhvi: The Garhvi river, also known as the Itiadoh river, rises in the granitic plateau of Chichgarh in the south-eastern part of Sakoli taluka and flows west in a deep and narrow valley. As it flows past the village Palasgaon, the Valley opens out, but about 15 km downstream, it cuts through a quartzite spur of the Nawegaon hills in a deep gorge; the panorama form the Pratapgad fort eastwards as the river rushes out form the gorge is a pleasant sight to watch. The river continues further south, opening out into a wide valley with shallow banks to enter into the Chandrapur district before joining the Wainganga. The river has a flow of 60 km. through this district. Chapter-5: Road Transport Management System in Bhandara District: An Overview 116 5.2 History of Bhandara: The region to the south of the Godavari was inhabited by the aborigines, who are called Rakshasas in the Ramayana where the region is mentioned. Initially the district was included in the seventh century in the territories of the Haihaya Rajput kings of Chhattisgarh whose kingdom was known as Maha Kosala, Umesh Kachhawh Bhandara retains some recollection of Hindu kings who ruled from Nagardhan. The 12th century saw the rule of Panwars Rajput who were subsequently ousted by Gond chiefs who asserted their independence of the Ratanpur dynasty. This was followed by Raghoji Bhonsle of Satara who established himself as the king of Vidarbha in 1743. In 1755, Janoji was declared as the sovereign of the territory, after the death of his father Raghoji Bhonsle. The two brothers Mudhoji and Rupaji of Raghoji Bhonsle of Hingani-Beradi were contemporaries of Shahaji, the father of Chhatrapati Shivaji and one of the ancestors of the Bhonsles of Nagpur who rehabilitated the village of Beradi was probably the contemporary of Maloji, the grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji. After the death of Sambhaji, during the Mughal- Maratha conflict, Parasoji rendered invaluable help to Rajaram who had succeeded to the throne of Chhatrapati. The territories of Vidarbha and Berar from which he had exacted tribute were given to his charge under a grant made in A.D. 1699. In 1707 after the death of Aurangzeb when Chhatrapati Shahu was released by Muhammad Azam, Parasoji Bhonsle was the first of the Maratha nobles to join him in west Khandesh. The 17th century saw the invasion of the Peshwas who were instrumental in making the district a part of Berar. The Peshwas were succeeded by the Nizams during the 1850s; the Nizam ceded Berar to the British East India Company. In 1903 the Nizam leased Berar to the British Government of India. It was transferred to the Central Provinces. In 1956, with the re-organization of states, Bhandara was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay Province and in 1960 with the formation of Maharashtra; it became a district of the state. The name of the district Bhandara is derived from ‘Bhannara’, the name by which it is mentioned in a stone inscription at Ratanpur. The excavation confirms that the existence of Bhandara dates back to the 11th century, at the region to the south of Godavari that was inhabited by the aborigines (Rakshasas). Bhandara was taken over by the Panwar Rajput in the 12th century, followed by the Gond chiefs. Chapter-5: Road Transport Management System in Bhandara District: An Overview 117 By the 17th century, the district was made a part of Berar by Peshwas, who had invaded the region during the period. In 1699, the region came under the control of Parasoji Bhonsle along with the territories of Vidarbha and Berar. Raghoji Bhonsle of Vidarbha took over the charge in 1743, and was preceded by his son Janoji after his death in 1755. The feudal dynasty of Lanji governed the region from 1818 to 1830, and formed the Bhandara district in 1821. The Bhandara district was bifurcated on 1 May 1999, and a new district, Gondia was formed. Thus, Gondia and Bhandara came into existence. The current name of Bhandara, is derived from the term ‘Bhana’ meaning ‘brass’, as the town is dominated by brass-working industry. With more than 3500 small lakes in and around the district, this ‘Brass City’ is also referred to as the ‘District of Lakes’. Marathi is the chief language spoken in this district, in the northeast of state. Though dotted with a number of industries like Ashok Leyland, Sun flag Steel and Ordnance Factory, Bhandara offers ample opportunities for sightseeing with attractions like Ambagad Fort, Brahmi, Chinchgad and Dighodi. It also hosts two main fairs, namely Khandoba (November to December) and Maha Shivaratri (January to February), along with offer festivals held at Ashti and Dhapewada.