Vasai-Virar

Vasai–Virar is a city and tehsil (subdistrict) in Konkan division of Maharashtra state in western India, comprising the most populated part of Palghar district and is also a part of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). According to the 2011 census, it is the fifth largest city in Maharashtra.[2] It is located in Palghar district, 50+  km north of Mumbai. The city is located on the north bank of Vasai Creek, part of the estuary of the Ulhas River. Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) covers the tehsil.

Vasai–Virar
commuter city of Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Vasai–Virar
Coordinates: 19.47°N 72.8°E / 19.47; 72.8
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DistrictPalghar
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyVasai-Virar Municipal Corporation
Area
 • Total380 km2 (150 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,221,233
 • Density3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
401201, 401202, 401203, 401207, 401208, 401209, 401303, 401309, 401305
Telephone code0250-XXX XXXX
Vehicle registrationMH-04, MH-48
Sex ratio880 ♂/♀

Vasai–Virar is an agglomeration of several formerly separate towns. The area covered by the city roughly corresponds to the ancient city of Sopara.

Demographics

The population of Vasai–Virar was 1,221,233 at the 2011 census, up from 693,350 in 2001, 365,480 in 1991, and 219,868 in 1981, there exists slums and villages as well as urban zones.[3]

Civic administration

The Vasai–Virar Town is governed by two bodies, Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation and Villages (gram panchayat).

Vasai–Virar Municipal Corporation

Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) was formed on 3 July 2010. It is headed by a Municipal commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service officer who wields the executive power. A quinquennial election is held to elect the governing body, who are responsible for overseeing that their constituencies have the basic civic infrastructure in place, and that there is no lacuna on the part of the authorities. The position of mayor is a largely ceremonial post with limited duties but the office-holder heads the party with the largest vote. For further details about civil administration and municipal corporation click http://www.vvcmc.in.

Transport

Railways
Mumbai Suburban Local Train

Vasai–Virar Town is connected by the Western Railway and Central Railway. The major railway stations on the Western and Central Railway in Vasai–Virar Town are

  • Virar railway station (Western Railway): All Local, DMU Train, Memu, Shuttle, Express & Passenger Trains halt or depart from here.
  • Nala Sopara railway station (Western Railway) : All Local DMU & Memu halt here.
  • Vasai Road railway station (Western/Central Railway) : Vasai Road Railway Station is a Junction. All Local, DMU, Memu, Shuttle, Express & Passenger Trains halt or Depart from here.
  • Naigaon railway station (Western Railway) : All Local Trains halt here.
  • Juchandra railway station (Central Railways) : All DMU & MEMU halt here.
  • Kaman Road railway station (Central Railway) : All DMU & MEMU halt here.

Road
Marcopolo Bus
Mini Bus

Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation started its own transport service on 3 October 2012 in association with Bhagirathi Transport Corporation Pvt Ltd, known as VVMT. It operates a large number of bus lines in the Vasai-Virar Town. VVMT also plies its buses in Vasai-Virar villages. It also has operation outside Town limits into neighbouring Town of Mira-Bhayander, Thane City & Mumbai City. VVMT bus ply from Vasai to Thane & Vasai to Mulund.[4]

Other Towns & Cities where VVMT Buses connects
Mira-Bhayander Town
Thane City
Mumbai City
Information of VVMT Bus Routes & Bus Depot
No of Bus Routes 32
No of Depots 1 (Agarwal Nagar, Vasai East)

2 (Navghar, Vasai East)

Operations
The VVMT uses diesel powered buses for its operation. The majority of the VVMT display boards will only have the destination name written in Marathi. All buses with electronic display board are introduced in the fleet, which have destination with the route number flashing in Marathi as well as English on front of the buses.[4]

The VVMT bus routes are spread town-wide and also to neighbouring towns and cities. The VVMT operates inter-city services to three different areas beyond the municipal limits of Vasai-Virar Town, i.e. into the limits of the Municipal Corporations of Mira-Bhayander, Thane and Mumbai.[4]

Vasai-Virar Town
The local bus services of the city, which are operated by VVMC. The internal places of Vasai-Virar Town which are far from the Virar, Nalasopara, Vasai Road, Naigaon Railway Stations are connected by VVMT. The major concentration has always been Vasai-Virar Town and with vast growing population in the Town.

Vasai-Virar Villages
It is not official, but some faraway Villages from the Virar, Nalasopara and Vasai are connected by VVMT buses. VVMT services are not so frequent in Villages as in the Town.

Mira-Bhayander Town
Services start from Virar, Nalasopara and Vasai Road Railway Stations and passes by Bhayandar via Goudbunder Road. The inter city connection between the Vasai-Virar Town (which on the western railway side) and (which is on the central railway side).

Thane City
Thane City is connected to Vasai by the VVMT. From Vasai it starts its services towards Thane. The inter city connection is between Vasai-Virar Town (which is on the western railway side) and Thane City / Central Mumbai City (via Thane City) (which is on the central railway side).

Mumbai City
Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) is the largest public transport provider in the Mumbai city & suburbs. VVMT connects the last station in Mumbai's suburb Mulund to the Vasai-Virar. The inter-city connection is between Vasai-Virar Town on the western railway side and Central Mumbai City on the central railway side.

Sports

Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon
Sachin at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon in 2014
Ritesh Deshmukh at Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon

Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon is annual marathon race organised in Vasai-Virar area. It began in 2011 and in 2012 became a National Level running event, recognised by the AFI. The event sees participation in excess of 15,000 across various categories and offers prize money in excess of Rs 30 lakhs.[5]

Swimming Pool

VVMC has built an Olympic-size Swimming Pool in Vasai & Virar.

Climate

Vasai-Virar has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw). This moderate climate consists of high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures. 80% of total rainfall occurs between June and October. Annual rainfall averages at 2,000–2,500 mm (79–98 in) and humidity is 61—86%, making it a humid-prehumid zone. The driest days are in winter, while the wettest days occur in July.

Climate data for Vasai-Virar
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28.5
(83.3)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 32.5
(90.5)		 33.2
(91.8)		 32
(90)		 29.7
(85.5)		 29.5
(85.1)		 29.8
(85.6)		 32.1
(89.8)		 32
(90)		 30.3
(86.5)		 30.8
(87.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23.2
(73.8)		 23.7
(74.7)		 26.3
(79.3)		 28.3
(82.9)		 29.8
(85.6)		 29
(84)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27
(81)		 27.8
(82.0)		 26.6
(79.9)		 24.6
(76.3)		 26.7
(80.1)
Average low °C (°F) 17.9
(64.2)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.6
(70.9)		 24.2
(75.6)		 26.5
(79.7)		 26.1
(79.0)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.3
(75.7)		 23.6
(74.5)		 21.2
(70.2)		 18.9
(66.0)		 22.7
(72.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0
(0)		 1
(0.0)		 1
(0.0)		 0
(0)		 10
(0.4)		 486
(19.1)		 870
(34.3)		 531
(20.9)		 350
(13.8)		 71
(2.8)		 6
(0.2)		 1
(0.0)		 2,327
(91.5)
Source: Climate-Data.org (altitude: 5m)[6]

References
  1. http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf
  2. "Census India 2011 Cities above 1 lac population" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  3. http://www.accessanitation.org/fileadmin/accessanitation/Presentation/Final_conference/8_May_2013/5.1_CitySanPlan_MUN_CORP.pdf
  4. About VVMT Bus Services
  5. About Marathon
  6. "Climate: Vasai Virar - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
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