Thane district ठाणे जिल्हा
Location of Thane district in Maharashtra
State	Maharashtra, India
Administrative division	Konkan Division
Headquarters	Thane
Area	9,558 km2 (3,690 sq mi)
Population	11,054,131 (2011 Census)
Population density	1,203.2 /km2 (3,116 /sq mi)
Urban population	72.58
Literacy	80.67%
Sex ratio	858
Tehsils	1. Thane, 2. Kalyan, 3. Ambernath, 4. Ulhasnagar, 5. Murbad, 6. Vasai, 7. Bhiwandi, 8. Shahapur, 9. Palghar, 10. Vada, 11. Mokhada, 12. Dahanu, 13. Talasari, 14. Jawhar, 15. Vikramgad
Lok Sabha constituencies	1. Thane, 2. Kalyan 3. Bhiwandi 4. Palghar (ST) (Based on Election Commission website)
Assembly seats	24
Major highways	NH-3, NH-4, NH-8, NH-222
Average annual precipitation	2,576 mm
Official website

Thane (Marathi: ठाणे जिल्हा ʈʰaːɳeˑ) is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation.^[1] The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Kulgaon-Badlapur, Dahanu, Shahapur, Wada and Vasai-Virar. This is the third-most industrialised district in Maharashtra.

The district is situated between 18°42' and 20°20' north latitudes and 72°45' and 73°48' east longitudes. The area of the district is 9558 km². The shape of the district is triangular. The district is bounded by Pune and Ahmadnagar on the east, Nashik on the east and northeast, Valsad District of Gujarat state and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli on the north. The Arabian Sea forms the western boundary, while it is bounded by Mumbai City District and Mumbai Suburban District on the southwest and Raigad District on the south.

Origin of name[link]

The district derived its name from the city of Thane, which is the district headquarters. The name Thane derived from the ancient name of the same city, Shristhanaka, when it was the capital of the Shilahara kings.

History[link]

In 1817, the territory now comprising Thane district was taken over by the British from the Peshwa and it became a part of North Konkan district, with its headquarters in Thana. Since then, it has undergone considerable changes in its boundaries. In 1830, the North Konkan district was expanded by adding parts of South Konkan district and in 1833 was renamed Thana District. In 1853, the three sub-divisions of Pen, Roha and Mahad together with Underi and Revadanda agencies of Kolaba were formed into the sub-collectorate of Kolaba, under Thana, and ultimately were separated to become an independent Kolaba district in 1869 (presently known as Raigad district).

Back in 1866, the administrative sub-divisions of Thana were reorganised and renamed: Sanjan as Dahanu, Kolvan as Shahapur and Nasrapur as Karjat. Vada petha was upgraded to the level of a taluka. Uran Mahal was separated from Salsette in 1861 and was placed under Panvel. Panvel, together with its mahals of Uran and Karanja, was transferred to Kolaba district in 1883 and Karjat was transferred in 1891. A new mahal with Bandra as headquarters was created in 1917 and in 1920 Salsette was divided into two talukas — north Salsette and South Salsette. South Salsette consisting of 84 villages was separated from Thana District and included in the newly created Bombay Suburban district (present Mumbai Suburban district). North Salsette was made a mahal under Kalyan taluka in 1923 and renamed as Thana in 1926. Kelve-Mahim was renamed as Palghar. 33 villages of the Bombay Suburban district were transferred to Thana district in 1945 and 14 of them were re-transferred to the Bombay Suburban district in 1946 when the Aarey Milk Colony was constituted.

After Independence, in 1949, the princely state of Jawhar was merged with Thana district and became a separate taluka. As many as twenty-seven villages and eight towns from Borivali taluka and one town and one village from Thana taluka were transferred to the Bombay Suburban district in 1956 when the limits of Greater Bombay were extended northwards in Salsette. In 1960, following the bifurcation of the bilingual Bombay State, 47 villages, and three towns in the taluka of Umbargaon were transferred to Surat district in Gujarat and its remaining twenty-seven villages were first included in Dahanu and later in 1961 made into a separate mahal, Talasari. In 1969, the taluka of Kalyan was divided into two talukas, Kalyan & Ulhasnagar.^[2]

Geography[link]

The district is the northernmost part of the Konkan lowlands of Maharashtra. It comprises the wide amphitheatre like Ulhas basin on the south and hilly Vaitama valley on the north together with plateaus and the slopes of Sahyadri. From the steep slopes of the Sahyadri in the east, the land falls through a succession of plateaus in the north and centre of the district to the Ulhas valley in the south. These lowlands are separated from the coast by a fairly well-defined narrow ridge of hills that runs north-south to the east of the Thane creek, parallel to the sea keeping a distance of about 6 to 10 km from the shores. A number of isolated hills and spurs also dot the entire district area.^[3]

Rivers, creeks, islands, lakes and hot springs[link]

The two main rivers flowing through the district are the Ulhas and the Vaitarna. The Ulhas originates from the north of Tungarli near Lonavala, flows for a short distance before descending near Bhor ghat. It meets the sea at Vasai creek. Ulhas River is 135 km long. The river has many tributaries; two important of them (within the boundaries of this district) are Barvi and Bhatsa. Vaitarna, the largest of Konkan Rivers rises in the Tryambak hills in Nashik district, opposite to the source of Godavari, The River flows across Shahapur, Vada and Palghar talukas and enter the Arabian Sea through a wide estuary off Arnala. Vaitarna River is 154 km long and has a drainage area that practically covers the entire northern part of the district. It has also a number of tributaries; the most important of them are Pinjal, Surya, Daherja and Tansa.

Many small creeks are found all along the western coast, in which tidal waters flood upstream and fill up much low ground. In many cases human interference has helped in converting them into mud flats. The bigger creeks are Bhiwandi, Chinchani, and Dahanu creeks. The Thane creek is not a creek in the true sense, but a depression engulfed by the sea.

The northern part of the Salsette Island is part of Thane district, which is separated from the mainland by the Ulhas estuary and the Thane creek but is connected through reclaimed land with the island city of Mumbai. Arnala Island is located in Vasai taluka, at the entrance to the Vaitarna estuary.

The district has no natural lakes, but a number of artificial lakes have been constructed mainly to supply drinking water to Mumbai. The Tansa Lake formed across the Tansa River in the hills north of Bhiwandi behind the dam completed in 1892 CE. The Modak Sagar (Lower Vaitarna) Lake on the river Vaitarna formed behind a dam completed in 1957 CE. Later in the upper reaches of the same river, the Upper Vaitarana Lake formed behind another dam built in 1972 CE. The Bhatsa Lake has been formed in the upper Bhatsa, north of Shahapur behind a dam built in 1981 CE.^[4]

Several hot springs are located in the Vasai taluka in the bed of Tansa River. They are located near Akloli, Ganeshpuri and Vajreshvari villages. There are some more ex:- kokner(Maswan tal-Palghar) and Sativali(Saphale tal:-Palghar) The temperature of water are in the range of 42°-55°C.^[3]

Climate[link]

There are two distinctly different climates in the district, one on the western coastal plains and the other on the eastern slopes of Sahyadri. The climate on the western coastal plains of Thane, Vasai, Palghar and Dahanu talukas is tropical, very humid and warm. The climate on the plains at the foot of the slopes (Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Vada, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath and Talasari talukas) and on the eastern slopes of Sahyadri (Murbad, Shahapur, Jawhar, Vikramgad and Mokhada talukas) is comparatively less humid. The temperature variation is also more in the eastern part of the district comparing to the western coastal areas.

The district has four distinct seasons in a year. The winter season is from December to February, followed by the summer season from March to June. The southwest monsoon season is from June to September. October and November months constitute the post-monsoon season, which is hot and humid in the coastal areas.

In the coastal area, the average daily maximum temperature in summer is 32.9°C (maximum recorded at Dahanu is 40.6°C on 19 April 1955) and in winter average mean daily minimum temperature is 16.8°C (minimum recorded at Dahanu is 8.3°C on 8 January 1945). But in the interior parts of the district, the average daily minimum temperature is slightly lower in the winter season and the average daily maximum temperature is higher in the summer season. The average annual rainfall in the district is 2293.4 mm. The rainfall in the district increases from the coastal areas to the interior. The rainfall varies from 1730.5 mm at Mahim on the coast to 2588.7 mm at Shahapur in the interior. The rainfall during the southwest monsoon season, June to September, constitutes about 94% of the annual rainfall. July is the wettest month with a rainfall of about 40% of the annual total. The variation in the annual rainfall from year to year in the district is not large. The highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours at any station in the district was 481.1 mm at Dahanu on 1 September 1958 CE.^[5]

Divisions[link]

Thane comprises 15 talukas. The talukas are Thane, Kalyan, Murbad, Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Vasai, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Dahanu, Palghar, Talasari, Jawhar, Mokhada, Wada and Vikramgad^[6]

Thane is presently the only district in India which comprises 7 municipal corporations: Mira-Bhayandar, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi and Vasai-Virar.

At present, there are 24 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Thane district. Dahanu (ST), Vikramgad (ST), Palghar (ST), Boisar (ST), Nalasopara and Vasai constituencies are part of Palghar Lok Sabha constituency. Bhivandi Rural (ST), Shahapur (ST), Bhivandi West, Bhivandi East, Kalyan West and Murbad constituencies are part of Bhiwandi Lok Sabha constituency. Ambarnath (SC), Ulhasnagar, Kalyan East, Dombivali, Kalyan Rural and Mumbra-Kalwa constituencies are part of Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency. Mira Bhayandar, Ovala-Majiwada, Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Airoli, Thane and Belapur constituencies are part of Thane Lok Sabha constituency.^[7]

Proposals for bifurcation and trifurcation[link]

According to the provisional 2011 Census, Thane district is the most populous district in India. A number of proposals made by several political parties and organisations to bifurcate or trifurcate this district for better administration are presently being considered by the government of Maharashtra. These proposals include:

• The bifurcation of the present district into two by creating a new tribal district - Jawhar, which will include the northern and eastern talukas of the present district. The possible taluks that may come under Jawhar District are: Palghar, Vada, Vikramgad, Jawhar, Mokhada, Dahanu, Talasari.
• The trifurcation of the present district:

There is a proposal to divide the present district into three: Thane (Urban), Kalyan, and Jawhar.

1. The proposed Thane (Urban) district will comprise Vasai-Virar, Bhivandi-Nizampur, Mira-Bhayander, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. The Cidco administered areas, New Panvel, Panvel, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Uran regions also may be included in this proposed district.
2. The proposed Kalyan district will comprise Kalyan-Dombivali, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Kulgaon-Badlapur, Shahapur, and Murbad. Parts of Raigarh District namely the Talukas of Karjat, Uran, Panvel and Khalapur may also merge with this district.
3. The proposed Jawhar District will comprise all areas north of the Tansa River. It would be a tribal district and will include seven talukas: Palghar, Vada, Vikramgad, Jawhar, Mokhada, Dahanu, Talasari.

Demographics[link]

According to the 2011 census Thane district has a population of 11,054,131,^[1] roughly equal to the nation of Cuba^[8] or the US state of Ohio.^[9] This gives it a ranking of 1st in India (out of a total of 640) and 1st in its state.^[1] The district has a population density of 1,157 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,000 /sq mi) .^[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 35.94 %.^[1] It has a sex ratio of 880 females for every 1000 males,^[1] and a literacy rate of 86.18 %.^[1]

It had a population of 8,131,849 of which 72.58% were urban as of 2001.^[10] Total literacy rate of the district is 80.67% (male 87.06% and female 73.10%). The population of Thane district in 2011 had risen to 11,054,131; this is close to 10 percent ( 9.84 ) of Maharashtra’s estimated population of 112.4 million and 1% of India’s Total population.^[11] The most populated district in the country, somewhat ahead of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal which had 10,082,852 people.^[12] The density of population was estimated at 1,157 people per square kilometer. The sex ratio i.e. number of females per 1000 male was 880 which is less than the states average of 925 and the national average of 940.^[13]

The southern talukas are the mostly urban areas and hence along with Marathi many other languages like Sindhi, Gujarati and Hindi are spoken. Marathi is the main language in the rural talukas.

Western coastal region is mostly populated by Kolis, the northern and the eastern talukas are populated by the Varlis, known for making stark images from red mud on house walls.

Economy[link]

According to the 2001 Census, the total working population in the district was 11,961,704 persons, which is 47.37% of the total population of the district. Out of total working force, 51.75% were engaged in agriculture and allied activities, 6.19% in manufacturing, service and cottage industries and remaining 30.69% in other activities. Out of total working force, the female working force was 22.89% in the district.^[14]

Agriculture[link]

The important kharif crops of the district are rice, vari and nachani (finger millet). The pulses like Urad, moong and kulith are also grown in this season. Rice is the main crop of the district. Rice is grown in all the talukas of the district but mainly in Palghar, Bhiwandi, Murbad, Shahapur, Vada, Vikramgad and Dahanu. Vari and nachani are grown in the hilly areas of the eastern part of the district, namely Jawhar, Murbad, Vikramgad, Shahapur and Mokhada talukas. Wal, chavali and gram are the main rabi crops grown in this district. Dahanu taluka is famous for fruits. Chikoos (sapotas) are grown on a large scale at Gholwad. Chikoo orchards are also found in Palghar and Talasari talukas. Chikoos grown in these areas are sent all over India. Other fruits grown in the district are guavas, mangoes, papayas, grapefruits and coconuts. Vasai and Palghar talukas are famous for different varieties of bananas such as rajeli, tambeli, mutheli and velchi. Seasonal fruits grown in the district such as bor, wild berries and litchis have great demands in the markets of Mumbai. Vegetables are also grown in the district. Among the vegetables, eggplants are grown on a large scale. There are rose gardens at Dahanu.^[15]

Industries[link]

Thane is the third most industrialised district in the State. There are 1548 large and medium scale and 18,480 small scale industries in the district. The main products of these industries are Drugs, Textiles, Adhesives, Plastics, Rubber, Steel, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering, Fertilizers, Electronics, Chemicals and Iron & Steel. The Thane-Belapur-Kalyan industrial belt is the centre of highly sophisticated modern industries. In Ambarnath, Bhiwandi, Badlapur, Tarapur and Murbad there are nearly 4000 industries which contributes towards the industrialisation of the district. Manufacture of machinery, machine tools and parts except electrical machinery together with the iron and steel industry and metal products are the most important and the biggest group of industries in the district and includes manufacture of Prime movers, Boilers, Refrigerators, Machine Tools, Computing and Accounting machinery, Industrial machinery for food and textile industries, machinery for chemicals, paper and cement industries. Manufacture of basic industrial chemicals including fertilizers, vegetable and animal oils and fats, paints, varnishes and lacquers and other miscellaneous chemical products is another important industry in the district. These industries are mainly concentrated in the Trans-Thane Creek and Belapur Road industrial area. The medium and large industries manufacturing chemicals and chemical products are Pfizer, Lubrizol India Ltd., Polyolefins Industries Ltd., NOCIL, Herdillia Chemicals Ltd., BASF (India) Ltd., Star Chemicals, INDOFIL INDUSTRIES LIMITED,and Phoenix Chemical Works. The chemical industries are also found in other parts of the district like Wagle Industrial Estate, Pokhran Road, Ambarnath and Dombivli. The cotton and non-cotton power looms are mainly located at Bhiwandi, Thane and Kalyan. Traditionally, Bhiwandi is famous for its handlooms. But the deteriorating markets for the handlooms compelled the weavers to replace their handlooms by powerlooms. Fisheries constitute an important industry in Thane district. It is carried out in sea as well as in creeks and estuaries on the western coast. Marine fishery predominates over inland fishery in the district and provides employment to about 75% of the persons engaged in the fishing industry. Fishing in sea is carried out along the coast stretching over about 110 km. The important fishing centres in the district are Dahanu, Pokharan-Uchheli, Nawapur, Murabe, Satpute, Datiware, Arnala, Vasai and Uran. Food processing industries like grain mill products, Bakery products, Cocoa, Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery, Salt, ice, slaughtering, preparation and preservation of meat, dairy products, canning and preservation of fruits and vegetables, canning, preserving and processing of fish are developed in the district. Raptakos, Brett and Co., Pfizer Ltd., Cadbury Fry (India) Ltd. which produce modified milk food and high protein food are some of the large and medium companies in the district. Wood products like plywood and veneer, wooden boxes, barrels, bamboo, cane baskets, bobbins, industrial fixtures, cork & cork products are also manufactured in the district. The Tarapur Atomic Power Station which has ushered an era of utilisation of nuclear energy for electricity generation is also situated in the district. The finance is being provided by various public sector and private sector Banks and Financial Institutions in the district. Bank of Maharashtra is one of the leading Public Sector Banks of the district, having 60 branches (2000 CE).^[14]

Transport[link]

A Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport bus

The Thane Municipal Corporation started its own public transport service known as the Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) from February 9, 1989. The TMT has a fleet of 289 buses which ply on 45 routes from 2 bus-depots and 8 bus-stands ferrying approximately 2.8 lakhs commuters daily.^[16] The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation also has its own public transport service known as the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT). In 2006, Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMT) commenced its own public transport service, known as the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport. The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation also runs its own Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT) service. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses connect Thane city to different parts of the district and also to other districts.

The total railway track length in the district is 345.73 km. spread in western and central part of the district. The Western Railway network passes through Vasai, Palaghar and Dahanu talukas of the district and Central railway network passes through Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Shahapur talukas of the district. Western Railway local trains leaving from Churchgate railway station go up to Dahanu Road railway station in the district. Central Railway local trains leaving from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus go up to Kalyan, Ambarnath, Badlapur, Karjat and Kasara. In 1994, a new connection made from Diva Junction to Vasai. This connection joined Central Railway and Western Railway networks and its length is 41.96 km.^[14] Konkan Railway network also passes through a part of the district. Local trains have now started plying from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai to Panvel on this network. Dahanu, Satpati, Mahim. Kalyan, Vasai, and Uttan are the ports on the Arabian Sea coast. Ferry services are available between these ports. Metered Auto Rickshaws ply in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhyander and several other towns. Metered Taxi services are also available in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar and some other towns.

Presently, this district has no airport. As a result of the objections being raised by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the current proposed location of the Navi Mumbai International airport near Kopra Panvel area, The Kalyan-Nevali location in Thane district is being considered for a future Kalyan International Airport which would serve as a much needed second International airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan region. However, the issue to have the Airport at Navi Mumbai has been resolved and the first phase is proposed to be completed ambitiously by 2015.^[17]

Sports[link]

Cricket is the most popular sport in this district. The district has a cricket stadium, D.Y. Patil Stadium at Nerul in Navi Mumbai with many modern amenities. Another significant stadium in this district, Dadoji Konddev Sports Stadium, is located in Thane city, where various sports like cricket, badminton, tennis and table tennis are played.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Thane District website
• Shree Gajanan Maharaj Mandir located in Kanhor, Badlapur, Thane District, Home Page,
• Thane District e-gazetteer

	Valsad district, Gujarat	Dadra and Nagar Haveli district, Dadra and Nagar Haveli	Valsad district, Gujarat Nashik district
	Arabian Sea		Ahmadnagar district
		Thane district    East
	Mumbai Suburban district	Raigad district	Pune district

v t e  State of Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai Topics History Geography Economy Tourism Marathi language Culture Marathi people Marathi literature Marathi cinema Maharashtrian cuisine Regions Desh Khandesh Konkan Mumbai Metropolitan Region Marathwada Vidarbha Districts Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Aurangabad Beed Bhandara Buldhana Chandrapur Dhule Gadchiroli Gondia Hingoli Jalgaon Jalna Kolhapur Latur Mumbai (City) Mumbai (Suburban) Nagpur Nanded Nandurbar Nashik Osmanabad Parbhani Pune Raigad Ratnagiri Sangli Satara Sindhudurg Solapur Thane Wardha Washim Yavatmal Million-plus cities in Maharashtra Mumbai Pune Nagpur Thane Pimpri-Chinchwad Nashik Kalyan-Dombivali Navi Mumbai Aurangabad Other cities with municipal corporations Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Bhiwandi Chandrapur Dhule Jalgaon Kolhapur Latur Malegaon Mira-Bhayandar Nanded Parbhani Sangli Solapur Ulhasnagar Vasai-Virar Portal: Maharashtra

v t e Thane district topics History Aparanta Bassein Fort Silhara dynasty Sopara Treaty of Bassein (1534) Treaty of Bassein (1802) Geography Thane Creek Ulhas River Vasai Creek Cities and towns Ambernath Bhiwandi Boisar Dahanu Kalyan-Dombivli Kulgaon-Badlapur Mira-Bhayandar Navi Mumbai Palghar Shahapur Thane Ulhasnagar Vada Vasai-Virar Transport Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport Thane Municipal Transport Vashi Bridge NH 3 NH 8 Kalyan International Airport Civic Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Thane Municipal Corporation Culture Warli Parks and grounds DY Patil Stadium Sanjay Gandhi National Park Lok Sabha constituencies Bhiwandi Kalyan Palghar Thane Vidhan Sabha constituencies Airoli Belapur Kopri-Pachpakhari Mira Bhayandar Ovala-Majiwada Shahapur Thane Ulhasnagar Vikramgad

Thane ठाणे Thana
—  City and district headquarters  —
Hiranandani Meadows in Thane Hiranandani Meadows in Thane
Thane
Coordinates: 19°10′21″N 72°57′25″E / 19.172431°N 72.957019°E / 19.172431; 72.957019Coordinates: 19°10′21″N 72°57′25″E / 19.172431°N 72.957019°E / 19.172431; 72.957019
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Thane
Metro	ठाणे
Government
• Mayor	Ashok Vaity
• Municipal Commissioner	R. Rajeev
Area
• Total	147 km2 (57 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	2,486,941
• Density	17,000/km2 (44,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	400 6xx
Telephone code	022
Vehicle registration	MH-04
Lok Sabha constituency	Thane
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Thane
Website	www.thane.nic.in

Thane (IPA: [ˈʈaɳe]) (Marathi : ठाणे) is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which is the northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, the G.I.P. Railway’s first train ever to run in India rolled out from "Boree Bunder" (now the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) to "Thane" (then Tannah), 34 kilometers away. This marked the dawn of the Railway Age in Asia. It covers an area of 147 km² and has a population more than 2.4 million according to the 2011 census.^[1]

Geography[link]

Thane is located on Salsette Island to the northeast of Mumbai. Spanning an area of about 147 km², the city is located at an elevation of 7 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by hills, including the hill of Yeoor and Parsik Hill. It is divided by the Thane Creek, a stream that courses from the Ulhas River to the Arabian Sea that forms an estuary. Two road bridges and one rail bridge connect the two parts of the city. It is one of the oldest cities of India, with its history dating back to about 2,000 years.^{[citation needed]} Thane Municipal Corporation City's limits includes Kopri to the south, Wagle estate Naupada, Pachpakhadi to the west, Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva to the east and Manpada, Bramand, Kaserwadavli to the north. It is divided into politically two parts by the Thane Creek.

Upvan Lake

The city has around 30 lakes. The most beautiful^{[citation needed]} of them is the Masunda Talao, also known as Talao Pali. The lake offers boating and water scooter facilities. The Upvan Lake is located at the foot-hills of the Yeoor hills and is a scenic spot. It is flanked by the Yeoor hills on one side and the tall Neelkanth Heights on one side, and is a common spot for recreation. Other lakes include:

• Masunda Lake (Talav Pali)
• Kachrali Lake
• Makhmali Lake
• Ambe Ghonsali Lake
• Siddheshwar Lake
• Jail Lake
• Wagle Lake
• Upvan Lake
• Yashasvi Nagar Lake
• Kausa Lake
• Kharegaon Lake
• Raila Devi Lake
• Balkum Lake
• Rewale Lake
• Bramhala-Kolbad Lake

[File:Masunda Lake in Thane.jpg|thumb|120px|alt=View of Masunda Lake (Talav Pali) from St. John Baptist High School.|View of Masunda Lake (Talav Pali) from St. * Joshi Lake John Baptist High School.]]

Climate[link]

Thane has a tropical monsoon climate that borders on a tropical wet and dry climate. Overall climate is equable with high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures. Thane temperature varies from 22°C to 36°C. In winter temperature is between 12°C to 20°C while summer temperature ranges from 36°C to 41°C. Out of total rainfall, 80% rainfall is experienced during June to October. Average annual rainfall is 2000–2500 mm and humidity is 61-86 %, making it a humid-perhumid zone. The driest days are in winter while the wettest days are experienced in July.

Demographics and culture[link]

Thane was inhabited with people of the Agri and Koli communities, and their villages still exist today as "Chendani Koliwada", "Kopari Goan", and "Uthalsar". It also includes Majiwade, Balkum, Dhokali, Kolshet, Wadavli, and others. In 1825, when the British explored their newly annexed territories in Bassein, they discovered that Thane was inhabited primarily by Roman Catholics, who are both native and Portuguese, and that the latter was virtually indistinguishable^{[citation needed]} from the former in skin color and custom. The local villagers, like Kolis (fishermen), are converted into indigenous Catholics mostly from villages of Chendani, Koliwada, and Majiwada. The Agri and Koli community people had their own culture.^{[citation needed]} Some of the upper class East Indian families in the Khatri ward of Thane still speak Portuguese.^[2]

Thane has a predominantly Maharashtrian culture, although, like its neighbouring city Mumbai, it has a cosmopolitan culture as well. Because of the huge residential boom, the city has witnessed a large number of immigrants from the nearby city of Mumbai as well as from other pockets of state and country. The face of the city is nowadays becoming increasingly cosmopolitan. Beside Marathi, sizable populations of North Indians, South Indians, Sindhis, Gujaratis and Marwari and other people from different regions live in Thane, mainly because of its proximity to Mumbai. Thane is bordered by the Yeoor Hills on one side and is dotted with numerous beautiful lakes, which are a cause of cooler weather than that of Mumbai.

Festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Gudhi Padwa, Durga Puja, Mahashivratri and Shivaji Jayanti are celebrated with great zest in the city. As in Mumbai, Thane offers high rewards amounting to 1 million rupees (US$ 25,000) for winners of Dahi Handi sport during the Gokulashtami festival.

History[link]

Throughout recorded history the city has left its mark under various names. The earliest evidence of Thane appears in the works of the Greek geographer, Ptolemy, who, in his writings ( 135 – 150 AD) refers to a place called Chersonesus, which, according to researches, is the area around Thane creek. The city crops up again in the Middle Ages and slabs and copper plates dating back to the period have been discovered in Thane. One of them, dug up from the foundations of Thane Fort in 1787, dated 1078 AD, is apparently a land grant from Arikesara Devaraja, sovereign of the city of Tagara, wherein he address the inhabitants of a city called Sri Sthanaka. Friar Jordanus, a great traveler, who visited the Bombay city between AD 1321 and 1324, describes it as being under a Muslim governor. He leaves a detailed sketch of early converted Christians in Bombay and refers to the martyrdom of four Christian priests in the region, more than 200 years before the Portuguese ever set foot in India. The celebrated Ibn Batuta and Abul Feda, contemporaries of Friar Jordanus, also came here. They refer to Thane as Kukin Tana and speak of its fame as a port from which ships sailed to the gulf carrying a kind of cloth called 'Tanasi' which was produced in Thane. Duarte Barbosa, a noted traveler, described Thane by the name Tana Mayambu 25 years before the Portuguese conquest. He paints a vivid picture of the town as one of Moorish mosques and temples, with many pleasant gardens. The Portuguese came to Thane about 1530 and ruled for over 200 years till 1739. Thane was then known as Cacabe de Tana. Work on the Thane Fort began in 1730. The Marathas, who conquered Bassein and Thane in 1737 and 1739, held sway over the region till 1784, when the British captured the Fort and ruled Thane, then also called Tana. They made it the headquarters of the district administration with a district collector stationed in Thane. The Thane Municipal Council was formed in 1863 when the city's population reached above 9000.

Transport[link]

Thane was the terminus for the first ever passenger train in India. On 16 April 1853, the first passenger train service was inaugurated between Bori Bunder (now renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus), Mumbai and Thane.^[3] Covering a distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi), it was hauled by three locomotives – Sahib, Sindh and Sultan.

Thane is well connected with neighbouring suburbs through Central Railways' suburban railway network. There are 4 railway stations within Thane city limits. Thane station is part of the Central Railway division of Indian railways, and is about 34 km away from the Mumbai city station. The other 3 stations are Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva which are also the suburbs of Thane.

Thane has gained new importance as a railway link to Navi Mumbai due to the Thane-Vashi/Nerul and Thane-Panvel local train lines. Since February 2010 new fast trains have started between Thane and Panvel – stopping at Kopar Khairane, Nerul and Belapur. This line runs many trains between Thane and Vashi, the principal node of Navi Mumbai, passing through Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Turbhe and Sanpada. Almost all trains going to Konkan from Mumbai have stops at Thane.

Thane Municipal Transport (TMT), Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT), Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT), Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT) and MSRTC (State Transport) corporations provide public bus service to the city. Autorickshaw on Meter is available to travel within City along with Taxies Normal as well as A/c.

A light rail network covering 42 km has been proposed in three phases. In the first phase, consultants have suggested connectivity between Balkum and Kolshet via Naupada. It will be 16.05 km long with 14.65 km elevated, and only 1.4 km on the surface, and 11 stations in all.^[4]

"The public transport on newly developed Ghodbunder road area is not satisfactory at the moment and needs lot of improvement .The newly constructed SATIS (Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme) has however given good results" (May 2010). The New Flyover Bridge is being Constructed On the Ghodbunder Road to overcome the traffic issues. Series of bridges are being constructed along Ghodbunder road which includes Kapurbawadi flyover,Waghbil flyover and Manpada flyover.

See also[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Thaneweb.com – The city portal
• Thanecity.in – Thane community portal
• ThaneMahapailika.com - Thane Muncipal Corporation (Local Body)

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Ganesh Naik born September 15, 1950 is an Indian politician. He is the Nationalist Congress Party member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing Belapur,^[1] and is the Thane Guardian Minister in the state government.^[2] He is currently the minister of Labour, excise and environment.

Vidhan Sabha election 2009[link]

Ganesh Naik Wins From Belapur And Sandeep Naik From Airoli ^[3] NCP Congress Belapur candidate Ganesh Naik beat his nearest poll rival BJP-Shiv Sena’s Suresh Haware with a margin of 12, 873 while Sandeep Naik has won from Airoli constituency with a margin of 11, 957.

State Excise and Non Conventional Energy Minister Ganesh Naik (Maharashtra)[link]

Belapur Mla Ganesh Naik And Airoli Mla Sandeep Naik Take Oath In The First Session Of The New Assembly^[4] As the 288 members of the state assembly took oath, MLAs from Navi Mumbai – State Excise and Non Conventional Energy Minister Ganesh Naik and Airoli MLA Sandeep Naik taking the oath. Take a look.

In the midst of all political drama State Excise and Non Conventional Energy Minister Ganesh Naik and Airoli MLA Sandeep Naik took oath in the assembly. The father-son duo came together for the first session of the new assembly at Vidhan Bhavan. Ganesh Naik took the oath with the other top Ministers of the state. On the other hand MLA Sandeep Naik took oath post lunch.

References[link]

This article about an Indian politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Raj Shrikant Thackeray (Marathi: राज श्रीकांत ठाकरे) (born 14 June 1968) is the founder and president of the right-wing^{[citation needed]} Marathi ethnocentric regional political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ("Maharashtra Reformation Army") in the state of Maharashtra, India. His official name is Swararaj which means the king of musical notes.^[1] He is the nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, and a cousin of the current Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray.^[2]

Early life[link]

Raj was born on 14 June 1968 in a Marathi Kayastha (CKP) family to Shrikant Thackeray (younger brother of Bal Thackeray) and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray's wife Meena Thackeray). Raj’s father Shrikant Thackeray was a musician, cartoonist and was also well versed in Urdu. He studied in Balmohan Vidyamandir, Mumbai and graduated from the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, Mumbai. As a child he is said to have learnt the tabla, the guitar and the violin. He also loved drawing which later turned into a passion for drawing cartoons.

Political career[link]

Raj started his political career with his Uncle Bal Thackeray. Bal Thackeray has been a huge influence on Raj’s life. Raj has been said to have modeled himself after him. In 1997, he started the Shiv Udyog Sena a youth wing for the Shiv Sena. With this he tried to strengthen his youth leader image. "He raised funds for the employment agency with, among other sources, concerts by Michael Jackson and Lata Mangeshkar — and thus, simultaneously, propagated the new brand of the Sena's popular culture and its implications for a nascent generational change within the organization". But his association with the Sena ended in 2006. In January 2006 he resigned from the Sena alleging that it was being "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory". There has been quite a lot of speculation over the real reason why he left the party. The popular rumor being that he was being "sidelined" by Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav. In the same year Raj announced his intention to start his own political party. Although separated from his mentor, Raj has always maintained that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".

Political Views[link]

Marathi Identity[link]

Raj Thackeray and his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, state that Maharashtra State, Marathi language and Marathi Manoos are subverted by the influence of non-Marathi politicians within and outside the State, and that these politicians should be opposed in order to attain prosperity for Maharashtra and Marathi people.^[3]

Opposition to Immigrants[link]

Since the creation of his party, Raj Thackeray has opposed immigration into Maharashtra from North India. According to Raj Thackeray, he is against immigrants specifically from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and not from North India or elsewhere, in general. According to him, bad governance, corruption, high crime rates and criminal, politicians in these two states for decades, has degraded the socio-economic conditions there, causing exodus of people from these states to other states, like Maharashtra. This causes unemployment and increased crime rates in Maharashtra and other states which receive these immigrants. Also, due to rising number of immigrants, the politician from these two states have gained power in Maharashtra. He, however has made it clear that he is not against Hindi.^[4]

Violence in Agitations[link]

Raj Thackery and his party MNS have been criticized^{[citation needed]} for use of violence during their agitations, especially directed towards immigrants from UP and Bihar. He is facing several charges for instigating violence in various courts.^{[citation needed]} On use of violence, Thackeray says that violence is a part of all agitations in Indian politics, and there are several cases of much more violence carried out by other parties and organisations. According to him, the incidents of violence involving members of his party have been unduly highlighted by North Indian politicians and journalists.^[4]

Supporter of Narendra Modi's Governance[link]

Thackeray is an admirer of Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi for his governance, and the development of Gujarat during his tenure. In August 2011, Raj Thackeray visited Gujarat on a 9-day trip as 'state guest' to study the development in Gujarat. He also advised politicians in Maharashtra, irrespective of party, to take lessons from Modi and Gujarat.^[5] He has also expressed support for Modi for the post Prime Minister of India for the 2014 Lok Sabha (general) election.^[5]

Agitations[link]

Marathi signboards for shops[link]

In July 2008, Raj issued a public warning that Mumbai shops needed to have Marathi signboards in addition to the existing English signboards. He warned that after one month, MNS workers would start blackening non-Marathi signboards.^{[citation needed]} While there had been a law to this effect passed earlier by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, it had not been enforced.^{[citation needed]}

Raj had also insisted that the Marathi signboards had to be at least as big as the English signboards. A number of big shopowners, notably Viren Shah (Roopam chain) went to court against this move. The high-court provided them relief, passing a judgement that the Marathi signboards did not have to be as big as English signboards.^[6]

In September 2008, MNS workers resorted to blackening signboards, to enforce the demand, after which most shop owners complied. Six MNS workers were arrested but later released on bail. The Congress government was dilatory in filing chargesheets against them, following which the Maharashtra high-court passed strictures against the government. When the government prosecutor submitted in December that the chargesheets had not been filed as investigation was ongoing, the judge remarked sarcastically whether this was a murder case to warrant such long investigations, three months after the arrest of the MNS workers, but Raj was attempting to enforce a rule previously on the books.^[7]

Agitation against Jet Airways layoffs[link]

In October 2008, on the eve of the major Indian festival Diwali, Jet Airways laid off 800 temporary workers and announced layoffs of an additional 1100 workers. The laid-off workers included Marathi as well as North-Indians. These workers met Raj Thackeray and asked him to intervene. Following this, Raj Thackeray declared that most of these workers had paid security deposits to the company, and he would meet Jet management to plead their case. Unless Jet Airways cancelled the layoffs, his party would not allow any Jet Airways plane to take off from any airport in Maharashtra.^[8]

Within 12 hours of Raj Thackeray's declaration, Jet chairman Naresh Goyal reversed the layoffs and reinstated the sacked employees. He claimed that he did it on his own and that there was no political pressure on him. Leftist Unions, Shivsena & Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel later tried to take credit for the decision. On announcement of the layoffs, Praful Patel had claimed that he had no jurisdiction over the layoffs issue.^[9] Sacked Jet employees on the other hand stated that they were warned by Jet management on reinstatement, not to meet Raj Thackeray to thank him.^[10]

Demand for Telecom customer service in Marathi[link]

Telecom companies in Maharashtra had been providing customer service in English & Hindi only. Raj demanded that all telecom companies operating in Maharashtra start providing the service in Marathi also and set a deadline of 27 February 2010, after which his party MNS would launch an agitation. Following this demand, all telecom companies complied, introducing Marathi as an additional option in their customer service.^[11]

Maharashtra-Karnataka Border Issue[link]

In Dec 2011, Raj Thackeray meeting a group from MES (Maharshtra Ekikaran Samiti) advised them that they should revisit their stand of merging Belgaum with Maharashtra in the interest of marathi speaking people of belgaum. In a major departure from the stance previously taken by traditional right wing groups of Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray argued that a practical approach rather than an emotional one was the need of the hour. However, he said that if the supreme court itself gives a decision in favor of Belgaum's merger he would welcome it, although the local situation in Belgaum should not be vitiated for the sake of it. He asked the MES leaders to first identify the real issue as to whether marathis in belgaum are being targeted for espousing the cause of marathi language or because they were supporting the merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra. Lamenting that strikes and bandhs only add to the misery of the Marathi-speaking community in Belgaum, Thackeray said: "If the Karnataka government is ready to respect the Marathi people, their culture and language, then there is nothing wrong in Belgaum being there."^[12] His comments were strongly criticized by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray as a cruel joke on the marathi manoos.^[13]

Controversies[link]

2008 violence against UP & Biharis[link]

At a rally in Shivaji Park, Raj warned that if the dadagiri (intimidating dominance) of these people in Mumbai and Maharashtra continued, he would be compelled to make them leave the metropolis.^[14] Raj was arrested along with a Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Azmi, for their involvement in the fracas. He was released on paying a penalty of 15,000 (US$299.25).

Acquittal in Kini murder case[link]

In July 1996, Ramesh Kini was found dead in a cinema in Pune. Kini was a tenant in a ramshackle tenement in central Mumbai, whose landlord, Laxmikant Shah, was trying to evict him. Shah also happened to be a close childhood friend of Raj Thackeray. A CBI enquiry was later issued for the case, but the CBI dismissed the case as one of suicide.^[15]

Kohinoor mill controversy[link]

Shiv Sena opposed sale of mill land, but Raj Thackeray bid for and won mill land in prime Mumbai real estate.^[16] On 21 July 2005, Raj and Unmesh Joshi, son of Shiv Sena Leader Manohar Joshi purchased a five acre plot of land, Kohinoor Mill No. 3, located across the road from the Shiv Sena party headquarters in Dadar, Mumbai for 421 crore (US$83.99 million). The NCP leader from Mumbai, Sachin Ahir, objected to the sale of the Kohinoor Mill land, saying that there were forty bids, yet only three were short-listed. He demanded a re-bid as there was a lack of transparency in the move.^[17]

Reaction to Jaya Bachchan's controversial statement[link]

The words of Jaya Bachchan, veteran actor and sitting Rajya Sabha MP of Samajwadi Party (with whom Raj's MNS has crossed swords a number of times), during the Music launch of the Hindi film Drona, were deemed hurtful by Raj Thackeray.

Jaya's words 'Hum UP (Uttar Pradesh) ke log hain, isliye Hindi mein baat karenge, Maharashtra ke log Maaf Kijiye' (We are from UP region, so we will speak in Hindi. People of Maharashtra, please excuse) in response to the film's Director, Goldie Behl, making his introductory speech in English and subsequently encouraging the actress Priyanka Chopra to speak in Hindi.^[18]

Raj commented that Jaya had no business alluding to all the people of Maharashtra in that statement. He threatened to ban all Bachchan films unless Jaya apologised in a public forum for hurting Maharashtrians. MNS workers began to attack theatres screening The Last Lear starring Jaya Bachchan's husband, Amitabh Bachchan. Shivsena MP Sanjay Raut also criticized Jaya's statement saying: "After making all your success & fortune in Mumbai, if you feel like saying that, We are From UP, its very unfortunate." It was only after Amitabh tendered an apology that the screening resumed.^[19]

Following Raj's threat, Mumbai police acted against Raj, issuing a gag order preventing him from speaking to the media.^[20]

Remarks on Chhath Puja and Migrants[link]

Raj reproached North Indian leaders for politicizing Chhath Puja, a festival popular in Bihar, calling it a "drama" and a "show of numerical strength". He stated that the Chhath Puja was a political gimmick by some parties to attract the north Indian vote. He questioned the motives by citing that the puja is performed on the banks of a river, not the sea as it was being performed.^[21] He demanded that they only celebrate Maharashtra day and not UP day in Maharashtra. A petition was filed in the Patna civil court on 8 February against him for his remarks.^[22] His statements drew flak from political leaders across the board, especially those from the North Indian states. The then Indian Railways minister and former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, vowed that he would come to Mumbai and perform Chhath Puja in front of Raj's house, which he failed to perform. He also ridiculed Raj saying, "He [Raj] is a child in politics".^[21] The Navnirman Sena leader accused migrants of swamping Maharashtra, India's most industrialised state, in search of jobs.^[23]

The MNS chief also accused migrants of disrespecting the local culture. On 9 February, expressing his stance on new migrants settling in Mumbai, Raj said, "New immigrants to the city should be denied entry into the city, while those already staying here should show respect to the Marathi 'manoos' and his culture".^[24]

Mumbai-Bombay Controversy: Wake Up Sid[link]

On 2 October 2009, MNS workers disrupted the screening of the film Wake Up Sid on its release in a few Pune and Mumbai theatres, after Raj objected to references in the movie to "Bombay" rather than "Mumbai". The city of Mumbai was referred to as "Bombay" in many scenes^[25] and in some songs (lyrics by Javed Akhtar). The film's producer, Karan Johar, visited Raj's residence to apologise, and agreed to all of Raj's terms, including an apology on each of the 700 frames in the film.^[26]

Personal life[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Raj is married to Sharmila, daughter of famous Marathi theater/films actor, producer-director Mohan Wagh. They have one son named Amit Thackeray and one daughter Urvashi Thackeray.

Like his father and uncle Raj is a painter and cartoonist. He had also expressed his desire to work for Walt Disney Studios. Raj Thackeray said when asked what he would have done had he not joined politics? "In my college days, I wanted to work with Walt Disney Studios. I drew cartoons even before my foray in politics. Film making is also a passion. I would have been doing either of these things."

External links[link]

• Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Official Website
• Outlook India Back Issues
• Raj Thackerey's response in The Indian Express to Sudheendra Kulkarni's criticism
• New legal strategy to tame Raj

References[link]