Ankleshwar

Ankleswar is a city and a municipality in Bharuch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The city is located approximately ten kilometers from Bharuch.

Economy

Ankleshwar is known for its industrial township called G.I.D.C. (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation), which is one of the biggest industrial township in Asia. Ankleshwar also has an office of ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited).

Ankleshwar Industries Association was established in 1978 by the industries located in Ankleshwar GIDC estate. After 26 years of its inception Ankleshwar Industries Association stands out from other state based industries associations by its achievements in diversified areas. Several activities are being undertaken under the umbrella of AIA. They include redressal of grievances faced by member industries, infra-structural development of estate through member’s participation, providing guidelines to small scale industries to fulfill various legal requirements, green-belt development, activities related to environmental preservation and pollution control, disaster prevention and management, creating awareness among surrounding population about various issues, etc.

To carry out above activities in the most efficient manner, Ankleshwar Industries Association has promoted Ankleshwar Industrial Development Society, Ankleshwar Environmental Preservation Society, Enviro Technology Ltd, Bharuch Enviro Infrastructure Ltd and Bharuch Eco Aqua Infrastructure Ltd.

Today, Ankleshwar has over 5000 big and small chemical plants. These chemical plants produce products such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and paint.

The pharmaceutical company, Cadila Healthcare, has a plant to make active pharmaceutical ingredient in Ankleshwar.Not only Cadila but other leading pharmaceuticals of india had started their api plants over here.

The multi product manufacturing organization, Kohinoor Group of Industries , has a plant to make active pharmaceutical ingredient, dyestuffs, pigments, Hair Colour and cosmetics in Ankleshwar.

The multi-national firm Hoechst India Limited which has become defunct has a plant to make Rabies vaccine, Pharmaceuticals and Agro Chemicals. Thus Hoechst sold its Rabies vaccine division to Chiron Behring Vaccine India which is now taken over by Novartis. The Pharmaceutical plant is now run by Sanofi Aventis and the Agro Chemical plant is now run by Bayer.

All these above mentioned industries as well as domestic consumers are supplied eco-freiendly piped NATURAL GAS by Gujarat Gas Company Limited, a subsidiary of BG Group plc.

Transport

Ankleshwar is well connected by Indian National Highway 8 (Mumbai to New Delhi) and by the Western Railway Division of Indian Railways. The railway division also facilitates the narrow gauged train services to Rajpipla indeed a joy ride in itself.

The 158 year-old Golden Bridge connects Ankleshwar to Bharuch across the Narmada on the station front while a new bridge constructed connects the highway, the other bridge on the highway has been under maintenance for some time causing regular traffic jams at the four laned NH:8.

There are many auto rickshaws (3 wheeled passenger accommodating petrol/diesel vehicles) and utility vehicles in Ankleshwar providing the means of transport within most of the city. Intra-district and Inter-state buses also serve Ankleshwar frequently, to most of the nearby cities and states. In addition to this there are private bus operators ferrying passengers across Ankleshwar.

There are 2 online CNG filling stations operated by Gujarat Gas Company in the city which cater to the above mentioned road transport vehicles. Recently, a new CNG station has been opened in GIDC located opposite the Smt. JayaBen Modi hospital and adjacent to the Shalimar hotel.

The main road which connects the highway to Valia is being widened, which will reduce the time taken for traveling. This road meets the widened road from Ghadkol-Patiya, Pragati-Path.

The railway station has been given a face lift and now Platform No.2 also has an overhead shade.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ankleshwar had a population of 67,952. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ankleshwar has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Basically the town consist of Hindu, they are basically Merchants and called as "Modh Ganchi", this cast is very much cultured and had also accept modern methodology of development and hence the city is also got well number of educated young generation both male and female.

Ankleswar and its surrounding areas has a high Muslim population. Much of the largely Muslim populace of Ankleshwar and ancillary villages in its vicinity were known to be of High Hindu/Brahmin caste before adopting Islam and a significant number of non Dalit higher caste Hindus are also found.

Education

Among the schools, there are Swami Vivekananda School(English Medium),Swami Vivekananda School(Gujarati Medium),E.N.Ginwala High School, Zenith High School, Aaddarsh School, Lions School, Shree Gattu Vidyalaya, Sanskar Deep, Gurukul, UBMM,National High School, Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Kendriya Vidhyalaya.

The colleges are
Kadakya Commerce & Arts College.

The very famous schools in Ankleshwar are

Swami Vivekananda School(English & Gujarati Medium)(One of the most favourite schools of Ankleshwar City area, it offers education from from kindergarten to Higher Sencondary(Science) in both English and Gujarati(local language) Medium.)
Lions School, a one of internationally known with excellent infrastructure for education in Gujarati and English medium,offers education from kindergarten to Higher Sencondary(Commerce)
Shree Gattu Vidyalaya (one of the oldest schools of Ankleshwar, offers education from kindergarten to higher secondary. Has English and Gujarati mediums), Gattu is named after a son of director of Asian Paints Limited.

Also,

C.M. Academy (Chandra Bala Modi Academy), Is CBSE school powered by One multinational Company Modi Guard.
Kendriya Vidhyalaya - ONGC

and Manav School in Ranipura / Jhagadia which are C.B.S.E affiliated schools. Unity English medium school offers both primary and secondary education.

There are also very important Darul-Ulooms in surrounding villages which are of considerable importance to Muslims in area for education relating to tenants of Islam and Muslim Canonic Law (Sharia Law).

Shopping and Recreation

There are many parks (such as The Millennium Park and old parks in ankleshwar city), GIDC Water Reservoir, Sports center, Swimming pools, well equipped library and other recreation centres in G.I.D.C area. Small and big shops near chauta bazar and Sardar Park area are the central shopping zones. Prominent hotels in Ankleshwar includes Sadanand & Shalimaar (3-4star hotels).

Healthcare

Most of the clinics and hospitals are owned and operated by individual doctors and medical professionals. Pharmacies are also operated and run by individual people. Private hospitals are generally in good conditions and include modern technology.

Hospitals include the Jayaben Modi Hosp. which is the biggest in Ankleshwar and has state-of-the art technology. The Sanjivanii Hospital is also large and one of the popular and is served by pediatricians and physicians. Others hospital include facilities of x-rays, sonography, and other necessities.

other activity details are available on ANKLESHWAR INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION

Notable People

Shri Ahmedbai Mohamadbai Patel- veteran Indian Congress MP Rajya Sabha
Shri Hirabhai Kanchanlal Modi - Ex. President of Ankleshwar Nagar Palika and veteran Political leader of various parties.
Shrimati Dahyiben Rana - Veteran Politician and social servant.
Late Shri Shantilal kikabhai shahtri - Veteran Freedom fighter and Social Servant.
Gand Swarup Shrimati Sakriben B. Bhagat - Ex. Nagarpalika Corporate member and social servant.
Late Shri Bhikhabhai Motiram Bhagat - Veteran Social Servant
Ahmed Patel - Current MP Member of Parliament