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Hubli

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Hubballi, often called Hubli, is a major urban center in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Hubli railway
Hubli railway

It is part of a twin-city pair with the city of Dharwad. These two cities are separated by a distance of only 20 kilometers. Together, they form the largest urban agglomeration in North Karnataka. The name Hubballi is an anglicized version of the Kannada term "Hoovina Balli." In the Kannada language, this means "Flowering creeper." This name reflects the natural beauty of the region.

The city sits on a unique geographical dividing line. It marks the boundary between the Malnad region and the Deccan plateau. Malnad is a region well known for its thick forests and forest-based industries. The other sides of the city border areas known for agricultural products. These include cotton, groundnut, and oilseeds. The land also provides valuable minerals like manganese ore and granite. The climate is tropical with a wet and dry pattern. Summers are hot and dry from late February to early June. This is followed by the monsoon season, which brings a large amount of precipitation.

B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology
B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology

Hubballi has a history that stretches back many centuries. The Bhavani Shankar Temple is the oldest temple in the city. An inscription shows it was founded in the 11th Century.

Bhavani shankar temple old-Hubli Karnataka 1
Bhavani shankar temple old-Hubli Karnataka 1

During the same era, the Chandramauleshwara Temple in Unkal was built. Under the Vijayanagara Rayas, the area known as Rayara Hubli became a commercial center. It was famous for trading cotton, saltpetre, and iron. Later, the Adilshahis ruled the area, and the British eventually opened a factory there. The city changed hands many times between the Mughals, the Marathas, and the British. In 1880, the British started a railway workshop. This event helped Hubli become a major industrial center for India.

The city is governed by the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, or HDMC. This body was established in 1962 to manage the twin cities. The HDMC administers an area of 213 square kilometers. It serves a total population of over 943,857 people. Hubli itself accounts for 410,455 of those residents. The corporation is divided into 12 administrative zones and 82 wards. A Commissioner is the top official who supervises many different departments. These include public works, taxation, and urban planning. Recently, the Karnataka state cabinet declared the separation of the two cities. A new municipal corporation will be formed specifically for Dharwad.

Economically, Hubballi is a massive commercial hub called "Vanijya Nagari." It contains a large cluster of approximately 100,000 small and medium industries. The government has also established specialized technology hubs here. These include the Software Technology Park of India and the Aryabhata Tech Park. The city is also a vital center for the Indian Railways. It serves as the headquarters for the South Western Railway zone. The diesel locomotive shed in Hubli is a very important site. It was the first of its kind in Indian Railways history. Today, it is the largest holder of EMD locomotives in India.

Transportation in the region is very active and diverse.

Hdbrt2
Hdbrt2

Hubli Junction is the main railway station for the area. The station is so large that it has a built-up area of 161,460 square feet. In 2020, plans were approved to extend a platform to 1,505 meters. If completed, this would be the longest platform in the world. For air travel, Hubli Airport serves the twin cities and North Karnataka.

Hubballi Airport new Terminal
Hubballi Airport new Terminal

It is the third busiest airport in Karnataka. The airport currently connects to 10 different destinations across the country. On the roads, the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is headquartered here. This corporation provides bus services to many nearby districts. About 1.5 million passengers use these buses every single day.

Modern development projects are currently shaping the future of the city. In 2016, the Hubli-Dharwad area was selected for solar city and green city master plans. In 2017, the Government of India included the twin cities in a smart city project. This flagship scheme aims to develop better infrastructure for all residents. The city also uses a Bus Rapid Transit System to manage traffic.

Hdbrt2
Hdbrt2

These systems help move large numbers of people efficiently through the urban streets. Through these various projects, Hubballi continues to grow as a modern center of industry and transit.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Bhavani_shankar_temple_old-Hubli_Karnataka_1.jpg
Bhavani_shankar_temple_old-Hubli_Karnataka_1.jpg
File:Tolankeri Vidyanagar 2024.jpg
Tolankeri Vidyanagar 2024.jpg
File:Hubballi Airport new Terminal.jpg
Hubballi Airport new Terminal.jpg
File:Hubli railway.jpg
Hubli railway.jpg
File:Hdbrt2.jpg
Hdbrt2.jpg
File:B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology.jpg
B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering...
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