Nagpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. With a population of 2,405,421[4] (2011) Nagpur Metropolitan Area is the 13th largest urban conglomeration in India. It has also recently been ranked as the cleanest city and the second greenest city of India .[7] In addition to being the seat of annual winter session of Maharashtra state assembly "Vidhan Sabha", Nagpur is also a major commercial and political center of the Vidarbha region of [Maharashtra], and is also famous throughout the country as "Orange City" for being a major trade center of oranges that are cultivated in the region.[8] In addition, the city also derives political importance from being the headquarters for the Hindu nationalist organisation RSS and an important location for the Dalit Buddhist movement.
Nagpur lies precisely at the center of the country with the Zero Mile Marker indicating the geographical center of India.[9] The city was founded by the Gonds but later became part of the Maratha Empire under the Bhonsles. The British East India Company took over Nagpur in the 19th century and made it the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. After the first reorganisation of states, the city lost its capital status but according to the informal "Nagpur Pact" between political leaders it was made the second capital of Maharashtra. Nagpur is also declared, "Tiger Capital of India[10][11] " as it connects many Tiger Reserves in India to the world.
Economy
Nagpur is an emerging Metropolis of India and the fastest growing crorepati city also.[36] Nagpur has been the main center of commerce in the Vidarbha region since early days and is an important trading location. However, Nagpur's economic importance had gradually declined relative to Mumbai and Pune after the merging of Vidarbha into the Maharashtra because of a period of neglect by the state government.[37] During the slowdown, state and central government offices were a major source of employment in the city.Nagpur's economy is currently recovering from past slowdowns[38] and the city has attracted Rupees 5,000 crore in investment in 2004.[39] The city was ranked 9th most competitive city in the country by the Institute for Competitiveness in its 2010 report.[40] The city is important for the banking sector as it hosts the regional office of Reserve Bank of India, which was opened on 10 September 1956. The Reserve Bank of India has two branches in Nagpur in which one of it houses India's entire gold assets.[41] Sitabuldi market in central Nagpur, known as the Heart of the city, is the major commercial market area.
- This Project consists of "Two Parts":
- An International airport to act as a cargo hub and
- A Special Economic Zone(SEZ) with residential zone covering a total area of 40.25 km² on the southern end of Nagpur.
The Butibori industrial area is the largest in all of Asia in terms of area.[42] The estate's largest unit is of Indo Rama Synthetics, which manufactures synthetic polyester yarn. Other units in Butibori include the power transmission company KEC, Hyundai Unitech, ACC Nihon Castings Ltd.[43] Koradi Thermal Power Station and Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station are the two major thermal power stations located near Nagpur and operated by MSPGCL.
The Hingna industrial estate located on the western fringes of the city is made up of around 900 small and medium industrial units. The major ones among them are tractor manufacturing plant of Mahindra and Mahindra, casting units of NECO Ltd. (the country's largest casting group),[44] units of International Combustion, Bajaj Auto group, Candico (the second largest confectionery manufacturing plant in India[45]), Ajanta toothbrushes, and Sanvijay Group (largest steel rolling group of companies for long products in Central India).[46] Nagpur is home to ice-cream manufacturer Dinshaws, Indian dry food manufacturer Haldiram's, Indian Ready to Cook food manufacturer Actchawa and Ayurvedic product company Vicco and Baidnath.[47]