Sunday, March 29, 2009

Chembur

Chembur is a suburban neighbourhood in the eastern Mumbai. The name Chembur is derived from the word “Chimboree” which means "Large Crab" in Marathi.
Chembur is serviced by the Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railways. Since the Sion-Panvel Highway passes through Chembur, it is an important transit point for people wanting to travel to Pune using the Mumbai-Pune Highway or the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It is 22 km down Mumbai and 20 kms from Airport in Mumbai.
It was once upon a time known as “Gas Chamber of Mumbai” because of its close proximity to the garbage incinerators & big industries. The use of scientific methods has ensured the decline of pollution in the town to a large extent.
Chembur ranges from Thane Creek in East to Tansa Pipe Line No. 2 in West, from Somaiyya Nalla in North to Mahul Creek in South.
History
Prior to 1950, Chembur was an idle village. During those days, it used to be a favourite and proximate weekend picnic spot for the people from city.
Many parts of Chembur towards the north and east (present day Tilak Nagar, Chedda Nagar and Pestom Sagar) were submerged by backwaters during high tide. The Beggars Home was set up by the government on the Ghatkopar-Mahul road near Chembur Naka and the Home for Destitute Women on the Sion Trombay Road.
Chembur was not a part of the city until 1948-49 and later merged with the Bombay Municipal Corporation around 1949-50 and were from then it was called as the suburbs. Most of the social activity was around the Chembur Naka, Station Avenue, Central Avenue, Chembur Camp.
The first BEST(external link) bus service was introduced around mid- fifties. The two refineries, the Atomic Energy Establishment (BARC as it was called then), the Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers factory, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the International Institute of Population Studies came up during 1954-60.
The construction by the Bombay Housing Board in Station Colony (Subash Nagar), the Shell Colony, and the Township Colony (Tilak Nagar) in 1955-58 transformed the area completely.
Geography
Chembur is split by the local railway line running from Kurla towards Vashi into Chembur (East) and Chembur (West).
Neighbouring suburbs: Kurla, Deonar, Mahul, Govandi
Arterial Roads: Eastern Express Highway
Bombay Presidency Golf Club at Dr Choitram Gidwani Road in Chembur(East) is one of the most prominent golf clubs in Mumbai, which also provides the biggest green cover for this eastern neighbourhood.
Demographics
The northern half of Chembur is residential and the southern half is industrial.
Old bungalows and villas in the northern half are making way for high-rise apartments. Like most of the suburbs in Mumbai, Chembur has a cosmopolitan population which is dominated by Maharashtrians, Sindhis and south Indian people.
Chembur has big colonies like Shell colony, Subhash nagar, RCF colony, Chembur colony and green spaces like Golfclub ground (big green spot ),Gandhi Maidan, Subhash nagar maidan, Annabhau Sathe garden, Diamond garden, Ambedkar udyan, Sandu garden.
Anushakti Nagar(staff quarters of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC) ), lies just near the eastern boundary of Chembur. The Chembur Catholic Colony is one of the oldest establishments in the area located next to the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School and Church.
Shopping and Entertainment
There are various factory outlets of renowned brands such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Fila, Woodland, Flying Machine, The LOOT etc. located on the Sion-Panvel highway near Atur park. The shops near Chembur station also provide good variety of clothes to the residents. Chembur has one of the best clubs - Acre's which has various recreational activities & sports and Chembur Gymkhana. Shoppers Stop near Tilaknagar, is one of the best multi-product stores in Chembur. Akbarally’s has one of their oldest stores near Chembur Naka.
Eateries
Jhama in Chembur Camp is very famous for its sweets. Also Sri Krishna, Satu's, Saroj, Ghasitaram, are also famous for its selected sweets. There are also outlets of food chains such Domino's, Smokin' Joes in Sion-Trombay Road.
Geeta Bhavan, Sadguru are the two well known old restaurants which are still patronized by all classes of people. High-end restaurants like Grand Central, Orchids, Ornaments, Celebrations, Blend and Brew etc have their presence in Chembur.
Cafe Coffee Day, Barista, Tastings, Naturals, Baskin-Robbins are the well-known outlets for young people to hang out with friends.
Colleges
Chembur Comprehensive College of Education
Mahatma College
Mahatma Education Society Night College of Commerce
Mahavir Education Trust's Shah & Ancher Kutchi Engineering College
N G Acharya & D K Marathe College of Arts, Science & Commerce
Sree Narayan Mandira Samiti's Commerce College
Swami Vivekanand College
Schools
General Education Academy
St. Sebastian's High School
Omkarananda Educational Foundation
Chembur Karnatak High School.
O.L.P.S. High School
Sri Narayan Guru High School
Swami Vivekananda High School
St. Anthony's Girls High School.
St. Gregorios High School
Saraswati Vidyalaya
Lokmanya Tilak High School
Modern English High School
Hospitals :-Maa Hospital
Centenary Hospital
Dispenseries :-
Subhash Nagar Dispensary
Mahul Dispensary
Lal Dongar Dispensary
Shanta Jog Dispensary
Labour Camp Dispensary
Ayodhya Nagar Dispensary
Cheeta Camp Dispensary
Deonar Colony Dispensary
Gavanpada Dispensary

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