West Bengal is the state with highest population density in India. The state is dotted with several small and medium towns and cities. Historically, the main source of income of the people of West Bengal has been farming, and, as a consequence, the state previously had a large rural population skew. At the turn of the 20th century, however, the role of industry in West Bengal increased substantially, leading to a population move into urban areas. In 1947, when India gained independence, the erstwhile British Indian province of Bengal was divided into two parts: the eastern region formed East Pakistan—which became Bangladesh in 1971 — and the western part joined India as the state of West Bengal. Scores of refugees from the eastern part came to West Bengal, leading to the start of new urban areas, and contributing to the congestion of already established cities like Kolkata. As of 2001 India census, 375 cities and towns in West Bengal can be classified in the following categories: 3 Urban agglomeration : Kolkata, Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for civic administration of the city, whereas Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority is responsible for Greater Kolkata, the UA.Siliguri, Asansol-Durgapur forms the other UAs. 6 Municipal Corporations: Kolkata, Asansol, Chandannagar, Durgapur, Howrah and Siliguri. 114 Municipalities: Alipurduar, Arambag, Ashoknagar Kalyangarh, Baduria, Badkulla, Baharampur, Baidyabati, Bally, Balurghat, Bangaon, Bankura, Bansberia, Baranagar, Barasat, Barddhaman, Barrackpur, Baruipur, Basirhat, Beldanga, Bhadreswar, Bhatpara, Bidhan Nagar, Birnagar, Bishnupur, Bolpur, Budge Budge, Port Canning, Chakdaha, Champdani, Chandrakona, Contai, Dainhat, Dalkhola, Darjiling, Dhulian, Diamond Harbour, Dinhata, Dubrajpur, Dumdum, Egra, English Bazar, Falakata, Gangarampur, Garulia, Gayespur, Ghatal, Gobardanga, Guskara, Habra, Haldia, Haldibari, Halisahar, Hugli-Chinsurah, Haringhata, Islampur, Jalpaiguri, Jamuria, Jangipur, Jaynagar Mazilpur, Jhalda, Jhargram, Jiaganj Azimganj, Kaliaganj, Kalimpong, Kalna, Kalyani, Kamarhati, Kanchrapara, Kandi, Katwa, Kharagpur, Kharar, Khardaha, Koch Bihar, Konnagar, Krishnanagar, Kshirpai, Kulti, Kurseong, Madhyamgram, Maheshtala, Mal, Mathabhanga, Medinipur, Mekliganj, Memari, Mirik, Murshidabad, Nabadwip, Naihati, New Barrackpur, North Barrackpur, North Dumdum, Old Maldah, Panskura, Panihati, Pujali, Puruliya, Raghunathpur, Raiganj, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Rajpur Sonarpur, Ramjibanpur, Rampurhat, Ranaghat, Raniganj, Rishra, Sainthia, Santipur, Serampore, Sonamukhi, South Dumdum, Suri, Taki, Tamluk, Tarakeswar, Titagarh, Tufanganj, Uluberia and Uttarpara Kotrung. 2 notified area: Cooper's Camp and Taherpur 1 cantonment: Barrackpur Cantonment and 252 census towns. Now, number of municipalities has been increased to 117 as four new municipalities have been established: Nalhati , Dhupguri , Panskura and Dalkhola . So, the number of census towns is now reduced to 250 as Dhupguri and Dalkhola have been upgraded to municipality. ^ 903 per sq. km. "India at a glance: Population Density". Census of India, 2001. Retrieved 2008-12-13. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns ". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01. ^ "List of Million Plus Cities of India". Census of India. Retrieved 2008-10-14. ^ "Four new municipalities in West Bengal". Rabin Biswas. Retrieved 2010-12-04. ^ "Category, Year of Establishment, Area, SC, ST and total population in ULBs in West Bengal" . Department of Municipal affairs, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2008-11-09.

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