Latur had a devastating earthquake on 30 September 1993 resulting in a huge loss of life. The earthquake measured only 6.3 on the Richter scale but more than 30,000 people were estimated to have died mainly due to poor construction of houses and village huts made of stones which just collapsed on people who were fast asleep in early morning hours. It struck southern Marathwada region of Maharashtra state in central-western part of India and affected Latur, Beed, Osmanabad and adjoining districts about 400 km south-east of Mumbai (Bombay). It was an intra-plate earthquake. Latur was almost completely destroyed and life came to a standstill. The earthquake’s focus was around 12 km deep – relatively shallow causing shock waves to cause more damage. The number of lives lost was high as the earthquake occurred at 03.53 a.m. local time when people were fast asleep.
Udgir fort: Udgir is one of the most important towns of Latur district. Udgir has a great historical significance. It has witnessed the war between the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad which took place in 1761. The Marathas led by Sadashivrao Bhau defeated the Nizam and the treaty of Udgir was signed. The fort of Udgir stands in all its glory speaking volumes about the Indian history and Indian culture. The fort is bounded by a 40 feet (12 m) deep trench as the fort is built at the ground level. In the fort are several palaces Durbar halls and most importantly the Samadhi of Udaygir Maharaj which is 60 feet (18 m) under the normal ground level. This is a place of great reverence to the people of the region. The fort has some rare inscriptions written in Arabic and Persian.
In the first decade of the 21st century, Latur has seen a spurt in financial activities, with almost all public sector and private banks have opened up branches including the State Bank of India, State Bank of Hyderabad, Axis Bank,Latur Urban Co-op Bank, Latur ICICI Bank, Bank of India, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of Baroda, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Allahabad Bank etc. Latur District Central Co-Operative Bank Ltd came into existence on 15 August 1984. Also other Urban Banks viz. Latur Urban Bank was established in 1990, Vikas Co-Operative Bank Ltd was established in 2001. Bank Of Maharashtra is having their Regional Office in Latur.Also Maharashtra Gramin Bank with their 3 branches and a regional office is at latur.
Ganj Golai: Latur city has the famous ‘Ganjgolai’ as the central place of the city. The town planner Shri Faiyajuddin prepared the plan for the ‘Ganjgolai Chowk’. The main building of the Golai is a huge two-storied structure which was constructed around the year 1917. In the middle of the circular structure is the temple of Goddess Ambabai. There are 16 roads connecting to this Golai and along these roads are separate markets selling all kinds of traditional local wares such as gold ornaments to footwear and food items from chilli to jaggery. Thus, the ‘Ganjgolai’ has become the main commercial and trade centre of this city.
The Urban Development Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra expressed its desire vide letter dated 30/10/2006 to notify fringe area of Latur and appoint CIDCO as its Special Planning Authority. CIDCO has submitted its proposal to notify the fringe area measuring approx. 26541.00 ha. inclusive of urbanizable zone of about 16696 ha. Govt. has appointed CIDCO as Special Planning Authority. The notified area covers 40 villages on the fringe of Latur Municipal Corporation. it is envisaged in the project not to acquire 100% land but to adopt minimum land acquisition model for development of infrastructure and growth corridors.
Latur (Station Code: LUR) is a station located on the Latur-Miraj section of Solapur (SUR) Division of Central Railway (CR). The Manmad-Kacheguda Broad gauge railway line which emanates from the Vikarabad-Latur Road-Parli trunk route at Latur Road is an important artery of traffic in Latur district. The importance of this line lies in the fact that it has opened for traffic the Coal tract in Marathwada region. It also serves as a link between Aurangabad and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. As a matter of fact this line was formerly the only route of traffic as there were no good roads in the Marathwada region.
The scheme of nationalization of passenger transport services was started as early as 1932 by the State of Hyderabad, which was one of the pioneers in the field of public road transport, first in collaboration with the railways and then as a separate Government Department. After the reorganization of States and with effect from 1 July 1961, the Marathwada State Transport was amalgamated with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. The “Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation” (MSRTC) and numerous other private bus operators provide a bus service to all parts of the state.
The city is divided in 67 electoral wards called as Prabhag and each ward is represented by a Corporator (called as Nagarsevak) elected by the people from each ward. LMC is responsible for providing basic amenities like drinking water, drainage facility,road,street lights, healthcare facilities, primary schools,etc. LMC collects its revenue from the urban taxes which are imposed on citizens. The administration is headed by the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation; a I.A.S. Officer, assisted by the other officers of different departments.
Latur Municipal Transport (LMT) is an intra-city bus service which covers almost all parts of the city and also connects to the more distant industrial suburbs. LMT (Latur Municipal Transport) intra-city buses ply throughout the city including the outskirts and connect different parts of the city and adjoining suburbs together. The LMT bus service is affordable, efficient and safe. The LMT buses are quite crowded during morning and evening rush hours. There are also number of taxis available to commuters to travel to nearby suburbs.
Till 1990, Latur languished as a city, remaining an industrially backward. In 1960, region of Marathwada was merged with Maharashtra. This was the time when the industrial development of the Marathwada region began, propelled through designated backward area benefits. And it was only when the MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) began acquiring land and setting up industrial estates that it began to grow. but still the majority small and medium scale industries are agriculture based and not industry based.
Temperature : Annual temperatures in Latur range from 13 to 41 °C (55 to 106 °F), with the most comfortable time to visit in the winter – October to February. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded was 45.8 °C (114.4 °F). The lowest recorded temperature was 6.9 °C (44.4 °F). In the cold season the district is sometimes affected by cold waves in association with the eastward passage of western disturbances across north India, when the minimum temperature may drop down to about 2 to 4 °C (36 to 39 °F).
City is now home to some best known brands. There are Tinna Oils, Kirti Gold, Videocon, and Kalantry Group’s Agro Processing and dal manufacturing units to name a few. Many players have their manufacturing bases in Latur, in the sectors of Agro Processing and Edible Oils and consumer durables, plastic processing, aluminium processing, agriculture and biotech. Among Agro Processing Ramkee Infrastructure along with IL&FS would be starting their plant in Latur, which is Largest Agro Based SEZ in Maharashtra.
The Latur, Additional Latur and Khandapur MIDC Industrial Areas are prominent industrial zones on the outskirts of the city, with various major multinational groups having set up manufacturing or processing plants in and around the city. There is one Special Economic Zone (SEZ) have been approved by central government for this city and these are, in Agro Processing SEZ. An electronic goods major Videocon will soon establish plant for manufacturing of CFL’s & Remote Controls.
The M.S.Bidve Engineering College, Latur, founded in 1983, is one of the oldest engineering colleges in Marathwada. The Maharashtra Institute of Medical Science & Research Latur was founded in 1988 by, social activist Vishwanath Karad. This trust currently maintains and operates 63 institutes in and around Latur. Maitree Foundation, founded in the year 2000, works in the field of Capacity building of rural youth & women. Till date they have worked with more than 800 SHGs.
The Latur region is known as the “Sugar Belt of India”. This region houses over eleven large sugar factories. Vilasrao Deshmukh, who served as chief minister of Maharashtra for two terms, Shri Keshavrao Sonawane (Ex Cabinet min. Mah.State)started the co-operative movement which helped Latur become the most developed District in the region. Most of the sugar factories of the Latur sugar belt work on the co-operative basis.
Dayanand Law College was established by the Dayanand Education Society. Established medical schools such as the Government Medical College, Manjara Ayurvedic College and Maitree Foundation’s Maitree Institute of Management & Technology, Latur train students from all over Latur and Maharashtra. Latur is one of the fast growing educational hub. BHIMASHANKAR TEMPLE : is situated about 1.5 kilometres from Latur City.
Latur is situated 636 metres above mean sea level. The district is situated on Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary. On the eastern side of the Latur is Bidar, whereas Nanded is on the northeast, Parbhani on the northern side, Beed on the Northwest and Osmanabad on the western and southern side. The entire district of Latur is situated on the Balaghat plateau, 540 to 638 metres from the mean sea level.
Latur contributes one seat to the Lok Sabha. The seat is currently held by Jaywantrao Awale, MP of the Indian National Congress party. It also holds one seat for the Assembly – Latur Indian National Congress. In latest constituency arrangements made by Election Commission of India, Latur will contribute one Loksabha seat, and two state assembly seats, i.e. Latur City and Latur Rural.
Latur is a city in Marathwada region in the Maharashtra state of India. It is headquarters of Latur District and Latur Taluka. It is known for its educational technique (famously called the Latur Pattern), the food-grain trade and oil mills. Vilasrao Deshmukh was the leader who lifted Latur from small town to one of the largest cities in the Marathwada region.
The city now has an Infotech Park with state-of-the-art facilities waiting for Infotech companies to start operations. Latur Infotech Park has state-of-the-art modern facilities for software companies. The park is located in an attractive locality surrounded by greenery in Old MIDC. The IT park has total build-up area of 24,866 sq ft (2,310.1 m2) with 32 units.