Rourkela City has a radio station of All India Radio (A.I.R) located at Jagda. All India Radio, Rourkela, broadcasts on FM Band 102.06 MHz since 24-06-1995. AIR Rourkela has got two transmission one from 12pm to 5pm & the second from 6pm to 11pm. It is the only FM channel in Rourkela broadcasting National, Regional and District News. Apart from broadcasting News, AIR, Rourkela (102.6 FM), also broadcast programmes on Special Audience i.e. Farmers Programme Kisan Vani, Women’s Programme-Nari Mahal, Children Programme-Sishu Raija, Programme for Youth-Yuvavani, Industrial Programme-Shramika Jagata. Entertainment programme in Hindi and Oriya Film and Non Film Songs-Apananka Pasanda, Ekaka Kalakar, Sangeeta Sagara Tire, Hello Anurodh (Phone in Hindi Film Songs). It is a channel for all sections of the society. As a public broadcaster it is the duty of AIR, Rourkela to Inform, Educate and provide wholesome Entertainment for all. AIR, Rourkela also broadcasts Vivdh Bharati, Mumbai between 01.30pm (IST) and 5pm (IST). Vivdh Bharati broadcasts Hindi Film songs both old and new. It also originates commercial broadcast as per the demand of advertisers of this area and also relay Sponsored programmes from AIR, Delhi, CSU, Mumbai & AIR, Cuttack. The listening zone of this station covers Sundergarh District and goes up to Jharkhand. The studio complex is at Jagda, Rourkela and the transmitter is installed on the top of Durgapur Hill. This station is now fully equipped and digital recordings are made using latest audio software. The station has a rich collection of traditional Tribal & Folk Music of Sundargarh districts, Light and Sambalpuri songs of Odisha. It also has a large collection of Hindi & Oriya songs. Its a bouquet with all kinds of programms for all kind of listeners starting from children & youth to senior citizen, from rural to urban, from industrial worker to agricultural workers. Especially it is an excellent media for visually challenged persons for information, entertainment and education. Its the only media for the poor and villages without electricity. Other privately owned radio channels include Radio Chocolate 104 and Big 92.7 FM. These channels broadcast Hindi & Oriya Film & Non Film Songs, Talk Shows and other entertainment programmes.
At one time Rourkela was the only city in Odisha to have a direct air connectivity with Kolkata. But with the transfer of Rourkela Airport from the hands of Airport Authority of India to SAIL and the apathy of state government this was halted. During mid 2000 Air Deccan showed interest to start its operations here but it never happened. Meanwhile SKY Airways connected the city with Bhubaneswar and Barbil. Again due to some problems it was stopped. Around 2010-11, the authority of Rourkela Airport was passed over to Airport Authority of India. DTDS started services connecting Rourkela to other steel cities of India and Kolkata. DTDS also introduced India’s first per seat charter service from Rourkela. As of now it is connected to Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata through DTDS.
The Ghoghar Temple, 30 km. from Rourkela dates back to antiquity. The temple is by the Ghoghar river, a gorge on River IB, is situated in 200 19’ North and 840 0 ‘E longitude. The beautiful gorge with its sylvan background is also a popular holy spot and attracts visitors throughout the year. There is a naturally formed Siva Linga of Black granite here. The renovated temple has a facility of community lunch and lodging for outstation visitors. Devotees from all over throng the place especially during the month of Shravan (July / August). Other than this during Kartika Purnima in the months of November and Shivaratri February / March, thousands of devotees visit this place. Ghoghar is easily approachable both from Kansbahal and Rajgangpur.
Rourkela has always been proud to produce some of the best hockey players for India. Indian captain Dilip Tirkey and deep defender Lazarus Barlahave started their careers from here. Rourkela has Special Hockey Hostels for Kids, upbringing the next generation players with some of the best amenities. It has produced a few Arjuna Awardees, including Minati Mohapatra. Olympians of repute like Paralympian Roshan and Rachita Mistry are from this city. Indian national cricketer Sanjay Raul and the Under-19 world cup representative Chandrakant Barik play from this city. Former National ‘B’ champion in chess and second only to Viswanathan Anand in national ‘A’ Pabitra Mohan Mohanty is a proud sporting son of the city.
Situated on the top of a small hill with a beautiful ambiance of green trees and fresh air throughout the day, adding another spot of devotion and attraction to the City. The Maa Vaishno Devi Temple may not replicate the actual experience but the tour to the Temple enriches the viewers with beautiful landscape of half the City and with the Steel Plant’s view, with a fresh breeze every time. The images of Maa Kali, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati were found on the hillock which took the form of the present temple further. The Temple was constructed and completed in the year 2003. Having visitors half the city every day at the time of Navaratras, the temple pops at the top on the must visit charts.
Rourkela pronunciation (help·info) (Oriya:????????) is located in the northwestern tip of the Indian state of Odisha at the heart of a rich mineral belt.It is the third largest city of Odisha in terms of population and second largest in terms of area after Bhubaneswar.It is situated about 340 kilometres (211 mi) north of state capital Bhubaneswar. It is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by rivers. One of the largest steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL) is situated here. It also has one of the National Institutes of Technology(NIT Rourkela) of the country. Rourkela Steel Plant was first to bring cctv to the whole Asia continent for the first time (1984).
Rourkela is located at 84.54E longitude and 22.12N latitude in Sundergarh district of Odisha at an elevation of about 219 meters above mean sea level. The area of Rourkela is 200 square kilometers approximately. Red and laterite soils are found here which are quite rich in minerals. The area near Rourkela is rich in iron-ore hence a steel plant is situated in Rourkela. Rourkela is situated in a hilly region which adds to the natural beauty of the city. The Koel and Sankha rivers meet at Vedvyas, Rourkela and flow as a single river called Brahmani. Hence Rourkela is the confluence of Koel, Sankha and Brahmani.
The city houses the Hanuman Vatika, which is a major attraction for the locals and visitors to the town. A 74.9 feet (23 m) tall full-fledged Hanuman statue welcomes the visitors to the steel city. Sri Laxmana Swami was the architect behind the statue. The Hanuman Vatika Trust Board has made a temple complex on 13 acres (53,000 m²) of land. The Bata Mangala Mandira, Vinayaka Mandira and Manas Parayana Sharala have been established to the entrance of the Hanuman Vatika. The Koili Baikuntha, the kitchen, the Kalyan Mandap and the Bhajan Mandap lie close to the Jagannath temple.
Rourkela has a tropical climate and receives high rainfall during Southwest monsoon (June – September) and retreating Northeast monsoon (December – January). Average annual rainfall ranges between 160 and 200 cm. The minimum and maximum temperatures are in the range of 7 C to 47 C with a mean minimum and maximum temperature range of 9.8 C to 39.2 C during coldest and hottest months. Thirty six percent of the geographical area of the district has semi-evergreen or tropical dry deciduous forest.
Rourkela has got a new Medical College, under development which boasts itself to be the primer in the region for the purpose. There are overall 15 colleges for arts, science and commerce streams under the Sambalpur university. There are also private engineering colleges Padmanava (PCE), Rourkela Institute of Management Studies (RIMS), DAMITS, RIT and Purushottam PIET. This colleges come under the jurisdiction of Biju Pattnaik University Of Technology, BPUT head office is located in Rourkela.
The picturesque and modern twin towns of Rourkela and Fertilizer Township as well as their developed periphery are located in areas that were once covered by dense forests. Rourkela city came into prominence in the year 1955. According to the census report of 2011 the population of Rourkela Industrial Township is 2,73,217 and Rourkela Town is 2,79,753 and the urban metropolitan area is 6.5 lakhs (approx). Then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali.
The Rourkela Township is divided into two separate townships under Census of India as Steel Township and Civil Township. The Residential quarters colony of Rourkela Steel Plant having 21 sectors on record (while in reality the Sector – 10, 11 and 12 do not exist, though the area for the same is earmarked) is called Steel Township and the other part is called Civil Township. One smaller township Fertilizer was renamed sector-22, as this township is within the purview of SAIL.
Though the city is well connected to the other towns of the state. The internal transport system of the city is not so organized showing the lack of Interest of the Local and State Authorities. Independent three-wheeler auto taxis without meters and local self governance are the most important mode of transportation in the city. Cars as Taxis also ply on the city’s roads. Sampark buses, introduced in September 2006, connect various areas in the city.
A place of natural beauty also considered a ‘Tirtha’, is situated 9 km away on the confluence of the rivers Shankha, Koel and Saraswati. The place is also considered as “Tridhaara Sangam”. There is a Vedic Ashram and a Gurukula system school here. It is at this site that the epic Mahabharata was purported to have been put down on paper by Maharishi Vyas. The naming of the place ‘Vedvyas’ at the confluence of 3 rivers:
The mighty and the holy river “Brahmani” comes into existence by the confluence from this place. After the Ganga-debacle, King Shantanu fell in love with a fisherman’s daughter Satyabati – starting flash-point of the Mahabharat stories. ‘Vedvyas’ was the ashram (the Holy Hermitage) of Vaisampayan Vyasadeva – first maker of the legendary epic Mahabharata. This was the place where the Vedas were interpreted to Purans.
1) Indira Gandhi Park in front of the Gayatri Mandir hillock. It has gardens with rare varieties of flowers, a grass meadow, a doll museum, a miniature zoo and an aquarium. The gardens include Japanese garden, rose garden, and a fountain garden. The zoo has a train which goes around the park. Apart from this, there is a big tower in the park, atop from which one could get a breathtaking view of the city.
When India obtained independence, a priority for the government was the industrialization of the country. A basic necessity was the production of iron and steel, and after a search for a suitable location, a steel plant was finally ear-marked in the Rourkela region. Thus, India’s first public sector steel plant facility was established here with the help of German businesses Krupp & Demag.
Darjin is a picnic spot on the river Brahmani. Nearby is Deodhar, a gorge on the river. It is 51 km from Rourkela on National Highway No. 23. About 180 km from Rourkela, Junagarh has a fort of historical and archaeological importance with ancient caves. Another haunt of the tourists is the Mirig Khog Waterfall, a picnic spot, 111 km from Rourkela.
Bhanja Bhawan and Civic Center are the two landmarks which shows the rich cultural and societal values of the city. Since its inception Bhanja Bhawan caters to the needs of all types classical, folk dancing and singing, paintings of the city. Every year State level and National Level Drama and Dancing competitions are held in Civic Center.
Rourkela has an International hockey stadium with synthetic astroturf which has been host to World Junior Hockey Championship and been a training center to most of the international Hockey players of India. Ispat Stadium has been host for several Ranji Trophy matches. The city has produced many reputed Ranji players in the recent times.