Ludhiana

Ludhiana is the largest city in the state of Punjab that doubles as a city and a municipal corporation. The city was created as a part of the Lodi dynasty and was initially known as Lodi-Ana, which means ‘the Lodi’s place’.

The city was brought under British control via the doctrine of lapse, in 1835. However, the city has moved far past its colonial roots and, today, it is a hub for industrial activity in North India.

With the bolstering of Ludhiana’s infrastructure and many projects set for completion between 2014 and 2016, the city is witnessing steady real estate growth.

Stats And Facts

• As per the provisional data from the census of 2011, Ludhiana has a total population of 16,13,878. It is the most populous city in the state of Punjab, closely followed by Amritsar
• The sex ratio of Ludhiana is 845 females for every 1,000 males in the city. The child sex ratio, on the other hand, is at 871 female children under the age of 6 for every 1,000 male children of the same age
• The average literacy rate in the city is 85.38%, where male literacy rate is 88.35% and female literacy rate is 81.85%
• In the year 2009, the World Bank ranked Ludhiana as the city with the best business environment in India
• Ludhiana is Asia’s largest bicycle manufacturer, with over 50% of the country’s bicycle consumption of 10 million being manufactured here
• 60% of India’s tractor parts are produced in Ludhiana and so is a large portion of auto and two-wheeler parts
• The World Cup finals for the game Kabbadi have taken place in Ludhiana twice. Both these finals were played in the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana

Small-Scale Industries

• The city of Ludhiana is a hub for industrial activity in the north, and small-scale industries are the key economic driver of the city
• Ludhiana has a Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings. The organization is not affiliated with the government and operates without profit. It is industry managed, and has been playing a crucial role in Punjab’s development
• The city has made its mark in the apparel industry as well, for its woolen sweaters and cotton t-shirts. Most top Indian woolen apparel brands are based here, like Octave, Miss Grace and Duke, and Monte Carlo
• Ludhiana is one of the world’s biggest producers of sewing machines. Precision equipment and hand tools are another specialty of this region

Connectivity

• Ludhiana is connected to the national capital, Delhi via air, and there are daily flights between the two cities
• The city is mainly connected within the state and outside it by buses. The inter-city bus services are run by private bus operators as well as the state-owned Punjab Roadways
• National Highway 1 connects Ludhiana to major cities like Delhi, Amritsar and Jalandar. And National Highway 95 connects the city to Chandigarh and Ferozpur
• The Ludhiana City Bus Services Limited operates buses within the city. The buses are mainly the relatively recently-introduced Tata Marcopolo low-floor buses
• There has been a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ludhiana and Delhi for the construction of a dual-corridor Ludhiana Metro transit system
• Taxis, cycle rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws make up the remaining modes of transport within the city

Lifestyle
When it comes to shopping, the people of Ludhiana flock to markets like Chaura Bazaar, Ghumar Mandi, Jawahar Nagar Camp, and Mall Road. The city also houses a number of large malls, such as Westend Mall, MBD Mall, Silver Arc, and Pavilion Mall. Other medium-sized malls include Flames Mall, Ansal Plaza, SRS Mall, and Govardhan City Centre.
There also are many parks within the city offering great spaces for walks and picnics. Some of these are Leisure Valley, Rose Garden, and PAU. Leisure Valley is equipped with a skating rink for speed skating and roller hockey. Guru Nanak Stadium is well-known for hosting Kabaddi matches, along with athletic games. Kila Raipur Sports Festival, commonly known as Rural Olympics, is a popular annual festival of Ludhiana that is held in Kila Raipur.
Among the many renowned universities and educational institutions serving the city are Punjab Agricultural University, Christian Medical College, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Synetic Business School, Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, and other colleges offering courses in diverse disciplines.