Kharagpur
strikeout.nu Kharagpur pronunciation (help·info) is an important industrial city in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. It is multi-cultural and cosmopolitan city. It is the most populated city of Paschim Medinipur district.[3] The first Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), a group of Institutes of National Importance, was founded in Kharagpur as early as in May 1950.[4] It is 116 km from Kolkata and forms an important station on Howrah-Mumbai, Howrah-Chennai road and railway route. This city also has one of the largest railway workshops in India, and the third longest railway platform in the world (1072.5 m).[5] Kharagpur also has the Asia's largest Railway Solid State Interlocking (SSI) system.[6] Kharagpur has an Air Force base in Kalaikunda, and another in Salua. There have been plans by the IAF to allow civil flights in Kalaikunda.[7]. Recently, government have revealed plans to establish a civilian airport.[8]