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THANE: City of new beginnings 

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DQW Bureau
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Thane City lies adjoining the Arabian Sea in the northwestern part of Maharashtra State. Thane was initially a residential suburb of Mumbai, which has now grown into a large industrial complex of chemicals, engineering products, and textiles.

There are several historical buildings, including a fort and several churches. Thane City is also the district headquarters of Thane district. 

History 



Thane's original name was Sristhanaka named after Lord Ganpati as the word means the residence of Lord Ganesh. Geographically, forming part of the Konkan lowlands, it comprises the wide amphitheater like basin of the Ulhas and the hilly Vaitarna valley together with plateaus skirting the Sahyadrian scarp. The rivers of the district mainly belong to two river streams of the North Konkan, namely the Ulhas and the Vaitarna, both draining the rainy western slopes of the Sahyadri that lie between the Bhor and the Thal

Ghats. 

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The earliest evidence of Thane appears in the works of the Greek geographer, Ptolemy, who, in his writings (135 - 150 AD) refers to a place called Chersonesus, which, according to researches, is the area around Thane creek.

The great Venetian traveler Macro Polo too, in the course of his wandering set foot in Thane in 1290 AD. He describes the city as a great kingdom, which apparently had a well-developed port, for he mentions a continuous traffic of ships, and merchants trading and exporting leather, buckram, cotton, and importing horses. In fact, the present day Ghodbunder is said to be the site where horses were unloaded from ships.

Friar Jordanus, a great traveler, who visited the city between AD 1321 and 1324, describes it as being under a Muslim governor. He leaves a detailed sketch of early Christians in Thane and refers to the martyrdom of four Christian priests in the region, more than 200 years before the Portuguese ever-set foot in India.

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The Portuguese came to Thane about 1530 and ruled for over 200 years till 1739. Thane was then known as Cacabe de Tana. Work on the Thane Fort began in 1730.

The Marathas, who conquered Bassein and Thane in 1737 and 1739, held sway over the region till 1784, when the British captured the Fort and ruled Thane, then also called Tana. They made it the headquarters of the district administration with a district collector stationed in Thane. The Thane Municipal Council was formed in 1863 when the city had a population of 9000 souls.

Places of Interest For the Water Freaks



Thane Creek, is one of the prominent places at Thane and there are also other water bodies that includes some 23 odd lakes spread all over the city. One of the most popular places is Talopali where one could sit on the benches or may be row around in the lake in boats or water scooters. It also offers an array of roadside eating options, from Bhel to ice cream it's all laid out there or you can enjoy a quick snack at the nearby Restaurants. Talaopali is frequented by people of all age.

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Upvan Lake is more popular with the couples that do not have the permit from their parents or are below the requisite age to dare ask. One could either sit inside the park on one of the benches, or the katta around the lake. 

Masunda Talao, termed by the locals as Talao Pali. The lake offers boating facilities to anyone and everyone including a little space to the love struck ones. Water scooters are also available here. For the ardent foodies, Talao Pali is the right place to binge. 

For the Vehicle Freaks



Some of the options would be a drive on the Ghodbunder Road right upto Ahmedabad Highway or the MIDC Road which runs parallel to the Thane - Belapur Road or up into the Yeour Hills which offers not only a pollution free zone but also a touch of wilderness. Thanks to the Commissioner, one can have a speed test even on the streets if one doesn't have the fear of being seen by the traffic cop.

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For the Nature Lovers



Yeour hills are definitely recommended for those with affinity for nature. A visit to the Swami's Math is a must for those

seeking peace. If you are lucky, you might get to see a few wild animals, and if you are not maybe a few wild human beings.

But a visit after dark has a high probability of attracting both.

Tikujiniwadi is more domesticated wilderness. For a nominal sum, you could spend the entire day including good feast at the in-house restaurant and an excellent siesta on the khat or the satranji under the trees

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Developments at Thane 



Thaneites have been clocking on changes since the last three years, ever since the TMC led by a juggernaut called T Chandrashekhar decided to revamp the township's sorry infrastructure. What the municipal commissioner and his team did has put Thane on a road that counts modernization and cosmopolitanism as its landmarks. According to the Collector's Office, Thane's population in 1951 was a lowly 90,000 in '91, 8 lakh; in '99, 14 lakh, projected to tough 20 lakh in 2005. The growth rate in Thane is 8 per cent, with an all-India average of 2.5 per cent and Mumbai pegged at a humbler 7 per cent. Suddenly, Thane doesn't seem so 'bad' to live in anymore.

Thane (Wagle Estate) - The Park 



This park was mainly to promote Industrial Growth Thane Industrial Area is one of the oldest industrial areas in India. It is in the vicinity of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It comprises large-scale industries as well as small-scale industries. The plots available for allotment are to be sold by auctions as per MIDC policy. 

The area is located at the Wagle estate and in the Panchpakhadi area in Thane city. It is one km from the Thane railway station and one km from the Mulund railway station. The old Mumbai-Agra National Highway passes close to this area, besides the Eastern Express Highway is half km away. The area is about 20 km from the international airport in Mumbai


The infrastructure consists of water supply, roads, streetlights, and underground drainage lines. Common facilities, for instance banks, hotels, a fire brigade, Computer Educational Postgraduate Institute, post office and telegraph exchange _ Hughes Telecommunication _ are available in this area. Main offices such as those of Emerson, M.S.E.B, M.S.F.C, M.P.C.B, Industrial and Labor Court, District Industries Center, passport office, Public Provident Fund office, Income Tax Office, Factory Inspector office, and E.S.I.S. Hospital are found in this area. Being one of the prominent industrial areas, it has all the infrastructural and institutional facilities. As the area lies in the vicinity of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, entrepreneurs prefer plots here for industrial activities.

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The area is connected by Hughes Telecommunication support facilities. Facilities like banks, hotels, fire brigade, Computer Educational Postgraduate Institute, post office and telegraph exchange is available in the region

From the point of view of Industries, Thane is an important district in Maharashtra State. There are many large scale and small-scale industries in the district. 

There are different types of textile industries at Thane and in the neighboring areas. There are cotton and woolen textile mills at thane. Silk yarn and cloth are made at Bhiwandi. There are a large number of powerlooms at Biwandi. There is a factory making artificial silk (yarn) at

Mohane. 

There are many factories manufacturing various articles from iron and steel in Thane - Belapur belt. There are factories manufacturing different types of machines and other metal equipment at Thane. There is a factory where spare part of motorcars are manufactured at Kalyan There are pharmaceutical and chemical factories at Ambernath, Bhayandar and Thane.

There are paint and chemical factories at Thane and Bhayandar. There is a paper mill too at Thane. Plastic goods are manufactured at Ulhasnagar and

Bhayandar. 

There are matchbox factories at Ambernath and Thane. There are canning factories of various types of foodstuff, fruit juice and slices as well as beverage factories at Thane and Kalyan. There is big milk project at Dabchari and Saralgaon and Pali have milk-chilling centers. There is a rice mill at Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Dahanu. Bangle making factories are found in Tarapur and Chinchani area. 

The first nuclear power plant in India was set up at Tarapur in Thane district. In addition, there are a number of factories manufacturing electrical equipment at Thane and Ulhasnagar. There are industrial estates at Ambarnath. Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Thane-Belapur, Badlapur, Mira Road, Tarapur and Murbad in Thane district 

IT Business at Thane 



The IT channel in Thane district is spread out across Ulhasnagar, Dombivli, Kalyan, Thane and Bhayandar. The clientele of the channel situated in places like Ulhasnagar, Dombivli and Kalyan are home users. Here the traders are concerned about getting their correct margins than attaining high volumes. Unlike traders situated at Lamington Road where margins fall to the minimum and volumes are the name of the game. 

All the IT vendors are present in these areas thorough their respective channel members. On speaking to the channel members it was clear that they are not satisfied with the vendors, as the after sales service is not apt here. This is mainly because none of the vendors have their service centers located here.

There is not even a local dealers association to look into such grave issues. However channel members are now realizing the importance of having a dealers association and unity among the trade members. In the future dealers of Thane district have strong plans of getting together to voice their troubles.

Major Resellers 

Shailesh Kewal Ramani



Aditya Computers


107 Parvati Plaza,


Ashok-Anil Tokies Road

Nr. Maharaj Hall,


Shvaji Chowk, Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 555739,


Fax: 556925


e-mail: adicom@vsnl.com




Sanghvi


Ashok Enterprises


115-Kishan Kanhaiya, Complex

Nr. Indian Bank,


Shivaji Chowk, Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 570020,


Fax: 570020



Jawahar Dhudhane


Pioneer Service Center


Shop #1, Krishna Shopping Center


Behind Tilson Market,


Opp. Maruti Complex,


Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 280818/280140


Fax: 545480







Manoj Patil


Integrated Infotech


Vithal Niwas


Bhagat Singh Road,


Near Sarvesh Hall


Dombivali (E)


Tel: 451167/890535


e-mail: icsbom@hotmail.com 






Pankaj Rane


NexGen Systems


301-Shree Co-op Housing Society


Nandivali Road, Ganesh Nagar,


Behind Telephone.Exchange


Dombivali (E)


Tel: 884739, 884739





Mahesh Raghani


Meppel System


Near Sant Kanwar ram Mandir


Jhulelal Mandir,


Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 421003


Fax: 558181


e-mail: mepplsystem@rediffmail.com







Rajesh Sahijani


Divya Computers


204/ Krishna Shopping center


Near Sapna Garden,


Opp. Maruti Shopping center


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 421003


Fax: 540651






Rajesh


Computer World


Shop #102


Manish Complex,


Shivaji Chowk,


Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 421003


Fax: 558055







Sukumar


S.V. Data System


Ground Floor


SaiJoyt Co-op Hsg


Lalchakki Station Road,


Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 421003


Fax: 529894







Bharat Jethani


Bell Computronics


Shop #1 Surshree Bldg


Ram Maruti Road,


Thane (W)


Tel: 433271


Fax: 5424178


e-mail: bellcomp@Vsnl.com 






Pramod Musle


Computer Track


5,Neelkanth Tower


Opp.ICICI Bank,


Ram Maruti Road


Thane (W)


Tel: 5362479


Fax: 5446188






Manoj Aher


Compaque Systems


Mehul Niwas,


Near Bank of Maharastra


Near Vishal Photo Studio,


Kolsa Wadi ,


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 354989


Fax: 354989







Anand Tejwani


Ambika Computer


218,Givan Chaya Complex,


Furniture Bazar


New Link Road,


Near Mayalawns,


Ulhas Nagar


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 550784


e-mail: ambika_218@hotmail.com 








Pravin Solanki


Plus Business


206, Siddhivinayak Arched, Oak Baug


Shivaji Park,


Opp. Mulchandani Shopping Center


Kalyan (E)


Tel: 310530 / 313711


Fax: 2315923


e-mail: plusbusiness@rediffmail.com 







Jitendra Punjabi


Excellent Computers


Mansarovar Apartment, Shop #1,


Netaji Road


Ulhas Nagar


Tel: 5693760




Jai Prakash


J P Computronix


Kalyan Ambernath Road,


Near Shivaji Chowk,


Opp Maharaja Hall,


Ulhas Nagar




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