Mahasamund

Mahasamund is a city in Mahasamund District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.It is situated on the Mumbai-Kolkata and Raipur-Vishakhaptnam National Highways. It is one of the largest (ranked 13th) and most important cities in the State. The city is divided into 30 wards and 5 zones and is also the biggest city in the Trans-Mahanadi area. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Mahasamund District and part of the proposed new Mahasamund Municipal Corporation. The current mayor is Prakash Chandrakar. Reliance Trends, Vishal Megamart, Reliance Jio Smart Point, B mart and Zee Sale are prominent Shopping Centers of the City. Mahasamund is located at . It has an average elevation of 318 metres (1043 feet). Mahasamund is 56 kilometres south-east of Raipur on the junction of National Highway 6 and National Highway 217 close to the Mahanadi River. Mahasamund city is an important station on the Raipur-Vizag rail route. Mahasamund and Raipur are the only district headquarter cities which are close to the state capital of Chhattisgarh, Naya Raipur. Indian census, Mahasamund has a population of 112,228. Males constitute 51% of the population and females constitute 49%. Mahasamund has an average literacy rate of 70%; male literacy is 79% and female literacy is 61%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. The estimated population in 2014 is above one lakh. Mahasamund is 55 kilometres from Raipur, 105 kilometres from Dhamtari, 30 kilometres from Rajim, 160 kilometres from Bilaspur, 95 kilometres from Durg, 85 kilometres from Bhilai, 115 kilometres from Saraipali, 180 kilometres from Bargarh and 250 kilometres from Sambalpur. Guru Ghasi Das bus terminal in Mahasamund is well connected to its nearby cities. There are regular bus services to Raipur, Bilaspur, DurgSaraipali, Baloda Bazar Bemetara, Simga, Rajim, Narshinghnath (Odisha) Sarangarh, Gariyaband, Khariar Road, Nuapada, Berhampur, Asika and Bhawanipatna. Mahasamund has two railway stations: the Mahasamund railway station and the Belsonda station.