Mahasamund is a city in Mahasamund District in the Indianstate of Chhattisgarh.It is situated on the Mumbai-Kolkata and Raipur-Vishakhaptnam National Highways. It is one of the largest (ranked 11th) 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. [when?]
Reliance Trends, Vishal Megamart, Reliance Jio Smart Point, B mart and Zee Sale are prominent Shopping Centers of the City.
As of the 2011[update] Indian census,[3] 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.
Transport
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.
Mahasamund has two railway stations: the Mahasamund railway station and the Belsonda station. The Mahasamund railway station is an important station on the East Coast Railway zone. Dualling of the railway track from Raipur Mahasamund to Titilagarh has been completed and electric engine started running in 2019.
The state government approved a city bus project in Mahasamund City. Under the Jnurm scheme, the city government sanctioned a 9 single-decker city bus for Mahasamund City.
Entertainment
Mahasamund has two cinemas, Vithoba Cineplex and ShriRam Talkies.
Education
Mahasamund City is the educational hub for the nearby areas. Some of the leading institutes are
Weidner memorial Senior Secondary School CBSE Pattern
Mata Karma Govt. PG Girls College, Machewa Mahasamund.
Shantri Bai Arts;Science and Commerce College, Bagbahra Road NH 353 Mahasamund.
Govt. Collage of Agriculture and Research Station, Kanpa, Post-Birkoni, District-Mahasamund.
Jai Hind College, Bhalesar Road Mahasamund.
Govt. Polytechnic College, Baronda Bazar Mahasamund.
Govt. Vetnary Hospital and Polytechnic College, Baronda Bazar Mahasamund.
Govt. Livelihood College, Baronda Bazar Mahasamund.
Indian College, Belsonda Raipur Road Mahasamund.
Shyam B ED College Ayodhya Nagar Mahasamund.
Govt. Forest Guard Training Centre Near Collectorate Mahasamund.
Economy
The economy of Mahasamund is based on agriculture and mining. Rice is the main crop grown here. The black stone of this area is mined for tiles; Mahasamund also has many stone-cutting factories. The industrial area of Birkoni and Belsonda is just 10 and 05 km respectively.
Income Tax Office, Labour Court, 20 RR battalion, Child Remand Home, Dean Medical College, Central Jail, National Highway Projects, Railway Sections Proposed ADRM Railway, Railway Yard, FCI, Polytechnic Engg. And Vetnary, Weather information center, Housing Board Corporation Divisional, PWD Division, PHE division and all kinds of district level offices are also located.
Culture and religion
About 90 percent population of the city follow Hinduism. People from all over India have settled here.
Politics
Mahasamund is the very high profile and one of the 11 parliament constituency in the state of Chhattisgarh. This constituency is the seat of former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla who contested 12 lok sabha elections in which he won 11 and 1 loss against first Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. In the 2014 general election Ajit Jogi lost the election against BJP candidate Chandu lal Sahu.
The Member of legislative Assembly from Mahasamund constituency is Mr.Raju Kumar Sinha (Independent).
Tourism
Tourist sites in and around Mahasamund include Sirpur, the ancient capital of South Kosal and famous for its Lakshman temple, Buddha Vihar and many archaeological sites. The state government has decided to develop this area as a World Heritage site. Other nearby tourist sites include Kodar Dam, Rajim Kumbh, Rajiv Lochan Temple, and Khallari Temple. The birthplace of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya is in nearby Champaran.