city and metropolitan area, north-central Jharkhand state, northeastern India. It lies along the Damodar River, just west of one of India's largest iron and steel plants. Construction of the steelworks began in 1967, and the first blast furnace was inaugurated in 1972. The plant was built with Soviet aid and was completed in the 1980s. Major coalfields are located nearby. Bokaro was built to provide housing and other community facilities for the plant's employees. The city is connected by road and rail with Kolkata (Calcutta) (Calcutta) to the southeast. Pop. (2001) city, 393,805; urban agglom., 497,780.