With a cosmopolitan crowd and several commercial buildings and restaurants, Kankurgachi is considered one of the upmarket and elite places in Kolkata.
[2] The East India Company obtained from the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar, in 1717, the right to rent from 38 villages surrounding their settlement.
After the fall of Siraj-ud-daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, it purchased these villages in 1758 from Mir Jafar and reorganised them.
Earlier it was planned to provide residential houses only to doctors and lawyers, but eventually this place developed into a cosmopolitan neighbourhood.
Auto-rickshaw services are extremely frequent in this area and are available from Kankurgachi to Phoolbagan, Salt Lake, EM Bypass, Sealdah, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital and Ganesh Talkies regularly.
Mani Square, one of the largest shopping mall-cum-multiplex of Kolkata, is also located here, which houses various luxury brands and restaurant.
An outlet of the most famous diamond retail chain of India, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri is also located in Kankurgachi.
Bidhan Sishu Udyan,a historical play and activity centre founded by the Late Atulya Ghosh is located here too.
Calcutta Boys' School, the iconic century-old educational institution also has its Beliaghata branch located in close vicinity.
The zonal office of Damodar Valley Corporation, Uttarapan Shopping complex, Tata Teleservices (formerly Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd), the State Central Library, the State Labour Institute, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (ISI) Lakme Academy are also located in Kankurgachi.