Ghaziabad district is a district in the western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It forms part of the National Capital Region (NCR), bordering the eastern fringes of Delhi. The district takes its name from its headquarters, the city of Ghaziabad, and is one of the most densely populated and industrialised districts of Uttar Pradesh.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Region | National Capital Region |
| Division | Meerut division |
| Headquarters | Ghaziabad |
| Type | District of Uttar Pradesh |
The district lies on the Indo-Gangetic plain between the Yamuna and the Ganges, with the Hindon River flowing through it. It shares boundaries with Delhi to the west, Gautam Buddh Nagar to the south, Bulandshahr to the south-east, Hapur to the east, and Meerut and Baghpat to the north. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, suitable for agriculture, though much of the district has been urbanised.
Ghaziabad district is administered by a District Magistrate and is part of the Meerut division. The district is divided into tehsils including Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Loni, and contains several development blocks. Major urban centres include Ghaziabad, Modinagar, Loni and Muradnagar.
The town of Ghaziabad is traditionally said to have been founded in the 17th century by Ghaziuddin, a noble of the Mughal court, and was originally known as Ghaziuddinnagar. The area was historically part of the Meerut region. After the opening of the railway line connecting Delhi with the eastern provinces in the 19th century, Ghaziabad emerged as an important rail junction.
Ghaziabad was carved out as a separate district from Meerut district on 14 November 1976. In 2011, the southern part of the district was reorganised when Hapur (Panchsheel Nagar) was created as a separate district, reducing Ghaziabad's territorial extent.
Owing to its proximity to Delhi, Ghaziabad is one of the most industrialised districts of Uttar Pradesh. Industrial estates at Sahibabad, Loni, Modinagar and Muradnagar host engineering, electronics, textile, chemical and food-processing units. The district is a major node of the NCR's residential expansion, with townships such as Indirapuram, Vaishali, Vasundhara, Kaushambi and Raj Nagar Extension. Agriculture, particularly sugarcane, wheat and vegetables, remains significant in the rural blocks.
The district is served by Ghaziabad Junction, a major railway junction on the Delhi–Howrah and Delhi–Moradabad lines. National Highway 9 (formerly NH 24) and National Highway 34 pass through the district. Connectivity with Delhi is provided by the Delhi Metro Blue and Red lines, and by the Namo Bharat (RapidX) regional rapid transit system on the Delhi–Meerut corridor.
According to the 2011 Census of India, Ghaziabad district had a high population density and a substantial urban share, reflecting its inclusion within the NCR. Hindi is the principal language, with Urdu and Punjabi also spoken. The district has a literate, religiously diverse population dominated by Hindus, with significant Muslim and smaller