Greater Ghaziabad: A Transformative Urban Expansion Set for 2027
The vision of Greater Ghaziabad is steadily progressing toward reality, with officials projecting its completion by 2027. This ambitious project aims to merge three nagar palikas—Loni, Khoda-Makanpur, and Muradnagar—into the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC), creating Uttar Pradesh's largest municipality in terms of wards.
Timeline and Current Progress
According to a GMC official, the process has faced temporary slowdowns due to the upcoming panchayat elections this year. However, by the end of 2024, a comprehensive plan for forming Greater Ghaziabad is expected to be finalized. "By 2027, in all probability, it will come up," the official stated, highlighting the steady progress despite electoral distractions.
The proposal was initially vetted by the UP council of ministers in August last year, with observations emphasizing that the merger would ensure all-round development in areas like Loni and Khoda-Makanpur, particularly in infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sewer systems, and lighting.
Structural and Demographic Changes
The expansion will significantly alter Ghaziabad's urban landscape:
- Area Increase: GMC's current area of 220 square kilometers will expand to approximately 300 square kilometers.
- Population Growth: The population is projected to rise from 16 lakh to over 25 lakh.
- Ward Expansion: GMC, which currently has 100 wards, will add 55 wards from Loni, 34 from Khoda-Makanpur, and 25 from Muradnagar, resulting in a total of 214 wards in the Greater Ghaziabad Board.
This will make Greater Ghaziabad the largest municipality in Uttar Pradesh, surpassing Kanpur and Lucknow, which each have 110 wards, as well as Agra and the current Ghaziabad with 100 wards each.
Strategic Initiatives and Leadership
The proposal is being formalized in light of two major initiatives: the ongoing panchayat elections and the census. Officials indicate that by year-end, this exercise will be completed, "paving the way for Greater Ghaziabad" by next year.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath first mooted the proposal in June 2025, emphasizing the need for urban expansion. "It's time to expand the city by creating Greater Ghaziabad," he stated, adding that the expansion would benefit the three nagar palikas through enhanced development opportunities.
Since then, GMC officials have been holding meetings with stakeholders and acquiring critical details such as population data and satellite imagery to ensure a smooth transition.
Economic and Developmental Benefits
The council of ministers believes the merger will enhance both ease of doing business and ease of living, given Ghaziabad's integral role in the Delhi-NCR region. Key anticipated benefits include:
- Revenue Growth: Increased central and state grants proportional to the expanded wards and population, alongside higher property tax revenues for the municipality.
- Financial Leverage: Greater Ghaziabad will have enhanced financial resources to undertake development work across all wards.
- State Economy: The merger is expected to contribute to Uttar Pradesh's goal of achieving a 1 trillion dollar economy.
A GMC official noted last year, "When wards and population go up, central and state grants too rise proportionately. Besides, revenue of the municipality from property taxes will also increase. It will give greater financial leverage to Greater Ghaziabad to carry out development work in all wards."
As the process moves forward, Greater Ghaziabad stands poised to redefine urban governance and development in Uttar Pradesh, setting a benchmark for municipal expansions across the state.
