Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Ghazipur city
had a population of 1,05,243 whereas district constitutes more than 31,00,000
people. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ghazipur has an
average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male
literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. In Ghazipur, 13% of the population
is under 6 years of age. A larger percentage of the population lives in the
rural area. The Municipal Area is small as compared to other cities nearby. It
is poorly developed despite being a very important city under British rule.
when it was a strategic river port. A military cantonment built by the British
now houses a college and a colony for administrative officers and their
subordinates. The opium factory located in the city was established by the British
and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It is the
largest of its kind in the country. It is guarded under high security, and not
easily accessible to the general public. The factory has its own residential
accommodation for the employees, and is situated across the banks of river
Ganges. There is also an important office of the narcotics department of Indian
government in the city. The airport of Ghazipur was a commanding airport of
most of the eastern part of the upper and western part of Bihar in those days,
but now it remains vacant and is used when for VIP arrivals to Ghazipur or
nearby areas. It is situated on the outer side of the city and is poorly
maintained.
Ghazipur has sixteen development blocks. The
district is divided into five tehsils and another is proposed. Ghazipur has two
members for Lok Sabha, and eight seats to UP Vidhan Sabha. The OPIUM factory is
largest in Asia. Largest Village of Asia is in GHAZIPUR named as Gahmar. It is
35 KM from Ghazipur City.
Lok Sabha Parliamentary constituencies and the
Vidhan Sabha Legislative Assembly constituencies after delimitation.
75-Ghazipur Lok Sabha and 74- Ballia Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha-373 Jakhania, 374
Saidpur (SC), 375 Ghazipur Sadar,376 Jangipur (SC), 379 Zamania, Mohammadabad
and Zahoorabad. The latter two are shifted to Ballia Lok sabha. Earlier
Saidpur, (Ghazipur) Lok sabha seat, Dildarnagar & Sadat seat of vidhan
Sabha were also in existence, but they are demolished under new parameters.
Ghazipur is the major railhead of North Eastern Railways,
Varanasi Division.Ghazipur City station serves as major railway station of
city. Ghazipur Ghat is a halt station situated 7 km from city. Tari Ghat
station of ECR, Danapur Division near city approx. 10 km byroad connects
Ghazipur to Mughalsarai by a routine passenger train. Dildarnagar ECR on
Delhi-Patna-Howrah route and Aunrihar Jn (N.E. Railway) on Varanasi-Ghazipur
and Varanasi-Gorakhpur route are important Junctions.
Ghazipur is directly connected by Lucknow, New
Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Amritsar, Chennai by routine trains. Pawan Express,
Ganga Kaveri Express, Dibrugarh Express, Harihar Express, Sadbhawna Express,
Swatantra Senani and Sarnath Express are some important trains from Ghazipur
City Station.
Railway Station--Ghazipur City Railway Station is
the most important station in district. Dildarnagar Jn, Zamania and Aunrihar Jn
also serves as good stations. Yusufpur, Sadat, Dullahpur, Jakhania and Ghazipur
Ghat are others small stations which serves for a mass of population. Saidpur,
Karimuddinpur, Gahmar, Nandganj are also some stations connected by routine
trains between Varanasi-Ghazipur-Chappra route and Mughalsarai-Patna route.
In view of roads, it is well connected by important
cities by means of national highways and state highways. National Highway 29
starts from Varanasi to Gorakhpur passes from here. National Highway 19 starts
from here and terminates in Patna. National Highway 97 starts from here and
terminated in Saiyedraja Distt. Chandauli, UP in order to join N.H.2 (Kolkatta-Delhi
highway) to Ghazipur. Some major state highways starts from here which joins
Lucknow, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Buxar, Sultanpur, and Deoria.
Andhau Airport in Andhau, 9 km from City Railway
Station serves as airport for city. But, it is not a public airport. It is used
for V.I.P. arrivals only. Yet, Babatpur Airport, Varanasi Airport, 90 km from
here is airport which serves Ghazipur.
Shahbaaz Kuli Airport in Shahbaaz Kuli, 13 km from
City Railway Station. But, it is not working nowadays. It was constructed for
government use in world war - II. It is not be able to use in any way due to
lack of proper maintenance.
Waterways---Ghazipur is an important waterway port
on river Ganges between Haldia to Allahabad, National Waterways No.1 route.
Transport
In city, mainly Auto rickshaws and Rickshaw's are
primary mode of transport. Taxis are even also available on railway stations.
Earlier RTO was planning for City Buses, but it fails because of narrow roads.
In old city, auto-rickshaws are not permitted during certain time interval, so,
Rickshaws serves as most primary transport mode. No other means of transport
available in city region. Still, in city, city buses are proposed and needs
permission to start after clearance from State Government.
For District areas, taxis, buses and tempos are
always available from Lanka, Shastrinagar, Rauza, Rajdepur, City Railway
Station, Gorabazar and RTI square. Various transport agencies is provide
transport facility for access various remote part of city. There is also UPSRTC
bus station near railway sation from which buses are available Ghazipur-Delhi,
Ghazipur-Lucknow, Ghazipur-Kanpur, Ghazipur-Behraich, Ghazipur-Varanshi,
Ghazipur-Sonauli etc.
