Moving to Ghaziabad

The first week

Get the rent agreement signed before you move the furniture in. Almost everything else asks for it: the electricity connection, the gas connection, police verification and school forms.

Then take photos of the electricity meter and the gas meter on the day you get the keys. Note the readings and the consumer numbers printed on the last bills. It saves an argument with the landlord or the previous owner later.

If you live in a society, meet the RWA or maintenance office in the first few days. They know how water, power backup and visitor entry work in your building, and they often hold forms you will need.

Electricity, gas and water

Electricity in Ghaziabad district comes from Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL), part of UPPCL. It covers the whole district, so there is no question of which company to call. New connections are applied for online through UPPCL's Jhatpat portal. For a rented home you upload the rent agreement along with an NOC or indemnity bond from the owner, plus photo ID. If the connection already exists and you only need the name changed, ask at your local PVVNL office or check the PVVNL website first.

Piped cooking gas is supplied by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL). Not every street or society is connected yet. The IGL website has a feasibility check and an online application for a new PNG connection, and a separate process for transferring ownership. If the flat already has gas, the transfer is usually the quicker route.

Water is the one that varies. In older colonies it is the municipal corporation's supply. Indirapuram was handed over from GDA to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation in stages over 2024 and 2025. In most apartment societies the water bill comes through maintenance. Ask your landlord or RWA who actually supplies your building before you apply for anything.

Paperwork

Uttar Pradesh's tenancy law of 2021 requires a written rent agreement, and the landlord has to inform the Rent Authority about the tenancy. Ask your landlord to confirm this has been done.

Stamp duty and registration charges on rent agreements in UP were cut sharply in 2025 and 2026, and the rates depend on the rent and the length of the lease. More changes have been proposed. Check the current charge on the IGRSUP website before you pay for anything.

Police tenant verification is done through the UP Police UPCOP app or the UP Police website. Agree with your landlord who will file it. Either way, the tenant's ID and photo are needed, so keep scans ready.

For address changes, start with Aadhaar on the UIDAI website, since banks and schools ask for it. Your driving licence and vehicle papers can be updated through Parivahan.

Getting around

Two Delhi Metro lines reach Ghaziabad. The Red Line runs through Shaheed Nagar, Raj Bagh, Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala and Hindon River to Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda). A branch of the Blue Line serves Kaushambi and Vaishali. A DMRC smart card works on both.

The Namo Bharat (RRTS) line, run by NCRTC, has stations at Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai. Ghaziabad station connects with the Red Line at Shaheed Sthal. It is a separate system with its own ticketing, so check the Namo Bharat passenger site for fares and cards.

City buses, including electric ones, are run by the state transport corporation. The network is thin and some electric buses have been off the road with battery faults. Most families end up relying on autos, e-rickshaws and app cabs for the last stretch from the station.

Schools

Moving mid-year is possible, but seats in the class you want depend on each school. Before you leave your old city, collect the transfer certificate, the latest report card and the birth certificate. A new school will usually not finalise admission without the TC.

Entry-level admissions in private schools open well before the April session. Under the RTE Act, 25 per cent of entry-level seats in private schools are kept for children from disadvantaged groups. In UP these are filled by lottery through the state's online RTE portal, and for 2026-27 applications opened on 2 February in three phases. See our school admissions page for the general calendar.

Your car or bike

You can drive a vehicle registered in another state for up to 12 months after moving. After that it has to be re-registered in UP. The usual order is an NOC from your old RTO, applied for on Parivahan, then registration at the Ghaziabad RTO. Clear any pending challans first, as they hold up the NOC.

If you work for the central or state government, a PSU, the defence forces, or a private company with offices in four or more states, you may qualify for a BH series number, which avoids re-registering each time you move. Existing vehicles can be converted, subject to tax.

Small things locals know

At Ghaziabad Namo Bharat station, the gate that links to Shaheed Sthal metro has been closed at times. Ask the station staff for the current way across before you rely on the change for a school or office run.

Keep a folder of scanned documents on your phone in the first month. The same rent agreement, Aadhaar and photo get asked for again and again.