Moradabad

History

Moradabad was established as an office for the Chaupala pargana during emperor Akbar's regime. In AD 1624 it was captured by Rustam Khan, the then Governor of Sambhal who named it Rustam Nagar. Later, in AD 1625 its named was changed to Moradabad, after the name of prince Murad Baksh, the son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. A mosque named Jama Masjid was constructed in the city by Rustam Khan for the Mughal Emperor.

Geography

Moradabad is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, that originates from the Doodhatoli ranges and is a part of the Namik Glacier, originating from the high altitude zone of 800mts. to 900mts. The Ramganga flows to the south west from the Kumaun Himalaya. It is a tributary of the Ganga. It flows by the Corbett National Park near Ramnagar of Nainital district, from where it descends upon the Gangetic plain. The Ramganga Dam has been built on the Ramganga river at Kalagarh for irrigation and electricity generation.

Moradabad has a history of flash floods occurring due to the over-flooding of Ramganga river.

Climate

During Summers the temperature is usually from 43 °C to 30 °C and during Winters it is from 25 °C to 5 °C.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Moradabad city has a population of 887,871. The population of Moradabad district was 4,772,006, roughly equal to the nation of Singapore or the US state of Alabama. It is the 2nd Most Populated District in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This gives it a ranking of 26th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,284 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,330/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 25.25%. In 2011 a new district named Sambhal district is formed with two sub districts of Moradabad district. The rest of Moradabad district have a population of 3126507.The Muslim population in rest of Moradabad district is 1588297. Moradabad has a sex ratio of 903 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 58.67%.

Education

Schools in Moradabad, whether using English or Hindi as a medium of instruction, are affiliated to one of the four bodies, Central Board of Secondary Education (C.B.S.E.), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (C.I.S.C.E), University of Cambridge International Examinations, Uttar Pradesh Madarsa Education Board and Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (U.P. Board).

Universities

Other Degree colleges

Police Training Academy

Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Police Academy, Moradabad is situated in the heart of Uttar Pradesh . Indian Police Services Officer and State Police Service officer of UP cadre and Uttrakhand Cadre are trained here before appointment. The Police Training College was earlier Known as Police Training School (PTS), established in Allahabad in 1878 under an Assistant Superintendent of Police. It was shifted to Moradabad in 1901.The Police Academy is headed by the Director General of Police (Training) who sits in Moradabad. Now Shri Udayan Parmar IPS is Director of this Academy as of June 2010. The Police Academy has two other Police colleges under its administration i.e. Police Training College and Police Training School former is used to train Police officer of the Rank of Inspector, Sub-Inspector and later is used to train head constables and Constable.

Provincial Armed Constabulary

Beside above Inspector-General of Police, western zone, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) also sits in Moradabad. Moradabad has Battalion headquarters of 9/23/24 Bn. of U.P. Provincial Armed Constabulary, also have their offices here. Moradabad is the largest Police establishment of U.P. Police after Lucknow.

Economy

Moradabad is a major industrial city and export hub. Its handicrafts industry accounts for more than 40% of total handicraft exports from India. In 2006-2007, Moradabad's export turnover was ₹32 billion ($530 millions). In 2012-2013 it increased to ₹40 billion ($667 millions).

In October 2014, Livemint included Moradabad in its list of "25 Emerging Cities To Watch Out For In 2025".

Moradabad's brass industry that employs tens of thousands of workers has been impacted by ongoing wars in Libya and Syria.

Export

Countries like Britain, USA, Middle East Asia, Germany and Canada imports brassware from Moradabad, India. In Moradabad there are about 600 export units and 9000 industries in the district. Moradabad exports goods worth Rs. 4500 crore yearly. Many other products for example, Iron Sheet, Metal wares, Aluminum, Artworks and Glassware's are also exported as per the need of foreign Buyers. Export of Mint is done in several crores from Moradabad. These products are quite famous in overseas market and are being exported in thousands of crores yearly. Due to upsurge of exports and popularity in foreign particularly in America, Europe, Italy and other countries, a large No. of exporters are launching their units and started their export. Out of the seven industrial corridors declared by the State Govt. in Industrial Policy 1999-2002, Moradabad is one of them.[2]

Fast Growing Concerns

These concerns are specialized in their product line and offers widest range at very fair prices due to own craftsmanship.

Major Export Houses

Handicrafts Retail Stores

Special Economic Zone

Moradabad Special Economic Zone (SEZ) the only Uttar Pradesh Government Developed SEZ in northern India, headed by the Development Commissioner, Noida SEZ and locally governed by the Asststant Development Commissioner, was set up in 2003 at Pakbara – Dingarpur Road in Moradabad on a 421.565 acre plot of land. Government of UP through UPSIDC being developers to this SEZ project has so far invested a sum of ₹1100 million on its development. Moradabad SEZ provides excellent infrastructure, supportive services and sector specific facilities for the Handicraft Trade. Proximity to Delhi/ NCR and availability of skilled and dedicated manpower makes it ideal for setting up various industries in Handicrafts & its allied filed. Moradabad SEZ was operationalised since April, 2007 when it started with only one unit, however till today in spite of global slowdown in the handicraft trade for past four years; this zone has now 22 operational Units. Moradabad SEZ has 465 developed plots of varying sizes. Future expansion of this has been strategically planned and soon it will be available for few more export sectors. Infrastructure, supportive services and trade related facilities have been substantially upgraded during the last few years. Moradabad SEZ offers access to global telecommunication network, uninterrupted power supply and efficient local transport system. An ultra modern RSU Telephone Exchange has been installed in the Zone, besides the availability of all the mobile frequencies in and around the zone through various mobile communication towers. An independent feeder line has since been provided for uninterrupted power supply, the reliability and quality of power supply has improved with the pre-commissioned 32 / 11 KVA / 5.0 MVA Power Sub-station within Moradabad SEZ. Proximity to Delhi/ NCR provides easy access to financial and commercial infrastructure of the capital. Customs Wing ensures prompt and on the spot clearances of export/import consignments through web based system called "sezonline".

Road

Moradabad is well connected by roads with cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Noida, Haridwar, Dehradun, etc.

The following National Highways and State Highways pass through or are connected with Moradabad:

Rail

Moradabad railway station is one of the Major Railway Stations of Indian Railways, it comes under top hundred railway stations of India. It lies on Lucknow-Moradabad line, Delhi-Moradabad line and Moradabad-Ambala line. More than 250 trains pass through and stop at Moradabad Railway Station Everyday. It is direct connected by trains with major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Haridwar, Dehradun, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Ambala, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Varansi, Ahmedabad, Patna etc. Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express, Garib Rath Express and many Super fast, mail and passenger trains stop at Moradabad. Moradabad is called inter-change station due to 5 line junction. Moradabad Railway Station is One of the Oldest Railway Station Of India. It was Builted in 1873, and was electrified in 2012.

Moradabad railway station was the main station built by Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.

Amenities Moradabad railway station is categeory 'A' railway station. It has a Tourist Information Centre, Post Office, telegrapgh office, General Railway Police Office, computerised reservation counters, retiring room, vegetarian and non vegetarian refreshment rooms, tea stall and book stall. It also has the Tatkal seat Booking counter.

Electrification Electrification of the 636 km (395 mi) long Mughasarai-Moradabad line was completed in 2013.Many trains on Ambala and Lucknow line run with electric locomotives (including Freight trains) Electrification of Delhi-Moradabad line is under progress and expected to be completed by December 2015. Being one of important section of the Northern Railways, Indian railway has given this project a high priority.

Electrification of 135 km line between Ghaziabad - Moradabad is complete as of 31-03-2015. CRS's detailed inspection of GZB-MB section Electrification completed successfully on 19-01-2015.

Air

Moradabad Airport is under construction. The nearest working domestic airport is Pantnagar Airport, 86 km away and the nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, 178 km away.

Media

Newspapers published in Moradabad include Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Apka Rehbar and Dagi Kaun?.

Notable people