Ghaziabad has silently emerged as India’s unofficial capital for runaway weddings. Between August 2023 and August 2024, over 29,000 marriages were registered across its five sub-registrar offices (SROs). One office alone, SRO 5, clocked an astounding 19,047 weddings - over six times Noida’s count and more than twice that of Lucknow.

Couples eloping from different parts of Uttar Pradesh and even Delhi flock to Ghaziabad for its speed, leniency, and network of “marriage specialists” who help navigate legal formalities discreetly. But recent changes by the UP government -after the Allahabad High Court raised concerns about fraudulent practices - have tightened rules for registration.

Lovebirds and marriage agents now say these changes may delay or prevent consensual marriages against parental wishes. Critics claim it’s a blow to personal freedom, while authorities stress the importance of legal safeguards.

Either way, Ghaziabad’s reputation as the "Vegas of North India" remains unmatched.