The city covers an area of 31.6 sq.km spread over 32 wards. As per Census 2011, the total population was 2,83,443 with a population density of 8,216 persons per sq.km. Initially, the Municipality started with 4 wards, which was increased to 18 nos. by including the adjacent rural area. In 1995, the no. of wards were increased to the present figure of 32. Barasat is located on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta region.
The average altitude is 11 metres. No notable river flows by the city. The nearest one is Ganges itself- about 15 km to the west. Barasat is 22 km from Sealdah Station on the Sealdah - Bangaon branch line. It is at one end of the Barasat-Basirhat-Hasnabad branch line of Eastern Railway. Habra Municipality and Madhyamgram Municipality are adjacent to Barasat City. Surrounding Gram-Panchayats are Bamangachhi, Ichhapur-Nilganj, Khilkapur, Kamarpara and Kadambagachhi.
