Lucknow, Aug 28:Eight railway stations in the Lucknow division of Northern Railways were officially renamed after saints and freedom fighters on Tuesday, according to officials. However, this decision has sparked criticism from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who criticised the BJP government for prioritising renaming over improving railway infrastructure and safety.
According to an order issued by the Northern Railways, several stations have been given new names: Kasimpur Halt Railway Station is now Jais City Railway Station, Jais has been renamed Guru Gorakhnath Dham, Misrauli is now Maa Kalikan Dham, and Bani has been changed to Swami Paramhans. Additionally, Nihalgarh Railway Station is now Maharaja Bijli Pasi Railway Station, Akbarganj has been renamed Maa Ahorwa Bhawani Dham, Warisganj is now Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan, and Fursatganj has been renamed Tapeshwarnath Dham.
The renaming followed a request from former Amethi MP Smriti Irani, who argued that the name changes were necessary to preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the region. Irani announced the proposed changes on social media in March.
A senior railway official explained the reasons behind some of the new names. For instance, Kasimpur Halt was originally named after a village that is located far from the station, so it was decided to rename it Jais City to better reflect the locality. Jais station, which is near the prominent Guru Gorakhnath Dham ashram, was renamed to honour the ashram.
The official further explained that several temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali are located near Mishrauli, Bani, Akbarganj, and Fursatganj railway stations, prompting the new names. Nihalgarh station was renamed after Maharaja Bijli Pasi, a local historical figure revered by the area's Pasi community, which is predominantly composed of farmers. Warisganj, recognised for the valour of Bhale Sultan, who fought against the British in 1857, was renamed to honour his memory.
In response to the renaming, Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh, saying, "The BJP government is urged to focus on improving the conditions of railway stations, not just changing their names. And when they are finished renaming, they should also consider measures to prevent the record-breaking rail accidents."
The debate over the renaming exercise highlights the ongoing contention between heritage preservation and the need for modernisation and safety improvements within India's rail network.
