Old Delhi station to be renamed? CM writes to Centre

Old Delhi station to be renamed? CM writes to Centre

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has proposed renaming the iconic Old Delhi Railway Station after Maharaja Agrasen.

In a letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, she said the change would be a "fitting tribute" to Agrasen's contributions.

"Renaming the station as Maharaja Agrasen Railway Station would serve as a fitting tribute to his enduring contributions and would deeply resonate with the sentiments of millions of Delhi residents who hold him in the highest esteem," Gupta wrote.

About the Old Delhi Railway Station

The Old Delhi Railway Station, also known as Delhi Junction, was established in 1864. Its building was constructed in the style of the nearby Red Fort.

The station has 18 platforms, two of which are designed to accommodate two 24-coach trains, and is one of India's busiest railway hubs.

It started operations with a single broad-gauge train from Calcutta (Howrah).

CM's letter to Vaishnaw

Although this letter is the first formal communication on the matter, BJP sources revealed that a discreet campaign to rename the station began soon after the party took office in the city, TNIE reported.

Former mayor Mira Aggarwal discussed a proposal with baniya community leaders and BJP MLAs, including Model Town MLA Ashok Goel, before Gupta, who shares the same caste, approved it.

Goel moved the proposal in the Assembly during the Monsoon session.

Various names changed in the past

The proposed renaming of Old Delhi Railway Station is not the city's first such move in recent years.

The BJP-led administration at the Centre has approved various renamings, including the Mughal Garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan being renamed Amrit Udyan and Rajpath being changed to Kartavya Path.

The Union Ministry of Railways has jurisdiction over the renaming of railway stations, and such suggestions must be formally accepted by the ministry before being implemented.