Eight Train Stations in Smriti Irani’s Amethi Will Get New Names Based on Local Saints and Temples | See the New Names

The Uttar Pradesh government’s petition to rename eight railway stations in the Amethi district after local temples, saints, idols, and independence warriors was received with a no objection certificate from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday.

The decision was started, according to a Times of India story, by BJP Amethi MP Smriti Irani, who claimed that the names of eight railway stations in her constituency had been altered to protect the area’s cultural character and legacy.

Irani wrote, “Virasat bhi, Vikas bhi,” on X. It gives me great pleasure to notify you that the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency has agreed to rename eight railway stations. The preservation of Amethi’s cultural identity and legacy will benefit from this choice.

The government submitted a proposal to MHA on February 12th, aiming to rename the Kasimpur halt as Jais City. Additionally, several other intermediate stations were to be renamed as well: Bani as Swami Paramhans, Misrauli as Maa Kalikan Dham, Nihalgarh as Maharaja Bijli Pasi, Akbarganj as Maa Ahorwa Bhawani Dham, Warisganj as Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan, Fursatganj as Tapeshwarnath Dham, and Jais as Guru Gorakhnath Dham.

“Rechristening railway stations in Amethi after local temples, saints, idols, and freedom fighters was a long-pending demand,” said Ram Prasad Mishra, district president of the BJP’s Amethi unit, in an interview with TOI.

He went on to say that Kasimpur hamlet, which is located a distance from the station, inspired the name of the Kasimpur stop railway station.

Given the predominance of Muslims in the region, it was proposed that the area be called Jais City. The most well-known ashram in the vicinity of the present-day Jais railway station is the Guru Gorakhnath Dham Ashram. “There was a suggestion to rename the station after Ashram,” he said.

Mishra added, “The proposal to rename them as Swami Paramhans, Maa Kalikan Dham, Maa Ahorwa Bhawani Dham, and Tapeshwarnath Dham railway stations, respectively, was submitted because there are numerous temples of Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali near Bani, Misrauli, Akbarganj, and Fursatganj railway stations.

The BJP district president said that funds would soon be released as part of the government’s plans to encourage religious tourism in Amethi. “Changing your name is just the beginning,” he said.

“The Pasi people, who are mostly farmers involved in jujube growing, dominate the region around the Nihalgarh railway station. Thus, the station will now be known as Maharaja Bijli Pasi. About the Warisganj railway station, the region is renowned for the valor of Bhale Sultan, a Thakur who, in 1857, engaged in combat against the British Raj. Thus, Mishra said, “the decision was made to rename the station as Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan railway station.”

“CRIS will soon update the new names of stations,” said Rekha Sharma, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, NR (Lucknow division), in reference to the station renaming. It is anticipated that the State PWD Department will shortly issue a NOC for station renaming.