New Delhi: A number of railway stations in India have been renamed to honour prominent personalities. Some of the notable examples are Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (formerly Mughalsarai Junction), Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station (formerly Jhansi) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus).
Now, there is a plea to name the New Delhi railway station after Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Praveen Khandelwal, Lok Sabha MP from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, has written to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with a request to name the capital’s biggest and busiest railway station after the man who served as the country’s Prime Minister thrice — first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months (1998-1999), followed by a full term (1999 to 2004).
The BJP MP made the point that renaming New Delhi station will be an important and emotional initiative towards immortalising the memory of Vajpayee, who was the first non-Congress leader to serve a full term as Prime Minister.
“I write to you with a humble request to consider renaming the New Delhi Railway Station as ‘Atal Behari Vajpayee Railway Station’ in honour of one of India’s most revered statesmen and former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee ji,” Khandelwal stated in his letter to Vaishnaw.
“New Delhi Railway Station is not only the principal rail gateway to the capital of India but also one of the busiest and most iconic stations in the country. Its central location and prominence make it a suitable site to be named after a national figure whose life and legacy continue to inspire millions,” the MP added.
“During his tenure, India achieved historic achievements in the fields of infrastructure, nuclear power, global recognition and economy. He gave direction to the entire country not only as a politician but also as a thinker, a poet, and an inspiring personality,” Khandelwal wrote, mentioning that he will soon meet Vaishnaw with his demand and also raise the issue during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.
Khandelwal also demanded that the Old Delhi Railway station be named after legendary king Maharaja Agrasen, a plea previously voiced by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
