Under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, the Maharashtra government has made a significant decision to alter the names of eight local railway stations in Mumbai, which date back to the British era.
Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale announced that the Maharashtra government has approved his proposal to rename eight railway stations in Mumbai. The MP representing Mumbai South-Central constituency revealed that the proposal will now be forwarded to the Central Government for consideration.
However, historian Bharat Gothoskar noted that not all of these stations have colonial origins. One station, in fact, derives its name from a Marathi word meaning 'grazing land.'
The list of stations set to be renamed includes Curry Road, Sandhurst Road, Cotton Green, Dockyard Road, and Kings Circle stations on the Central Railway network.
Here are the proposed new names for these stations:
Shiv Sena MP Shewale highlighted public demand as a driving force behind the name changes. However, Bharat Gothoskar, founder of the Khaki Heritage Foundation, argued against altering the names, citing historical significance. Gothoskar pointed out that some station names like Charni Road and Marine Lines do not have colonial connections, with Charni Road being named after a Marathi term for a grazing ground and Marine Lines after nearby barracks.
Notably, Mumbai has witnessed previous renaming of railway stations. In 2017, Elphinstone Road was renamed Prabhadevi, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus became Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). These changes reflect ongoing debates about colonial legacies and cultural identity.
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