UP govt gives nod to rename Faizabad station Ayodhya Cantonment

LUCKNOW: Exactly three years after renaming Faizabad district as Ayodhya on Diwali eve, the UP government has approved changing the name of Faizabad Junction to Ayodhya Cantonment station, just ahead of the festival. The proposal has been forwarded to the Centre after Ayodhya’s BJP MP Lallu Singh recommended the name change to the state government and Railways.
“Naming the railway junction after Ayodhya is a natural procedure after Faizabad district was rechristened Ayodhya in 2018.This is being done to avoid confusion. The local MP sent the proposal, and after necessary approvals, the state government forwarded it to the Centre. Renaming of the station can be implemented only by the Railways,” said a government spokesperson.
Lucknow divisional railway manager Suresh Kumar Sapra told TOI the proposal would be sent to the home ministry. “On Ayodhya MP’s request, Railways sent the proposal to the state government, which has given its nod. Now, the proposal would be forwarded to the ministry of home affairs for final assent,” he said.
On Diwali eve in 2018, CM Yogi Adityanath had announced renaming Faizabad district as Ayodhya to honour the birthplace of Lord Ram and “acknowledge the history of the area”. A week later, the state cabinet approved the decision. The district headquarters, however, continues to remain Faizabad. The UP government has already changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj and Mughalsarai railway junction to Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction.