This story is from October 24, 2021

Uttar Pradesh govt nod to rename Faizabad Junction as Ayodhya station

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.
Uttar Pradesh govt nod to rename Faizabad Junction as Ayodhya station
On Diwali eve in 2018, CM Yogi Adityanath had announced renaming Faizabad district to Ayodhya to honour the birthplace of Lord Ram (File Photo)
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,” said a government spokesperson.
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.
Suresh Kumar Sapra, divisional railway manager, Lucknow, 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 Union ministry of home affairs for final assent. Later, the ministry of railways will issue the necessary notification for changing the name of the railway station to Ayodhya Cantonment,” he said.
On Diwali eve in 2018, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had announced renaming Faizabad district to Ayodhya to honour the birthplace of Lord Ram and “acknowledge the history of the area”. A week later, cabinet approved the decisiion. 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.
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