The Maharashtra Cabinet has announced its decision to rename Ahmednagar district as ‘Ahilya Nagar’. The renaming is in honor of the 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar.
Background
- The proposal to rename Ahmednagar was first announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in May 2023, on the 298th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
- The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar.
BJP’s Demand
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been demanding the renaming of Ahmednagar district.
- This followed the renaming of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad and Osmanabad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively.
Other Renaming Decisions
- The Cabinet also announced the renaming of seven railway stations in Mumbai, which previously had British-era names.
The approved changes include:
- Curry Road to Lalbaug
- Sandhurst Road to Dongri
- Marine Lines to Mumbadevi
- Cotton Green to Kalachowki
- Charni Road to Girgaon
- Dockyard Road to Mazgaon
- King Circle to Tirthakar Parshivnath
Mumbai Central Station Renaming
- The Cabinet has decided to rename Mumbai Central Station as Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth Station.
- A proposal for the same has been sent to the railways ministry.
Maharashtra Bhavan in Srinagar
- The Cabinet has approved the purchase of 2.5 acres of land in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan there.
- This proposal was already made in the state budget during the previous session of the Maharashtra Assembly.
Sea Link Project
- The Maharashtra Cabinet has also approved the construction of a sea link between Uttan (Bhayander) and Virar (Palghar).
The renaming of Ahmednagar as ‘Ahilyanagar’ is part of the state government’s efforts to honor historical figures and rename places with a cultural and historical significance.