The Maharashtra government has officially renamed Aurangabad railway station to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar station, as per a gazette notification issued on October 15, reported the IANS.
The development follows the earlier renaming of Aurangabad city to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, and coincides with heightened political activity ahead of local and civic body elections in Maharashtra.
The decision comes from the BJP-led Mahayuti government, although the process was first initiated during the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure. The move to rename the city and station is part of an effort to honour Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and distance the city from its Mughal-era name, originally given in honour of Aurangzeb, according to the IANS.
Opened in 1900 by the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Aurangabad railway station lies on the Kacheguda-Manmad railway section, under the Nanded division of the South Central Railway zone. It connects the city—now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—with major destinations across India.
The city is also an important tourist hub, renowned for nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, as well as monuments like Bibi ka Maqbara and the Aurangabad Caves.
Often referred to as the City of Gates, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has a rich architectural legacy dating back to the Mughal era, as per the IANS.
The demand to rename Aurangabad dates back to the late 1980s, with tensions culminating in communal riots in 1988, which claimed over 25 lives. That same year, the Shiv Sena won control of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation. On May 8, 1988, Bal Thackeray publicly declared the city would be renamed ‘Sambhaji Nagar’. A resolution was passed in 1995, followed by public consultations, the news agency reported.
In September 2023, the state government issued a notification finalising the district’s renaming to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after approval from a special state cabinet meeting.
Recently, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as India’s future Electric Vehicle (EV) capital, citing recent investments, including by Hyundai, as a sign that the city is becoming a preferred destination for industry.
(with IANS inputs)
