Renaming of Stations
by Ajai Banerji, 2006
This material is from a presentation made by the author at the first IRFCA Convention at Pune, Feb. 26, 2006.
Also see Ajai Banerji's article on station code oddities.
Introduction
A large number of stations have been renamed in the last half-century or so. Here, we look at changes which have occurred since the 1930s. We concentrate on the changes in southern and western India, as they have seen more changes compared to the rest of the country.
Reasons for Change
In general, changes are made based on the requests from the state government. The Railways generally do not make changes on their own. Changes in names generally reflect the pronunciation in the local language which was not in the earlier spellings during British rule. Interestingly, there are some cases where the official name of the town has changed but the station name has not.
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Bezwada | Vijayawada |
| Chicacole Road | Srikakulam Road |
| Cocanada | Kakinada |
| Dronachellam | Dhone* |
| Gundrati Margoo | Gundratimadugu |
| Hyderabad MG | Kacheguda |
| Khammamett | Khammam |
| Kothapetta | Sirpur Kagaznagar |
| Masulipatnam | Machilipatnam |
| Oopal | Uppal |
| Waltair | Visakhapatnam |
* Reverting to its old name
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Collem | Kulem |
| Margao | Madgaon |
| Sanvordem Curchorem | Kudchade (Sanvordem)* |
* Station signboard changed, but timetable still shows the old name.
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Baroda | Vadodara |
| Broach | Bharuch |
| Bulsar | Valsad |
| Cambay | Khambhat |
| Goya Gate | Vishvamitri |
| Mohamedabad & Kaira Road | Mehemadabad & Kheda Road |
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Bowringpet | Bangarapet |
| Closepet | Ramanagaram |
| French Rocks | Yeliyur |
| Telgi | Basavana Bagewadi Road |
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Ernakulam North* | Ernakulam Town |
| Ernakulam South* | Ernakulam Jn |
| Olavakkot | Palghat |
| Vettikatiri | Vallathol Nagar |
* No change in name of place, only the suffix for the station has changed.
| (Towns that have changed names but where the station names have remained unchanged.) | |
|---|---|
| Old Name | New Name |
| Alleppey | Alappuzha |
| Alwaye | Aluva |
| Badagara | Vadakara |
| Calicut | Kozhikode |
| Cannanore | Kannur |
| Cochin | Kochi |
| Quilon | Kollam |
| Shertallai | Cherthala |
| Tellicherry | Thalasseri |
| Trichur | Thrisshur |
| Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Bassein Road | Vasai Road |
| Bellasis Road | Mumbai Central(local) |
| Bombay | Mumbai |
| Bombay VT | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai |
| Dhond | Daund |
| Dhulia | Dhule |
| Ellichpur | Achalpur |
| Erandol Road | Dondaiche? |
| Kirkee | Khadki |
| Kolhapur | Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj Terminus |
| Kolivada | Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar |
| Paunar | Seloo Road |
| Poona | Pune |
| Wardha East | Sevagram* |
| Sevagram* | Varud |
| Sholapur | Solapur |
| Shrirampur | Belapur |
* An interesting case of a double name change!
| (Towns that have changed names but where the station names have remained unchanged.) | |
|---|---|
| Old Name | New Name |
| Aurangabad | Shambhajinagar |
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Arkonam | Arakkonam |
| Chingleput | Chengalpattu |
| Coleroon | Kollidam |
| Conjeevaram | Kanchipuram |
| Cuddalore New Town | Tiruppadiripuliyur* |
| Dalmiapuram | Kallakudi Palanganatham |
| Jalarpet | Jolarpettai |
| Madras | Chennai |
| Madras Chetpat | Chetpet |
| Madras Park | Park |
| Madura | Madurai |
| Maniyachi | Vanchi Maniyachchi** |
| Manur | Manavur |
| Mayavaram | Mayiladuturai*** |
| McDonald's Choultry | Magudan Chavadi |
| Ootacamund | Udhagamandalam |
| Point Calimere | Kodikkarai |
| Porto Novo | Parangipettai |
| Ramnad | Ramanathapuram |
| Shencottah | Sengottai |
| Tanjore | Thanjavur |
| Tinnevelly | Tirunelveli |
| Tranquebar | Tarangambadi |
| Trichnopoly | Tiruchchirapalli |
| Trivellore | Tiruvallur |
* In between, Tiruppapuliyur.
** Named for a freedom fighter.
*** In between, Mayuram.