The Maharashtra government has issued a formal notification renaming Ahmednagar railway station as Ahilyanagar railway station, following approval from the Union Home Ministry. The decision comes after the district itself was recently renamed Ahilyanagar, in honour of the revered Maratha queen, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar, whose 300th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who had spearheaded the proposal, expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for granting the approval. “This long-pending demand has now been fulfilled. The renaming holds special significance as it coincides with the 300th birth anniversary year of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar,” Pawar said in a statement from his office.
Pawar also acknowledged the efforts of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, noting that the push for renaming was a collective effort by the state leadership. He further revealed that work is in progress to rename Aurangabad railway station as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar railway station, in line with the city’s new name.
The demand to align the railway station’s name with the district’s new identity had been consistently raised by local leaders, cultural organisations, and citizens, who saw it as a way to pay tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy in the region. Officials confirmed that following the notification, necessary changes will soon be implemented across railway signage, digital systems, maps, and public announcements, with gradual updates visible to passengers and residents.
