- Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a no-objection certificate to approve the change in the names of eight railway stations in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Amethi, which is a high-profile Lok Sabha constituency, is currently represented by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Mrs.Smriti Irani. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, she had defeated Congrees leader Rahul Gandhi. She is again contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi.
The government has approved the change in the name of the following eight stations of Amethi
- Fursatganj Railway Station as Tapeshwarnath Dham,
- Kasimpur Halt as Jais City,
- Jais City as Guru Gorakhnath Dham,
- Bani as Swami Paramhans,
- Misrauli as Maa Kalikan Dham,
- Nihalgarh as Maharaja Bijli Pasi,
- Akbarganj as Maa Kalikan Dham,
- Warisganj as Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan
Procedure for Change of name of a town or city or Railway Station
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a guideline in 1953 for the procedure to be followed for the change in the name of a city, town or railway station. The guideline was modified by the ministry in 2002.
- As per the guidelines, the concerned State government has to submit proposals for renaming a town/ city/ village/ railway station to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The Home Ministry then consults the Geographical Survey of India, the Department of Post, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- The Home Ministry, after being satisfied, issues a no-objection certificate to the state government approving the change in the name of the town, city, or railway station.
- After receiving the no-objection certificate from the Home Ministry, the concerned state government publishes the name in its Gazette.