Fort William, the headquarters of the Army’s Eastern Command, renamed Vijay Durg.
Fort William, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg, and one of its gates, St George’s Gate, has been renamed Shivaji Gate.
Defence officials said the decision to change the name was taken in December 2024.
The British built the historic Fort William located in Kolkata and named it after King William III.
Fort William, built in brick and mortar in 1781, has six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta, Water Gate, Treasury Gate, and St George Gate.
The fort has been renamed as Vijay Durg, based on the oldest fort along the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra, which served as a naval base during Chhatrapati Shivaji’s time.
The renaming of the fort and its gates symbolises India’s recognition of its military heritage.
After independence, control of the fort passed into the hands of the Indian Army, which substantially extended and renovated it.
