Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been officially renamed to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, stating that the decision was inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “to free the nation from colonial imprints”.
In a post on X Shah stated that “while the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands’ unique role in the same.”
Port Blair is the 8th major city to have been renamed in the last decade.
How is a city renamed?
The renaming process typically begins with a proposal made by a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the state assembly which outlines the reasons for the name change. The proposal is then discussed in the assembly and a simple majority vote is required for the proposal to pass.
Once passed, the proposal is sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs at the central government level where various agencies, such as the Survey of India and the Department of Posts are consulted before issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Upon receiving the NOC, the state government can issue an official notification in the state gazette to finalise the name change.
Let’s take a look at all the cities that have received a new name.
Rajahmundry to Rajahmahendravaram
In Andhra Pradesh, Rajahmundry city in the East Godavari district was renamed ‘Rajamahendravaram’ in 2015, restoring its historical name and reflecting the region’s cultural heritage. The new name was derived from a Chalukya dynasty ruler of the 11th century.
Gurgaon to Gurugram
Haryana’s largest city Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram in 2016, reflecting the area’s historical significance. Legend has it that Gurgaon derived its name from Guru Dronacharya, Mahabharata’s master of archery, and was said that the village was given as a ‘gurudakshina’ giving the name Guru-gram.
Allahabad to Prayagraj
The city of Allahabad was officially renamed Prayagraj in December 2018. The change was driven by the Uttar Pradesh government’s desire to restore the city’s ancient name, which reflects its association with the confluence of sacred rivers, the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati. Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting where the desicion was taken, senior Cabinet minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said, “The people of entire Allahabad, the sages and seers wanted that Allahabad should be known as Prayagraj. All the sages and seers had given their unanimous approval for the same.”
Naya Raipur to Atal Nagar
The capital of Chhattisgarh, New Raipur, was renamed Atal Nagar in 2018 in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Additionally, Chief Minister Raman Singh announced that the Bilaspur University, a medical college, state capital expressway and the under-construction Central Park will also be renamed Vajpayee’s honour.
Hoshangabad Nagar to Narmadapuram
In 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Hoshangabad Nagar was renamed Narmadapuram highlighting its connection to the Narmada River which holds cultural and spiritual importance.
Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
In Maharashtra, Aurangabad was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, in honor of the Maratha king Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, who was killed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In 1988, stalwart Bal Thackeray announced that the city would be known as ‘Sambhaji Nagar’ and since the demand to rename it sprang up.
Osmanabad to Dharashiv
In the same year, another city in the Marathwada region Osmanabad was renamed Dharashiv. Where Osmanabad was derived from the last ruler of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the new name originated from the ancient Dharashiv caves. According to the Bhartiya Sanskruti Kosh, the name has been believed to come from the two guards, Dhara and Shiv, who were deployed to protect the caves.
Other notable changes
Birsinghpur Pali to Maa Birasini Dham: Birsinghpur Pali, Madhya Pradesh was renamed Maa Birasini Dham in 2018, reflecting the local cultural and religious sentiments. The new name was chosen to honour the goddess Birasini.
Nagar Untari to Shri Banshidhar Nagar: In 2018, Nagar Untari in Madhya Pradesh was renamed Shri Banshidhar Nagar, paying tribute to a local historical figure.
Faizabad to Ayodhya: In 2018, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath renamed the Faizabad district to Ayodhya district.
Babai to Makhan Nagar: Babai, a town in Madhya Pradesh, was renamed Makhan Nagar in 2022 after a renowned Hindi poet and freedom fighter Makhanlal Chaturvedi.
The city of Allahabad was officially renamed Prayagraj in December 2018. (File) 
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