Prayagraj train passengers, take note: Railways may rename 3 stations to end confusion; here's why

Indian Railways has proposed removing the 'Prayagraj' prefix from three railway stations in the city to reduce confusion among passengers, particularly during the Magh Mela and other major religious gatherings. Under the proposal, Prayagraj Chheoki, Prayagraj Rambagh and Prayagraj Sangam would be renamed Chheoki, Rambagh and Sangam, respectively. Prayagraj Junction would retain its existing name. The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board, and a final decision will be taken at the ministry level, Amit Kumar Singh, PRO of the Prayagraj division, told TOI.

Why Indian Railways wants to rename three Prayagraj stations

The proposed name changes aim to address confusion among passengers who mistake the three stations for Prayagraj Junction because their names share the same prefix. For instance, a passenger booked on a train departing from Prayagraj Chheoki may head to Prayagraj Junction after noticing only the word 'Prayagraj' on the ticket.

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Chheoki is around 10 km from the main junction, meaning such mistakes can lead to passengers missing their trains. Similar confusion has been reported among travellers taking trains from Rambagh towards Varanasi. Visitors arriving in the city for a dip at the Sangam may also head to the main junction instead of Prayagraj Sangam.

The railway administration expects shorter, distinct station names to make it easier for passengers to identify their boarding points, especially during periods of heavy footfall linked to religious events.

How Prayagraj railway stations got their names

The four stations acquired the ‘Prayagraj’ prefix in February 2020, following a state government notification issued after Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj on October 18, 2018.

As part of the change, Allahabad Junction became Prayagraj Junction, Allahabad City was renamed Prayagraj Rambagh, Allahabad Chheoki became Prayagraj Chheoki, and Prayag Ghat became Prayagraj Sangam.

The proposed changes would reverse the prefix for three of these stations, while Prayagraj Junction would continue to retain its current name.

Chheoki was renamed in 2017 as train traffic increased

Chheoki has undergone a name change before. The station was known simply as Chheoki until April 1, 2017, when it was renamed Allahabad Chheoki as the number of trains using the station increased.

The station is located away from the main junction and serves as a separate boarding point for passengers travelling on services that operate from there.

Why Rambagh and Sangam could return to shorter names

Rambagh has long been the station's familiar local identity. Although it was officially known as Allahabad City before the 2020 renaming, residents commonly referred to it as Rambagh because of its location in the area of the same name.

Similarly, the proposed name Sangam would distinguish the station from Prayagraj Junction for visitors travelling to the Triveni Sangam, a major pilgrimage destination.

The proposal is still awaiting a final decision from the Railway Board and the railway ministry. Until it is approved, the three stations will continue to be identified by their existing official names.


Inputs from TOI