The South Central Railway (SCR) has officially approved the renaming of Aurangabad Railway Station to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, marking the completion of a long-anticipated name change for the historic city. The announcement was made by A. Sridhar, Chief Public Relations Officer of SCR, in an official statement on Saturday.

According to the notification, the railway code and station code for the newly renamed station will now be CPSN, replacing the earlier code associated with Aurangabad. This administrative update follows the renaming of the city itself, which was approved by the central government in 2023 after years of political demand and debate. The new name honors Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and is intended to reflect the region’s Maratha heritage.

The renaming process was coordinated between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Railways, and the state government of Maharashtra. It involved updating multiple systems, including ticketing software, station signage, announcements, and timetables across the Indian Railways network to ensure consistency under the new name.

The change has been welcomed by supporters of the move, particularly those affiliated with the ruling parties in Maharashtra who had campaigned for years to align the station’s name with the city’s new identity. Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, and the railway station’s name change is seen as the final step in standardising official records. However, as with the city’s renaming, the decision has also drawn criticism from sections of the opposition who view it as an attempt to erase historical names associated with the Mughal era.

While the renaming of the station was the headline announcement, railway authorities also shared broader updates about Indian Railways’ preparations for the ongoing festive season, which has seen an unprecedented surge in passenger movement. Western Railway General Manager Vivek Kumar Gupta stated that passenger traffic has risen sharply owing to festivals such as Diwali and Chhath Puja, prompting the operation of thousands of additional trains to manage the rush.

Gupta explained that Indian Railways is running around 12,000 extra trains nationwide between October and November to ensure that passengers can travel safely and comfortably during the festive period. Of these, Western Railway alone has planned to operate approximately 2,000 extra trains, based on real-time demand. “I am reviewing all the holding areas prepared for passengers. We are running trains on demand to handle the festive crowd efficiently,” Gupta told ANI.

The General Manager also conducted a review of railway stations across Gujarat to assess the preparedness of facilities for handling the festive rush. Measures include enhanced crowd management, additional staff deployment, improved sanitation, and the setup of temporary waiting areas. Authorities have also introduced more security checks and helplines to assist travellers during peak hours.

According to a recent press release from Indian Railways, the national transporter has successfully operated 4,493 special train trips over the last 21 days, averaging 213 trips daily. These trains were crucial in helping millions of passengers return home in time for Diwali and Chhath Puja. The special services covered major routes across northern and eastern India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, where Chhath Puja holds immense cultural significance.

Indian Railways also emphasised that these efforts were part of a larger 61-day festive travel plan, spanning from October 1 to November 30, during which more than 12,000 special trains are being operated across different zones. The railway authorities have coordinated with local administrations and security agencies to ensure smooth crowd movement and passenger safety.

Chhath Puja, one of the most prominent festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, sees millions of devotees travelling to their hometowns to offer prayers to the Sun God. The festival, which follows Diwali, creates one of the heaviest annual travel rushes in the country. To accommodate this surge, Indian Railways has implemented measures such as real-time monitoring of ticket bookings, extended reservation counters, and crowd regulation at major junctions.

The dual announcements — the renaming of Aurangabad Railway Station and the launch of large-scale festive operations — highlight the Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts both to preserve cultural heritage and to ensure passenger convenience during one of the busiest times of the year.

With the name change now officially in effect, travellers will see Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (CPSN) appear in railway reservation systems, signage, and announcements. This marks the end of the transition process that began after the Maharashtra government proposed renaming the city and associated landmarks in 2020.

As the festive season continues, Indian Railways is expected to maintain heightened operational readiness, with railway zones across the country on alert to manage the heavy flow of passengers returning home for Chhath Puja, which holds deep emotional and spiritual importance for millions across northern India.

The renaming of Aurangabad Station to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar thus comes at a symbolic moment — combining cultural affirmation with a demonstration of Indian Railways’ logistical strength during the busiest travel period of the year.