Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur railway station has now been renamed as 'Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station' after Captain Tushar Mahajan who lost his life while trying to protect his fellow Army personnel during a gunfight with terrorists. The station was renamed after the formal approval of the Lieutenant Governor's office. Capt Tushar Mahajan was an officer of the 9 Para of Special Forces of the Army. In February 2016, a terrorist attack occurred on the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) building in the Pulwama district in South Kashmir. Capt Mahajan killed a terrorist during that attack, however, unfortunately, he lost his life while trying to protest another soldier. His posthumous recognition came in the form of the Shaurya Chakra, a testament to his valour.
Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), issued an order confirming the news of the renaming of the railway station on Thursday evening. News agency PTI quoted the statement as reading, “Sanction is hereby accorded to the naming of 'Udhampur railway station' as 'Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan railway station' in district Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted approval to the renaming of Udhampur railway station on September 6, said officials while talking to PTI.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents the parliamentary constituency of Kathua-Udhampur in Lok Sabha, announced this decision through a tweet on September 6.
A Long-Awaited Tribute
According to a report from the PTI, the people of Udhampur made this heartfelt request of renaming to the Central government a few years back. The people there wanted to give this tribute to the Martyr who valiantly sacrificed his life to protect another Army personnel.
Udhampur railway station is a pivotal station within the Northern Railway zone. The now Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan station serves as a crucial connector, which facilitates the connection of Jammu and Kashmir with various parts of the country. Additionally, it is an integral component of the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new line project, which is being designed to establish vital railway connectivity to the remote and region of Ladakh.