UP: Allahabad to be renamed as 'Prayagraj' before Kumbh Mela, says CM Yogi

CM Yogi said that if a broad consensus is achieved then Allahabad will be renamed as Prayagraj before the Kumbh Mela which is slated to begin on January 15th.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gestures during the Sant Sammelan (saint summit) held by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) organisation at Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the annual Magh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 19, 2018. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

New Delhi: The city of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh might be renamed as Prayagraj before the next year’s religiously significant Kumbh Mela, said UP CM Yogi Adityanath. On Saturday Yogi said that if a broad consensus is achieved then Allahabad will be renamed as Prayagraj. CM had proposed renaming of the city before UP governor Ram Naik who accepted the proposal and asked the government to call for a cabinet meeting and give a nod for reusing the old name. In his press conference, Yogi Aditynath said that the upcoming Kumbh Mela will be organised at a grand level. He said that this is the first time when a logo for Kumbh has been prepared. All the 445 projects are progressing as per the fixed schedule, 88 projects have already been completed. All the projects will be completed by December. The Mela will attract devotees from 192 countries said the CM and also said that 1.22 lakh toilets will be constructed, 100 milk booths and 200 water ATMS will be installed. News agency ANI reported that the banners for the Kumbh Mela in 2019 will mention the name of the city as Prayagraj instead of Allahabad. The Kumbh Mela is slated to begin on January 15, 2019. UP government has already renamed the Mughalasarai Railway Station after RSS thinker Deen Dayal Upadhyay.