The Agra metro station in Uttar Pradesh has been renamed to honour former Union law minister Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The station previously known as Agra Fort Station will now be called Dr. Ambedkar Chowk Metro Station, as per an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. The decision was announced by Additional Chief Secretary Kishlay Singh, citing the state government's initiative to commemorate the stalwart.
"The state government has decided to change the name of Agra Fort Metro Station to "Dr. Ambedkar Chowk Metro Station"," the official statement informed.
The renaming comes shortly after the inauguration of the Agra Metro on March 6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the metro virtually, hailing it as the first in the country to commence operations almost nine months ahead of schedule. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the Agra Metro from the Taj Mahal Metro Station, according to news agency ANI.
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Agra Metro Is The Sixth Metro In Uttar Pradesh
The Agra Metro, now the sixth metro in Uttar Pradesh, commenced operations after a swift construction period. Initially projected to take 32 months, the primary underground section was completed in just 23 months, setting a precedent for efficient execution, ANI's report stated.
In his remarks, CM Yogi Adityanath underscored the significance of the Agra Metro in enhancing public transport accessibility for residents and visitors alike. He praised the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) for its dedication and highlighted the successful completion of the metro project as a testament to the effective implementation of PM Modi's vision.
According to ANI, the Chief Minister wrote in the visitor book, "Agra Metro was virtually inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister today. Timeliness is important, along with the quality of the project. Agra Metro has upheld this standard. Best Wishes."
CM Yogi expressed gratitude to PM Modi for selecting Agra as the site for the metro project and reiterated the government's focus on rapid urban development, including initiatives in the IT sector and infrastructure enhancements.
"With the commencement of the Agra Metro, Uttar Pradesh has achieved the distinction of being the first state in the country to provide metro services in most of its cities," he said, as quoted by the report. "Prior to this, metro services had already been running in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Kanpur. Today, I am pleased that the sixth Metro facility is being made available to the people of Braj and Agra as well," CM Adityanath added.
Union Minister of State Kaushal Kishore and Union Minister of State Prof. SP Singh Baghel were among the dignitaries present at the inauguration, underscoring the collaborative effort behind the successful implementation of the Agra Metro project.
(With Inputs By Pankaj Gupta)