BJP MP Demands Renaming Of Pune Railway Station After Thorle Bajirao, NCP (SP) Objects

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Medha Kulkarni argued that several organisations had submitted demands for renaming the station after Bajirao Peshwa, noting that Bajirao extended the Hindavi Swarajya.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni has demanded to rename the Pune Railway Station after Shrimant Thorle Bajirao Peshwa, the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.
The demand was raised during a meeting convened by the Pune Railway Division to discuss issues concerning the Pune and Solapur region on Monday. During the meeting, she emphasised that the upcoming redevelopment of the railway station should reflect Pune's historical legacy.
Kulkarni argued that several organisations had submitted demands for renaming the station after Bajirao Peshwa, noting that Bajirao extended the Hindavi Swarajya from Attock to Cuttack and that his military legacy continues to inspire even modern defence academies like NDA.
She further said that the central government also favour reflecting local history through public spaces such as railway stations.
'There is no representation of Pune's rich history at the station. I demand that it be renamed after Thorle Bajirao Peshwa," she said as per the media reports.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: BJP MP Medha Kulkarni demands renaming the Pune station. She says, 'There are a few demands regarding the Pune railway station… Pune is considered the educational and IT hub. Despite being a city of such importance, the current situation of the… pic.twitter.com/FvYpNBcyTb — ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2025
Kulkarni further strongly criticised Pune's poor railway infrastructure, highlighting the need for urgent improvements to match the city's stature as an educational and IT hub.
While speaking to the media, Kulkarni raised her demands, saying, 'There are a few demands regarding the Pune railway station… Pune is considered the educational and IT hub. Despite being a city of such importance, the current situation of the station is very miserable; it should be improved."
She also raised the issue of poor connectivity from major cities like Nasik and Badalpur. 'Rajdhani Express should also be connected through Pune; be it the Delhi to Hyderabad Express or the Bengaluru to Delhi Express, it should go through Pune."
She underlined the need for improved connectivity, especially in the wake of the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nasik. She said, 'Cities like Nasik and Badlapur don't have much connectivity, and for the upcoming Kumbh in Nasik, there is no train from Pune to Nasik."
The Kumbh Mela, expected to draw millions of pilgrims, increases the urgency for better transport links.
However, the demand to rename the railway station was met with objection from Nationalist Congress Party (SP) spokesperson and former mayor Ankush Kakade.
'We are not in favour of changing the name of Pune Railway Station, which has a long history. If the central government insists on renaming, they should also consider names like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule or Gopal Krishna Gokhale, along with Bajirao Peshwa," Kakade said.
Additionally, RPI leader Sachin Kharaat opposed to naming the station after Bajirao and demanded to rename the station after social activist Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.
'We reject any attempt to glorify modern Peshwai. It was Mahatma Phule who discovered Shivaji Maharaj's tomb and initiated the tradition of celebrating his birth anniversary. Pune is known as the seat of knowledge because of Phule's contributions. The station should bear his name," he said as quoted by media reports.
First Published:
June 24, 2025, 10:58 IST