Indian Army renames 246 roads and buildings to shed colonial-era legacy

The Indian Army has renamed 246 roads, buildings and facilities across its military establishments as part of an exercise to remove colonial-era names. The renamed assets will now carry the names of Indian war heroes and gallantry awardees such as Arun Khetrapal, Abdul Hamid, Dhan Singh Thapa, Sundar Singh and Piru Singh.

Army officials said the move is aimed at moving away from colonial symbols and strengthening an identity based on India’s own military history. The exercise honours gallantry award winners, war heroes and distinguished military leaders.

Officials told TOI, the renaming covers 124 roads, 77 residential colonies, 27 buildings and military facilities, and 18 other assets. These include parks, training areas, sports grounds, gates and helipads located across different Army establishments.

In Delhi Cantonment, several prominent locations have been renamed. Kirby Place, which houses officers’ accommodation, is now called Kenuguruse Vihar. Mall Road has been renamed Arun Khetrapal Marg. Other roads renamed include Tigris Road as Hoshiar Singh Marg, Cassel Road as Manekshaw Marg, Maude Road as an extension of Thimayya Marg, Lorry Road as Ramawamy Parmeshwaran Marg, Gymnasium Road as Padmapani Acharya Marg, Kotwali Road as Capt Anuj Nayyar Road and Probyn Road Timarpur as Shaitan Singh Marg.

Residential colonies in Delhi Cantonment have also seen changes. Baird Place is now Anuj Nayyar Vihar, Tubrak Link is Gurdiyal Vihar, Kingsway Camp in Timarpur is Joginder Singh Vihar, Nicholson Line is Digendra Kumar Vihar, Khyber Line behind MC is Abdul Hamid Vihar, Tigris Maude Line is Jadunath Vihar and Poultry Farm has been renamed Ram Chander Vihar.

Outside Delhi, Patterson Road Quarters in Ambala Cantonment has been renamed Dhan Singh Thapa Enclave. In Mathura Cantonment, New Horn Line is now called Abdul Hamid Lines. Queens Line Road in Jaipur Cantonment has been renamed Sundar Singh Marg, New Birdwood Line in Bareilly Cantonment is now Thimayya Colony, and Malcolm Lines in Mhow Cantonment has been renamed Piru Singh Lines.
At the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Colins Block and Kingsway Block will now be known as Nubra Block and Kargil Block. In Kolkata, Fort William has been renamed Vijay Durg. Other changes include the renaming of the Sports Complex at Rangapahar Military Station as Laishram Jyotin Singh Sports Complex, and Spear Lake Marg at Zakhama Military Station as Hangpan Dada Marg.