Sodpur Station to be renamed; Khardah's name to change—what will these two popular stations be called?
Khardah MLA and State Minister Kalyan Chakraborty has put forward this proposal. The Minister stated that the Khardah-Panihati region—associated with the memories of Sri Chaitanya and Prabhu Nityananda—has long been highly significant to followers of the Vaishnava faith. This region is mentioned in various Vaishnava texts. To highlight this historical and spiritual significance, it has been proposed to rename Khardah Station as 'Sripat Khardah' and Sodpur Station as 'Panihati'. Kalyan Chakraborty asserts that this renaming will foster the growth of 'temple tourism' centered around the area's ancient temples and religious heritage. It is expected to attract more tourists and create new employment opportunities for local residents. He added that the identity of this region, which boasts a heritage spanning nearly five and a half centuries, would gain wider recognition both domestically and internationally. Beyond renaming the stations, several other proposals aimed at regional development have been submitted to the relevant departments. These include constructing a flyover to connect the area adjacent to Khardah Station with BT Road, upgrading Balaram Hospital, renovating the Khardah canal, and developing Khardah Station into a 'model station'. The Minister further noted that the Khardah canal's navigability has diminished over time due to siltation. Discussions with the government are also underway regarding new plans to restore the canal's water flow and improve the local transportation infrastructure. Local residents are now keeping a close watch on the decision the Ministry of Railways takes regarding this proposal to change the name.