New Delhi: The Indian Army renames colonial-era roads and facilities in a major national move to remove remnants of British rule and strengthen India’s military identity.
The initiative involves changing the names of 246 roads, buildings, residential colonies and other facilities across Army establishments nationwide. The renamed places now carry the names of Indian war heroes, gallantry award recipients, and distinguished military leaders, reinforcing national pride and honouring valour.
Importance of Colonial-Era Roads and Facilities Renaming
For decades after independence, many roads, buildings and sites inside military zones retained names given during British rule. These names reflected colonial history rather than Indian heritage.
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The Indian Army’s recent renaming effort is aimed at:
- Removing colonial legacies in military spaces
- Highlighting India’s own heroes and history
- Honouring bravery and sacrifice of soldiers
- Strengthening institutional identity rooted in Indian ethos
This initiative aligns with broader national goals to decolonize symbols and names that are no longer relevant to modern India.
What Was Renamed? Breakdown of the Figures
The renaming exercise touched a wide range of infrastructure across Army establishments, replacing British-era labels with names deeply rooted in Indian military history.
Thousands of personnel and families live and work in cantonments and military stations. Some significant changes include:
Delhi Cantonment
- Kirby Place Officers’ Quarters ➝ Kenuguruse Vihar
- Mall Road ➝ Arun Khetrapal Marg
- Tigris Road ➝ Hoshiar Singh Marg
- Cassel Road ➝ Manekshaw Marg
- Maude Road ➝ Thimayya Marg
- Gymnasium Road ➝ Padmapani Acharya Marg
- Probyn Road ➝ Shaitan Singh Marg — plus changes to various residential colonies such as Baird Place and Nicholson Line.
Across Other Military Stations
- Patterson Road Quarters (Ambala) ➝ Dhan Singh Thapa Enclave
- New Horn Line (Mathura) ➝ Abdul Hamid Lines
- Queens Line Road (Jaipur) ➝ Sundar Singh Marg
- New Birdwood Line (Bareilly) ➝ Thimayya Colony
- Malcolm Lines (Mhow) ➝ Piru Singh Lines
— among many others.
Prestigious Military Institutions
- Collins Block (Indian Military Academy, Dehradun) ➝ Nubra Block
- Kingsway Block (IMA) ➝ Kargil Block
These names commemorate historic battle sites and major campaigns.
Other Key Facilities
- Fort William (Kolkata) ➝ Vijay Durg
- Sports Complex at Rangapahar Military Station ➝ Laishram Jyotin Singh Sports Complex
- Spear Lake Marg (Zakhama Military Station) ➝ Hangpan Dada Marg
These changes further embed Indian military legacy across regions.
Colonial-Era Roads and Facilities Renaming: Honouring Indian Heroes Through Names
Each renamed site isn’t just a label change — it celebrates a story of courage:
- Arun Khetrapal – Param Vir Chakra awardee (1971 war hero)
- Abdul Hamid – Param Vir Chakra recipient (1965 Indo-Pak War)
- Dhan Singh Thapa – Param Vir Chakra winner (1962 Sino-Indian War)
- Sundar Singh – gallantry awardee
- Piru Singh – honoured for exceptional bravery
… and many more heroes now have permanent recognition through place names.
