Old signboards at platforms painted over, trilingual signages on top of the station’s facade summarily removed and a banner bearing its new nomenclature ‘Ayodhya Cantt’ casually hung on its porch front – Faizabad Junction is in a state of transition.
The recent move of authorities to rename the 19th century station, three years after Faizabad district was rechristened to Ayodhya, however, has drawn a mixed response from historians and local residents, many of whom feel it will “erase the identity of this historic city” and “create confusion.” Another section, though, welcomed the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision, with some saying the name ‘Ayodhya’ should be used everywhere in public places as “it is Bhagwan Ram ki nagari (city of Lord Ram)”.
