With the second phase of Monorail to start from Saturday, names or four Monorail stations may be changed in the coming days. The four Monorail station include GTB Nagar Monorail station, Wadala Bridge Monorail station, Antop Hill and Dadar east Monorail station for which change in name has been demanded by several political parties and resident associations.
DNA had reported in October 2018 as to how political leaders from BJP, Shiv Sena and Congress had demanded change in names of these four Monorail stations.
A MMRDA official said, "Considering the demand in changes of names, a committee has been formed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is also chairman of MMRDA. The committee has had two meetings but it is yet to submit its report on the demand for change in names. If the demand is accepted, names for four Monorail stations will changed."
In case of GTB Nagar Monorail station near Sion Koliwada, there are three demands. State finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from BJP has suggested the name as 'Trimurti Shiv' citing demands from the locals. Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale has suggested it to be 'Hutatma Karuppaiya Devendra' who was part of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.
While Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of leader of opposition in the state from Congress has suggested it to be Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) residential colony citing it being demand from local party unit who represent the locals fron the area.
Apart from this, MMRDA that built Monorail has also got requests from several other political representatives to change name of Antop Hill, Wadala Bridge and Dadar east Monorail station from time to time.
For Wadala Bridge Monorail station there are demands to rename it to Nana Fadnavis who was a influential minister of Maratha Empire during Peshwa's administration.
Meanwhile, in case of Antop Hill Monorail station there is a demand to rename it to Shaikh Mishri citing it being more relatable with the locality followed by demand of renaming Dadar East Monorail station to Vitthal Mandir Monorail station.
