Centre approves Maharashtra’s proposal to rename Ahmednagar as Ahilyanagar

Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district has now been renamed as Ahilyanagar after the Centre gave nod to the move on Friday, state Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said.
The state cabinet approved the renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar on March 13, 2024.
In a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet held on Friday, Revenue and Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil mentioned that the Centre approved the move to rename Ahmednagar district after the 18th century Maratha ruler of Indore, Punyashlok Ahilya Devi.
Expressing his happiness and welcoming the move, Patil said, “This year is the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilya Devi. This decision is a historic event”.
For the past several years, there has been a constant demand that the district should be named after Punyashlok Ahilya Devi. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced that Ahmednagar district would be named after Ahilya Devi in ​​her birth anniversary programme at Chondi.
Following Shinde’s announcement, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil followed up with the Central and state governments, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also given a request to approve the name change proposal immediately.
Earlier, the Ministry of Railways had informed the state and district administration that there was no objection to the name Ahilyanagar.
Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their cooperation in renaming the district.
“Glad to be able to contribute to this decision. The promises made by the Mahayuti government have been fulfilled”, Vikhe Patil added.