To
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
Honourable Minister of Railways
Ministry of Railways, Rail Bhawan
Raisina Road, New Delhi – 110001

I, a resident and responsible citizen of Vellore, humbly request that "Katpadi Junction" be renamed as “Vellore Junction” (or Vellore-Katpadi Junction) to truly represent the city it serves.

 
🔍 Why this matters:
Katpadi is not widely recognized outside Tamil Nadu, while Vellore is nationally and internationally known due to institutions like:

Christian Medical College (CMC)
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)
Golden Temple (Sripuram)
Thousands of people — patients, students, tourists — travel to Vellore but end up confused because the station is named “Katpadi”, not realizing it serves the city of Vellore.

 
🕰️ Historical Significance of Vellore:
Vellore holds a prominent place in India’s history as the site of the Vellore Sepoy Mutiny of 1806, which was the first major uprising against British rule, predating the 1857 revolt.

The brave sepoys at Vellore Fort fought against colonial oppression, making Vellore one of the earliest centres of India’s freedom struggle.

Additionally, Vellore Fort has been home to many historical figures, including the families of Tipu Sultan and Siraj-ud-Daula, marking it as a key cultural and strategic landmark.

 
📈 Public Benefit:

Reduces travel confusion for lakhs of passengers.
Enhances Vellore’s identity on the national map.
Supports tourism, education, and healthcare access more effectively.
Aligns with practices followed in other major cities (e.g., Chennai Central, Mumbai CSMT).
 
🚉 Examples of Station Renaming Across India: Several railway stations have been renamed to better reflect their city’s identity or historical significance, such as:

Faizabad Junction → Ayodhya Dham
Victoria Terminus → Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai)
Bombay Central → Mumbai Central
Madras Central → Chennai Central
Gurgaon Railway Station → Gurugram Railway Station
Dadar East → Prabhadevi

These changes have helped travellers easily associate stations with their cities, boosted local pride, and reduced confusion — benefits that Vellore deserves as well.

 
⚖️ Administrative Simplicity:
We understand that the renaming process involves:

Recommendation from local and state governments
Approval from the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Home Affairs
 
But given the public demand, Vellore’s rich historical legacy, and the city’s prominence, this change is both justified and long overdue.

 
🙏 Our Request:
We kindly urge you to:

Acknowledge this long-standing public demand.
Initiate the renaming proposal from the concerned authorities.
Publicly communicate the status or progress of this issue.
 
🖊️ Public Support and Participation:
To demonstrate the strong demand from the people of Vellore, I am in the process of collecting signatures from local residents, students, patients, and visitors who support the renaming of Katpadi Railway Junction to Vellore Junction.
This collective endorsement will highlight the community’s unified voice and emphasize the urgent need for this change. I kindly request your cooperation in acknowledging this public sentiment and taking the necessary steps to move the process forward.

 
📌 Closing:
Thank you for your attention and service. We trust that our request will be given due consideration for the betterment of Vellore and all who travel to this vibrant and historically significant city.

Sincerely,
Arvind
Resident of Vellore