To: State Government, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Railways, Department of Posts and Survey of India.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after taking over the Shiv Sena passed a resolution to rename the iconic Churchgate station as Chintamanrao Deshmukh station. 

"This Station was one of the three main gates to the Fort, the Gate that afforded entry to St Thomas' Church and thus called Church Gate, Churchgate station was opened on 10th January 1870".

We, the citizens of Mumbai, are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed name change of Churchgate station to Chintamanrao Deshmukh station.

Churchgate station is an iconic landmark in Mumbai, which has been an integral part of the city's history and culture for over 150 years. The station was named after the Churchgate street on which it is located, and it holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbaikars as it is the last or first stop of the Western Railways.

The proposed name change does not have any historical relevance or connection to the area and will only lead to unnecessary expenses and confusion for the public. The new name also does not reflect the station's unique heritage and old-world charm, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

We believe that changing the name of such an iconic landmark without any logical reasoning or public consultation is a disservice to the city's heritage and history. It also sets a bad precedent for future name changes, as it can open up a Pandora's box of demands for renaming other stations after important personalities.

Therefore, we request you to consider our sentiments and refrain from approving the proposed name change of Churchgate station. We urge you to respect the public memory and sentiment attached to this iconic landmark and preserve its original name for future generations.

We trust that you will take our request into consideration and take appropriate action. 

- We Mumbaikars