Ranchi, Jan. 14: What if Hatia railway station is called Ranchi station, Ranchi railway station is altered to Ranchi City and Namkum station is known as Ranchi Cantonment? Do not be bemused, if railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav seriously ponders over the idea and gives it an approval in the near future.

The Ranchi zonal chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) wants these changes to take place as it feels that it would be convenient for the outsiders to know about Ranchi in a better perspective.

In a meeting held last Friday, the Ranchi zonal committee of CII unanimously passed a resolution to seek changes in the names of the three existing railway stations in Ranchi. Presently, the committee is in the process of writing to the national council of CII requesting them to take up the issue with the railway minister.

“Outsiders visiting the state often ask questions like how far is Hatia from Ranchi or for that matter Namkum? They have to be told that Hatia railway station and Namkum station, too, are parts of the Ranchi city. So if the names of these stations change, outsiders would know that these stations are part of the Ranchi city,” said the CII members.

The Ranchi zonal council chairman, M.K. Deshmukh, shared his experience while travelling in Hatia-bound Mumbai-Hatia Lokmanaiya Tilak Express. One of his co-passengers asked him how far was Ranchi from Hatia and the time he would take to travel to the city.

“People should not misunderstand our effort to change the names of the three stations. The visitors should get the chance to know a city in a proper manner,” said the advisor to the zonal CII council, S.K. Sinha.

Apparently taking a liking to the CII’s proposal, the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FJCCI), too, has decided to discuss the issue at its executive committee meeting.

“It is a welcome suggestion. We would discuss the matter. These changes would enable outsiders to know that all these three stations are a part of the Ranchi city,” said the vice- president of FJCCI, Arun Kumar Budhia.

Railway sources said the changes in the names of the railway stations are a lengthy process and are done at the ministry level.