**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the "Metro Railways (Naming or Renaming of stations) Rules, 2026," published on March 10, 2026, and effective from their publication in the Official Gazette. The rules govern the naming and renaming of metro rail and Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System stations within specified metropolitan areas. The process requires the approval of the relevant State Government or the Delhi Government and the Competent Authority.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scope and Commencement:**
* The rules are officially titled the "Metro Railways (Naming or Renaming of stations) Rules, 2026."
* They will come into effect on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
* **Definitions:**
* "Act" refers to the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978.
* "Competent Authority" is the Union Government minister in charge of metro railway or Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System.
* "Station" encompasses stations of both metro railways and Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System.
* Undefined terms will carry the meanings assigned in the Act.
* **Process for Naming/Renaming Stations:**
* No station within a metropolitan city, area, or the National Capital Region can be named or renamed without prior approval from the concerned State Government or the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
* This approval must be based on the recommendation of a committee constituted by the respective government.
* The committee will comprise Members of Parliament, Legislative Assembly members, and local body representatives.
* When considering naming or renaming, the committee will evaluate cultural heritage, historical and geographical significance, avoid duplicate names, consider local sentiment, practicality, and ensure clarity and relevance to the area's identity.
* Following the committee's recommendation, the State Government or Delhi Government will submit the proposal to the Competent Authority for approval before official gazette notification.
**Impact Analysis**
* **State Governments and Delhi Government**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for constituting committees and approving recommendations for station naming/renaming within their jurisdictions. They also act as the intermediary for submitting proposals to the Central Government.
* **Action Required:** Constitute a committee for station naming/renaming, consider its recommendations, and submit proposals to the Competent Authority for approval.
* **Central Government (Competent Authority)**
* **Impact:** Holds the final approval authority for naming or renaming metro rail and Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System stations.
* **Action Required:** Review and approve proposals submitted by State Governments or the Delhi Government.
* **Public/Commuters**
* **Impact:** Will experience new names or renames for metro and Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System stations, which may affect wayfinding and local identity.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the new naming conventions and rules when they come into effect.
* **Committee Members (MPs, MLAs, Local Representatives)**
* **Impact:** Will participate in the decision-making process for station names, considering various factors outlined in the rules.
* **Action Required:** Participate in committee meetings and provide recommendations based on the specified criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978: The primary legislation governing metro railway construction and related matters.
Metro Railways (Naming or Renaming of stations) Rules, 2026: The specific rules detailing the process for naming or renaming metro stations.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The Central Government ministry responsible for these rules and acting as the Competent Authority.
Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System (RRTS): Another rail system for which these naming rules also apply.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-12032026-270881
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D2H0x3x2x0 26-270881
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 170] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतवार, माच य12, 2026/फाल्ग नु 21, 1947 26/पौष 17, 1947
No. 170] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026/PHALGUNA 21, 1947 /PAUSHA 17, 1947
आवासन और िहरी कार् यमत्रं ालर्
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 10 माच,य 2026
सा.का.जन. 176(अ).— केंद्रीर् सरकार, भूजमगत रेल (संकमय सजं ् न मायण) अजधजनर्म, (1978 का 33) की धारा 44
की उपधारा (2) के खंड (ट) द्वारा प्रित्त िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग करते हुए, जनम्नजलजखत जनर्म बनाती ह,ै अर्ायत्: -
1. सजं िप्त नाम और प्रारंभ - (1) इन जनर्मों का संजिप्त नाम मेरो रेल (स्ट्टेिनों का नामकरण र्ा पुन: नामकरण)
जनर्म, 2026 ह।ै
(2) र् ेरािपत्र में उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को लागू होंगे।
2. पररभाषाएँ - (1) इन जनर्मों में, िब तक संिभ यसे अ्र्र्ा अपेजित न हो, —
(क) “अजधजनर्म” स ेभूजमगत रेल (संकमय संजिमायण) अजधजनर्म, 1978 (1978 का 33) अजभप्रेत ह;ै
(ख) “सिम प्राजधकारी” से केंद्रीर् सरकार के उस मंत्रालर् र्ा जवभाग का प्रभारी मंत्री अजभप्रेत है, िो मेरो रेल र्ा
नमो भारत िेत्रीर् द्रतु पररवहन प्रणाली (आरआरटीएस) का व् र्ौहार कर रह ेह;ैं और
(ग) “स्ट्टेिन” स ेमेरो रेलवे र्ा नमो भारत िेत्रीर् द्रतु पररवहन प्रणाली (आरआरटीएस) के स्ट्टेिन अजभप्रेत ह।ैं
(2) इन जनर्मों म ें प्रर्ुि और पररभाजषत नहीं दकए गए ककंतु अजधजनर्म म ें पररभाजषत दकए गए िब्िों और
अजभव्यजिर्ों के अर्य, अजधजनर्म में दिए गए उनके अर्ों के अनुरूप होंगे।
3. स्ट्टेिनों का नामकरण र्ा पुन: नामकरण– (1) अजधजनर्म की धारा 1 की उपधारा (3) के अधीन जवजनर्ियष्ट दकसी महानगर
र्ा महानगर िेत्र र्ा राष्ट्रीर् रािधानी िेत्र म ें जस्ट्र्त मेरो रेल र्ा नमो भारत िेत्रीर् द्रतु पररवहन प्रणाली के दकसी स्ट्टेिन
का नामकरण र्ा पुन: नाम करण र्र्ाजस्ट्र्जत संबद्ध राज्र् सरकार र्ा राष्ट्रीर् रािधानी राज्र् ित्रे दिल्ली सरकार, के अनुमोिन
1795 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
के जबना नहीं दकर्ा िाएगा। र्ह ऐसी राज्र् सरकार र्ा राष्ट्रीर् रािधानी राज्र् िेत्र दिल्ली सरकार द्वारा इस प्रर्ोिन के जलए
गरित सजमजत, जिसमें जनवायचन िेत्र से संसि सिस्ट्र्, जवधान सभा सिस्ट्र् और स्ट्र्ानीर् जनकार्ों के प्रजतजनजध िाजमल होंगे,
की जसफाररिों के आधार पर दकर्ा िाएगा।
(2) स्ट्टेिनों का नामकरण र्ा पुन: नामकरण करत े समर्, उि सजमजत सांस्ट्कृजतक जवरासत, ऐजतहाजसक और
भौगोजलक महत्व, समान नामों से बचना, स्ट्र्ानीर् भावना, व्यावहाररकता (उच्चारण र्ा अवजस्ट्र्जत), और जववाि से बचते
हुए प्रतीकात्मक प्रजतजनजधत्व (नेता र्ा िेवता) को संतुजलत करने, स्ट्पष्टता सुजनजित करने और िेत्र की पहचान की सुसंगतता
सुजनजित करन े िैसे जवजभि पहलुओं पर जवचार करेगी।
(3) राज्र् सरकार र्ा राष्ट्रीर् रािधानी राज् र्िेत्र दिल्ली सरकार, उि सजमजत की जसफाररिों को अनुमोिन िेने के
पश् चात, इस जनजमत अजधसूचना रािपत्र में प्रकाजित करने से पूवय मेरो रेल र्ा नमो भारत िेत्रीर् द्रतु पररवहन प्रणाली के स्ट्टेिन
का नामकरण र्ा पुन: नामकरण करने का प्रस्ट्ताव केंद्रीर् सरकार को सिम प्राजधकारी के अनुमोिन के जलए प्रस्ट्तुत करेगी।
[फा. स.ं के-14011/16/2025-एमआरटीएस-II]
िर्िीप, जविेष कार्य अजधकारी (र्ूटी)
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 10th March, 2026
G.S.R. 176(E).—In exercise of powers conferred by clause (k) of sub-section (2) of section 44 of the Metro Railways
(Construction of Works) Act, 1978 (33 of 1978), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) These rules may be called the Metro Railways (Naming or Renaming of
stations) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions.- (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, —
(a) “Act” means the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 (33 of 1978);
(b) “Competent Authority” means the Minister-in-charge of the Ministry or Department of the Central
Government dealing with metro railway or Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System (RRTS); and
(c) “station” means stations of metro railway or Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System (RRTS).
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in these rules but defined in the Act shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Act.
3. Naming or renaming of stations. – (1) No station of metro rail or Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System in
any metropolitan city or metropolitan area or the National Capital Region specified under sub-section (3) of section 1
of the Act shall be named or renamed without the approval of the concerned State Government or the Government of
the National Capital Territory of Delhi, as the case may be, on the basis of the recommendation of a Committee
constituted by such State Government or the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi for the purpose
consisting of Member of Parliament from the constituency, Member of Legislative Assembly and representatives of the
local bodies.
(2) While naming or renaming the stations, the said Committee shall consider various aspects such as cultural
heritage, historical and geographical significance, avoiding similar names, local sentiment, practicality (pronunciation
or location), and balancing symbolic representation (leaders or deities) by avoiding controversy, ensuring clarity and
relevance to the area's identity.
(3) The State Government or the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, after approval of the
recommendations of the said Committee, shall submit the proposal for naming or renaming of the station of metro rail
or Namo Bharat Regional Rail Transit System to the Central Government for approval of the Competent Authority
before publishing the notification in this behalf in the Official Gazette.
[F. No. K-14011/16/2025-MRTS-II]
JAIDEEP, Officer on Special Duty (UT)
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.