Pune Seeks Rail Tribute Linking Mumbai And Guwahati
Pune-based social organisation Sarhad has renewed its appeal to the Union government to rename the Mumbai–Guwahati Express after Bharat Ratna awardee Dr Bhupen Hazarika during his birth centenary year. The proposal seeks to connect two cities closely associated with the cultural figure while giving a symbolic public identity to a major rail link between western India and the Northeast.
The organisation has asked that train numbers 15647 and 15648 be designated the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Express. A memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister argues that the train would be an appropriate vehicle for commemorating Hazarika’s contribution to Indian music, cinema and cultural exchange. The proposal has been pursued for more than a decade. Sarhad first raised the naming request in 2015, when it approached the then Railway Minister. The latest appeal comes as Assam-born Hazarika’s birth centenary brings renewed attention to his cultural legacy and his long association with Mumbai. Hazarika’s career crossed regional and linguistic boundaries. Although he was closely identified with Assam and the wider Northeast, Mumbai became an important base for his work in Indian cinema and music. His involvement with the film industry helped carry stories, musical traditions and social themes from the Northeast to audiences elsewhere in the country.
For Pune, the proposal also reflects a broader civic effort to strengthen cultural connections with the Northeast. Sarhad has worked on initiatives involving children and communities in the region, alongside programmes centred on music and public engagement. Its activities have included a cycle rally connecting several Northeastern cities and an award instituted in Hazarika’s name. The proposed renaming would therefore carry significance beyond a change to a train’s designation. Railways remain one of India’s most visible forms of physical connectivity, particularly for regions separated by long distances. Giving prominent routes cultural identities can also draw public attention to histories and communities that may receive limited visibility in mainstream urban life. However, any decision would require consideration by the relevant railway authorities and the Union government. Train naming is also part of a wider system in which operational clarity, passenger information and route continuity must remain unaffected by commemorative changes.
Urban planners and transport researchers increasingly view long-distance rail as more than a mobility service. Reliable rail connections can support tourism, education, employment and cultural exchange while providing a lower-carbon alternative to some forms of long-distance travel. The proposal now awaits a formal response. If accepted, the renaming would give the Mumbai–Guwahati corridor a distinct cultural marker while recognising a figure whose work bridged regional identities through music and cinema.
