Lucknow, September 7: Hazraatganj Chauraha of Lucknow will be renamed after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Lucknow Mayor, Sanyukta Bhatia approved the proposal of the working committee to rename the biggest intersection the state capital after the former prime minister. Speaking to news agency ANI, Bhatia said, “We want to keep the memories of Atal ji alive and as the Mayor I wish to do so. We have thought about a scheme to make a memorial for him and have dedicated the biggest intersection (chauraha) of Lucknow 'Hazratganj  Chauraha' after Atal Ji.”

Earlier, the Chhattisgarh announced to rename the proposed capital of the state Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar. On August 21, Chief Minister Raman Singh announced about his government’s plan to renaming some other institutions and projects after Vajpayee. Bilaspur University is also to be renamed as  Atal Bihari Vajpayee University and Narrow Gauge Line as Atal Path.

The Central Park which is constructed beside Collectorate is to be named as Atal Park. Meanwhile, Rajnandgaon Medical College is also be named after the former prime minister. Singh also announced that a police battalion would be named as Pokhran Battalion’ to mark the contribution of contribution to Pokhran Nuclear Test.  Even the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has proposed the renaming of the iconic Ramlila Maidan after the late former prime minister.

Vajpayee died on August 16 at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness. Vajpayee was the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. The three-time former PM along with L.K Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat formed the BJP in 1980. He became prime minister of the country thrice -- in 1996, 1998 and 1999. His last tenure ended in 2004. He suffered a stroke in 2009 which left him speech-impaired.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2018 10:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).